Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1908 — THE SNEER OF WEALTH. [ARTICLE]

THE SNEER OF WEALTH.

Imllaimpollg News (Hep.). Some time ago the New York Tribune, in a line editorial, said: “Won’t somebody contribute 30 cents to Mr. Bryan’s campaign?” The News criticised this as an unconscious expression of the contempt of the cohorts of wealth for the common people who proposed to finance a campaign by little. The unusual appeal had been made by the Democrats in this campaign to the American people to come forward with even dollar contributions —this following the rejection by the Democrats of t&lnted contributions, the limitation of their amount from any source, and the resolution in accordance with the platform to print the names o£ the donors before election. It all seemed so ridiculous in the eyes of amassed millions and the boundless resources of a party which as the political agent of predatory wealth had a long and malodorous record of, squeezing sums according to needs from “beneficiaries” and multi-mil-lionaires that the national newspaper organ of the party chortled in its Joy at the mere notion and in an unconscious moment emitted the 30-cent remark. * It was just what The News called it—“the sneer of wealth” and the exposition of it was copied far and wide—is still being copied. But further proof that the designation struck a popular chord appears in the organization of the Thirty-Cent League. George R. Dale, of Hartford City, in this State, who “did the rest” after The News had touched the button, is receiving letters from all parts of the country. A man from Texas writes that he "would not miss it even for forty cents.” There speaks the recognition of the vitality of the issue roused by this “sneer of wealth.” Congressman Baker, of Brooklyn, N. Y., lauds the movement and asks for particulars, with a view of taking up the New' York of the National Thirty-Cent League. Whatever becomes of the league it ought to have publicity. Let the Democrats apply to it some of that which they are going to devote to other parts of the campaign, for there is in *the episode one of the most significant signs of the time. It shows that the people—the common people, who were ridiculed by the first unconscious ' proposition—appreciate the situation. That they realize that the predaceous wealth and power of the country, that have so long written its laws—especially those for the benefit of wealth; that have administered its government; filled its courts and interpreted the laws are gathered in solid phalanx behind the ruling party. Spread the news of the Thirty-Cent League! Let thirty cents answer thirty millions.