Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-10
WHITTIER are We Driftinrp

us q restless people throughout tbe
nation. From the halls of Coneress
through legislatures, by labor organic.
atlons, the Henry George tsingle tax'
proposition, the millionaire in high
official and corporate position. and the
expert politician, welding his plant
"balance of power" are all trying to
solve the problem; while the mortgage
on farm and city, like the spread of
pestilence, sweeps from esst to west, and
the weight of poverty upon the great
masses becomes more chafing, until
necessity demands of us to ask: "Where
lies the fault?" Could it be that if the
me efforts were turned in another
direction, IT wsnld bring about the de.
| sired results?
The increasing power of the various
labor organizations, content at first with
ten hours as days work, but now want
ing eight, will they demand five hours as
days work in time? Do they demand
this shortening of time from tire, or be-
cause of too little pay for
longer time? If they could
get fair compensation for eleven
hours work, could they not find sufficient
time within the remaining thirteen for
rest and pleasure? If 80, have they at
all times performed their part consistent
with good reason to bring about ma
tional prosperity, warrantiDg proper pay
for the eleven hours? We do not see
many of the poorer classes welding the
destinies of the nation. 1t cannot be
said that it is because they have not the
ability or love for their people. Is it be-
cause they are too poor to cope with the
present day political machinery? Is it
because that plant balance of power in
the hands of scheming politicians bars
them from office? The great masses of
the people mean well, and are largely in
the majority; but when elections come
about do they all attend the caucus,
the primary, the convention and the
election? Or do they allow that
expert to propose ticket for
election day. Is this why $12, 900 900
can be frittersd away at one sitting of a
Legislature, building up private town
sites and such like. Suppose this money
and as much more could be contributed
by this State towards the completion of
the great canal connecting the two
mighty oceans, thereby reducing freight
and stimulating our productions. Sup
pose little of the valuable time of our
Legislature had been devoted to con-
densing the two Assessors forces into
one, two Collectors into one, two Treas
urers into one; making of the two tax
bills and expenses of same, one, and
that bill payable in four equal payments,
each quarterly, would we have 30
large sum of money taken out
of circulation for banks to contea ad
for? Is it the peoples fault, Indifference
or wish that we see 80 large a NUM- Der
of millionaires at Washington? Note
the contrast. See the brawny arm OF
labor struggling for five years to perfect
title to homestead, toiling to meet short
mortgage at 13 per cent, and the care
worn mother of today using the creates
economy; also the palefaced maiden after
the days work IN the store while on the
other hand We hear from the fountain of
Justice of Mr.. Railroad Millionaire COB.
bling up whole counties, funding his debt
for fifty years at per cent and trying to
avoid taxation, and he is as
sisted by Mr.. Millionaire Wallstreet.
who controls the sliding scale on
, finances; likewise Mr.. Millionaire
Manufacturer, who wishes to control the
, tariff (both low and high, regulate the
and wink at the Chinese crossing the
lines to compete with you. Is it any
surprise to you that the Mrs. Millionaires
can set $25 lunches for each other, and
their daughters expend $4,000 yearly
1for hairpins and candy?
Both the rich and poor have rights,
and we should see to it that the one does
not impose upon the other, and that, too,
at the ballot box. Does not our reason
tell us that if we demand eleven
hours pay for eight hours work, that
the farmer, who is compelled to
have eleven hours work for given sum,
If he is compelled to accept eight, then
he is entitled to pay for eleven pounds
of butter and give but eight. Are not
labor, capital and the products of the
soil regulated by supply and demand ?
Labor includes the brightest men of the
day, doctors, lawyers, artists. Patti is a
laborer, and in consequence of scarcity
of her kind she demanded Sc a seat
from full house, while we have scores
of beautiful singers willing to appear
nightly to half filled house at SO cents
each,
The merchant cannot get $4 per 100
for flour if you can buy it from others for
So. A legislature cannot regulate the
rate of interest on money. Efforts have
proven that by such restrictions you
drive it out of the State, and by 30 doing
raise the rate on those compelled to bor-
low.
1t is now argued that we must build a
complete sewer system. Not from the
fact that our rapid progress demands it
(for in this depression it requires far
more than sewer to restore prosperity a,
but it is made to appear that we have
become objects of charity, and those
having property must be taxed to give
work to the suffering; when this work
is completed by the many thousands
who will rush here for work on the cut
rates. Then later on may come the man
wanting to invest and when he sees
this two and half millions
added to our present high tax
he concludes there are other
places where he can realize better re-
turns. Under ordinary circumstances
we need complete sewer system,
but just now does the end justify the
means?
Are we too lazy, or "are we ignorant of
the fact that within our county there are
thousands of acres of choice land now
lying idle that could be had free of rent,
in this very time when the great
demands for the products it would pro-
duce are such that we are shipping in
from the East" / have lust rented 2OO