A Covert Attack?

For some time there has been some violent criticism in the Fatherland of German plutocrats who, in violation of every canon of good taste and human decency, have lived riotous lives abroad while the masses of German people starve at home.

This state of affairs attracted the acrimonious pen of George Bernhard, Socialist editor of the Vossische Zeltung of Berlin, who has on occasion found words of censure to heap on the head of the great and notorious "Coke-monger," Herr Hugo Stinnes. Said Herr Bernhard: "The mass of German people do not seem quite aware of what causes foreigners annoyance at this vulgar display. It is not the fact that there is still wealth in Germany. There are rich and poor everywhere, and no sensible person will blame a man simply because he is rich if he does his duty to mankind.

"There are two things that cause intense indignation both in Germany and outside.

"Firstly, that most of these people have never paid any or only very inadequate taxes, that they have enriched themselves by the mark inflation and by the same mark inflation escaped almost entirely from taxation and that all of the successive German Governments have failed completely to bring these shirkers to account.

"Secondly, that these people lack even the most rudimentary forms of decency, a social decency that in other countries induces wealthy persons to part with some of their wealth for the benefit of the starving poor, of science and of art.

"Should we not blush if the President of the International Red Cross at Geneva pleads in his address to all civilized countries urging collections for starving Germany 'that your generosity might act as example to the German rich and induce them to do their duty to their poor compatriots.'

"Of course, there are in Germany many rich old families who have always done and still do their duty in that respect, and justice compels me to say that there are also a few newly rich who remember the poor, but the most of the possessors of Germany's gigantic fortunes have done nothing to alleviate the distress of their country. Names that all over the world are regarded as symbols for German wealth will be sought in vain on subscriptions for charitable purposes.

"These people have millions to finance organizations which avowedly seek to destroy the Constitution and the Government and to subsidize newspapers that openly urge civil war, but where are their public kitchens, where are their Christmas gifts to the poor, where are their donations to scientific institutions?