The Labor enquirer., 1885-02-28
pie, let us make a comparison.
Total In fourteen states.

Total in fourteen states. $40, 900
Second-Let US glance at the centrali-
zation of wealth by means of the tele-
graph. Their actual cost has been less
thans $2O,OoO,00o, while the magnates
who own them draw dividends
on over ssO0Oo,OoO. Their invest
ments are quadrupled by law, and
are made perpetual drain on that high
figure ON the products of labor. / have
time only to consider one more power
that is enrich1ng the few and absolutely
impoverishing the many. ] mean the
money power. All other forms of cor
porate wealth are as the small dust OF
the balances beside this monster with
seven heads and ten horns. Senator
Jones, Of Nevada. in his report of the
silver commission, of which he was
chairman, says truly: Money Is the
great instrument of association, the very
fibre of social organisms, the vitalizing
force of industry, the protoplasms OF
civilization. and as essential to Its exist
ence as oxygen Is to animal life. Without
money civilization could not have had a
beginning. With diminished supply
| it must languish, and, unless relieved,
must perish" President Johnson, in an
interview with C. 6. Halpine, on the
fifth of march. 1867, says truthfully, But
what do we find? = Such a
power is fully enthroned oyer our gov
ernment, and rules our people with a
| rod of iron. The debt of the war was
increased by its manipulations fully
Isl ,642, ,OoO,O 900 over actual expenses; and
although that debt in dollars has been
| reduced one-half by this fell power, In
depreciating all product of labor in re-
lation to their bonds, it will take as much
of anything in which we can pay it,
double what it would when at the high
est. Whenth debt was $3,000,0OO,00O
in round numbers, I500,0O0,000 bushels
of wheat would pay it. Now it will take
nearly twice that,number of bushels,
Under their control of our currency
the men who employ labor and the
toiIers have been required to pay over 10
per cent interest, counting interest on
bonds used for banking, for the use of
| money III wealth-producing enterprises
| for twenty years. The result of these
enterprises ON the average has not been
over four per cent. 81 ~. n
What is the result? III. "
First-The wealth producers are in
debt to the usurers fully $2,500,OO0,00o.
That awful statement is below rather
than above the reality. Counting ma
tionaI, state, municipal, cooperative. on
| which interest is being drained, bank
ruptcy Is the outcome. Bankruptcy has
paralyzed industry. Labor finds only
meager employment. 1t is estimated by
competent authority that there are
100 900 men out Of employment at the
present time. That involves. 100000
individuals whose means of subsistence
are thus cut of.
The number .ofwage laborers engaged
In manufacturing, mining and building
is 100000, not including women and
lchildren. The wages received forbid
more than coarse subsistence to those
employed. These have to aid, through
their organizations, those that are in en-
forced ldleness.
The farmers and small tradesmen, as
classes, are bankrupts, and their farms
and homes are gradually slipping from
4 them to enlarge the estates of the
wealthy. u
The making of fortunes by the unfold
| ing of wealth from nature, as our success
| full miners and cattlemen have done, Ii
Legitimate, and against it there is ne
1 complaint. By that process no one il
robbed or injured. Its the gathering o
riches out of the toll of others by force o
class laws, such as our financial legisla
ltion has famed that imperlls civiliza
ton. That alone causes poverty ane
distress. The condition of want, enforced
lidleness. and consequent demonstration
we are considering, has resulted from
such injustice:
/ Twenty-fonr years ago we had les
| than ten millionaires in our country
now we have oyer 500, and some of then
have annual incomes Of millions. Thi
, lis amazingI The world never witnesse,
its parallel, for never before have tn
avariclous had such opportunities 70
4 robbery. It lis as threatening as it