Omaha daily bee., 1920-11-28
The Bees Platform
WEALTH AND ITS USES.

Andrew Carnegie's remark snent the disgrace
OF dying possessed of great wealth is recalled by
two news items chronicled during the week. One
recites that John D. Rockefeller's public gifts
now total almost half billion dollars; the other
that two young men at Boston had declined to
accept the millions left them by their fathers
Each of these incidents contains lesson in
the use OF wealth. In the case Of Rockefeller,
it means that great many worthy institutions
or enterprises have benefited because the DOS
SCISSOR OF great wealth had the impulse to use it
after fashion that promised good. These bene-
factions Of the chief Of the worlds mllionaires
have been subject to all sorts of commentaries,
from the fulsome praise of those who received
them to the acrid criticism of the ultra social
istic, but none of them are able thus to detract
from the essential truth that in distributing his
wealth Mr.. Rockefeller has so far been actuated
by such wisdom as has secured to worthy OBJ
jects support and security they would not other
wise have obtained. Whether he ultimately at.
tans the goal so far beyond Andrew Carnegie's
grasp does not especially matter; what is far
more important is that Mr. Rockefeller has
placed large proportion of his material wealth
into permanent service of humanity. His stew
In declining to accept the bequesss left by
their father the Garland brothers rely upon
their own ability to provide for such needs as
may confront them in the future. Without spe-
cial ostentation they express a desire to achieve
whatever comes to them entirely on their own.
They do not scorn money, nor underestimate its
power a source Of social power and privilege,
but they expect to achieve distinction for them
selves and so to owe nothing to their father save
the cost OF their keep while being brought to
their majority.
Neither of these attitudes towards wealth is
unreasonable or especially novel, yet through
them is illustrated the growth Of an idea that
persists in considering money as a means rather
than an end. In this thought is contained the
germ of what Theodore Roosevelt had in mind,
now expanding as its makes its way through the
world. The war upset many little reforms, but
has had an effect not expected The sudden
food Of money loosed upon the world has caused
general revaluation of most of our conceptions,
md out Of it comes the strengthening Of the
Roosevelt idea that the service Of great wealth
is not for the individual, but for mankind.
Men who have accumulated goods or gear
of any kind or to any amount will find them
selves left in undisputed possession Of all they
hold, but will be less and less anxious to keep
tirely to themselves the wealth they have 1t
will be more and more employed in tightening
the burdens of those who have less. Not that |
the penalty for unthrift, Incidence, ignorance or
waste will be any the lighter, nor the reward
for energy, industry, initiative and prudent man
agement be withheld. Inequalities in worldly |
condition will persist as long as men are made
up as they are now and have always been, but |
the application of wealth, which finally is pro- |
duced by the combined efforts of all, will be ad
ministered with more Of attention to the needs
of all. John D. Rockefeller is an exemplar of
this, while the Garland boys may be but antici
pating the time, looked forward to by some,
when there will be no descent of Swollen for
tunes"