Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-29
Gerard Stirs Controversy
With List of Nations Rulers

A spirited controversy has been
aroused By James w. Gerard, former
Ambassador to Germany, with his state
ment that certain captains Of industry
and other men Of wealth are the rulers
Of the United States. His list, a.
amended. includes upward Of so per-
sons. There are protests that the peo-
pie OF the country actually rule OF
have potential power, while there Is q
fairly large group of comments in sup
port Of the Gerard statement. The i'm
portanee Of intellectual leadership ID
upheld in same instances.
|. 1T Is an imposing array of bankers
railroad presidents and captains of In
dustry," says the Cincinnati Times
Star. "And yet, If each of these men
went away tomorrow on a years vaca-
ton, the country, thus temporarily de-
prived Of It's rulers would never notice
the difference. Save in the case of An
drew Mellon, who happens to be Secre-
tary of the Treasury, and Henry Ford
who Is a singularly colorful parsonage,
few of their countrymen would ever
learn that they were not at their desks. "
"A vast deal of materialistic power
Is seen in the group listed by the Wor-
cester Telegram, but that paper con-
tends that "they could not sustain
themselves did not this influence oper-
ate consistently for the common good"
The Youngstown Vindicator holds that
"our very rich men have been very
much more influential In our Govern
ment during the last 10 years than
they are likely to be in the next TO-"
The Utica Observer Dispatch believes
that "the Government is not run by q
handful of big business leaders, but the
small leaders back home are more pow
erful, with the aid and assistance of
the rank and file OF the voters"
"Our rulers, II Mr.. Gerard hasn't
found 1t out" asserts the Kansas City
Star, ARE the people Of the United
States. They may not always rule the
country well, but they rule it. If Mr..
Gerard thinks they don't, We suggest
an experiment for him-let him run
magnates are behind him. Then let
him see what happens to him." The
Indianapolis Star agrees that the
knowledge that Mr., Gerard'S rulers
were back of q candidate would defeat
him in any commonwealth, with one or
two possible exceptions" That paper
adds that "any one who inaagines that
mere material interests are supreme in
the United States underestimate the
intelligence and the spirit OF the peo-
pie"
Quoting MIR. Gerards statement that
the leaders on the list "rule by virtue Of
their ability" the St Louis Fost-Dis-
patch comedies there Is something in
It," but contends, THE people, inert
and apathetic though they may often
be, are more than puppets in the indus
trial drama. The ultimate authority u
in their hands. They can rule the
rulers when they will"
Some of those whom he included"
thinks the san Francisco Chronicle,
will be surprised to learn that they are
so omnipotent. Just IS q random shot,
there Is Samuel insult. 1t Is going to
hurt his feelings to learn that he Is 80
powerful. and yet that Frank Smith, his
personal choice for United States SEN
ator from Illinois, never got by the
outer door," The New York Evening
Post, considering prohibition, farm re-
lief and the tariff as important pieces
of legislation" suggests that sit might
be pertinent to ask Mr.. Gerard whether
any one of them" The Salina Journal
calls the Gerard statement "a grim little
joke adding: TOUR Senators and Rep
resentatives have been taking them
selves too seriously. Our elections, ap-
parently, are not as important as we
thought they we're"
The st, Louis Times feels that "the
power OF these men Is overestimated":
that they have made many mistakes
and the public. judging by the fervor of
widespread conviction, Is prepared to
dispute their poSss'" The Times also
states: 1T may be that Mr.. Gerard has
included too many in his list. There
are many names In 1t which do not be-
long there, and others must have been
inserted for courtesy. The oligarehy
more likely numbers than So"