Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-12-02
Snurning a Million

arlas Garland aged 21 of Buzzards Bay Massacnus
etts refused accept million dollar legacy ieit MN ~ ~
father declaring that he had done nothing to- earn At ana
nefered to earn his living by the sweat OF MS pro" as an
automobile mechanic to living life Of ease me unusual
has brought him both praise and bame praise Tor ms
courage in living UP his principles and blame Tor
In shirking the responsibilities OF wealth
Young Mr. Garland is follower OF Iolstol ana penese
IN literal following Of the teachings Of Christ VINO ao
people to sell ali they had and give to the poor ana
declared next impossible for rich man 70 ener the
lngdom Of Heaven Because his ideaism and altrulsm
clashes with the commercazed greed of the world ne IS
denounced folly and for overlooking the opportunities
for helping humanity that possession OF money permits.
IBIS all in the viewpoint Had the legacy been accepted
and Mr. Garland distributed it in phanthropc way Wnen
he reached the bottom of his pile he would stbe regarded
as fool Meanwhile the mere possession OF wealth IN al
probabilities weud have wrought the psychooglca cahee
that riches usually work either hardness OF heaft marrow"
ness of vision and lack Of human sympathy or the reckless
ness and corruption of the spendthrf dng his way down
the primrose path perdton Of course he might nave
utilized his leisure become thinker and philosopher put
he would lack the knowledge Of life that poverty and toll
supply. ,,
Mr. Garland probably realized that inherited wealth.
seldom benefits anyone and is neither appreciated nor en-
loved Nv REGIMENTS is denoraizer of morals and cause
Of ecadence and that only in toll and creation does content
nent lie At any rate it is strange commentary upon
Christianity that 1900 years after the prth OF Cnrst
anyone who attempts to follow his teachings regarded as
freak.
It would be better world if more rich mems sons fol-
lowed the example Of Garland If they worthy OF the
possession of wealth. they will acquire it as their father
before them and find their JOY not in the wealth but IN
the struggle create ita struggle that VIII develop
them If they lack this ability they are better off without
it, They will at least experience the joy of honest toll
The law of inheritance is unnatural law VI all the
creatures that populate the earh civilized man IS the only
that units his offspring for the struggle OF life by pro-
vdng for his future and thereby the atrophy OF ms
powers than any other cause is due the arclal
class distinctions and atocracy that create social
Devised the pepetuaton of tyranny and privilege
exercises baefu influence society closes the door OF
opporty to the masses and defeats its object by under
writing the decadence of its benefciares.
nj y
AS long as people refuse to recognize facts it is the duty
society to- correct the evils resultant from the inheritance
laws by foreng society the nearned inheritance rms
can be done by inheritance that will confscate the
major portion of No user tax can be devised and
the enforcement of such taxes would not only IN few years
nav the war indebtedness but make for social justice
person is entitled to the and enjoyment OF what ne
creates during his life time He has right to reach his
from the grave to dictate and control the lie OF
future generations even of his family No one entitled
o what he does not and hardship is wrought to the
individual by Withholding what he had part in creating
hus ns,rng an incentive and forcing development tha
produces useful member of society instead OF parasite
II =