The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-01-30
YlgAL ounarloN oF INqnnnag

eaung Way,
EDITOR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
eGOnOmiata toll ua that IN tho prOdue'
ton OF wealth there are three factors,
land, labor aud capitali and that each
OF these three factors 10 entitled 70 a
share Of the wealth produced, On this
ground, popular opinion has been edu'
Gated 10 accept tho law OF interest, But
II In now becoming question which Ia
agitating the world, aA 10 whether
money plays q sufficient part In tho
production of wealth 10 Justify a low
Interest, or 10 entltle money 10 the
right OF any compensation for the part
II plays In the production Of wealth,
Tho only reasonable conclusion why
wealth should be produced nj all, In 10
increase tho happiness OF individuals
and society,
Now II money actually increases the
wealth OF society, then money may be
entitled 10 ita interest or compensation,
But, II on the other hand, IL can can be
shown that money docs not Increase
tho wealth OF society, but rather con,
trolls the wealth and retarda production
20 the injury of individuals and society,
then the law of interest or the custom
that forces mon 10 pay for the use Of
money Ii robbery.
Nov lot ua SEQ how It works; Sup
pose |, by industry and economy, save
1000, The money 10 mine and have
q right 30 do with II what will, have
produced 8l 900 worth OF wealth, which
now remains In the w0rld'a store house,
and the money Ia my certificate that |
am entitled 10 $1,000 worth OF any kind
OF wealth remainingin In tho worlds store
house. But tho money In not wealth
depOhited, II obey the prOmptinga Of
nature, OF myself aud family, aud draw
out OF the worlds store house 81 1000
worth OF such things aB are useful,
increase the business OF society Just 10
the extent OF el, 900 and furnish an OPP
p0rtunity for labor 10 llll up that 81 900
vacuum which | Lave created In the
worlds store house, But 1 conclude
not 10 do that, will put my money on
interest 10 help Increase my capital.
Farmer A. comes along aud wants
$500 10 pay of mortgage on his farm.
| toll him money Ia worth per cent In
the market, Farmer A, says farming
only pays 3 per cent, aud by paying me
per cent. he must cuftall his expenses
aud rob business and labor 10 the ex.
tent OF per cent. on 5000, but neces.
aity oOmpella him 10 pay IL, or loee his
farm. Then merchant b. comes along
aud wants $500 10 pay note In the
bank. He says his business does not
Justify him 10 pay any interest NJ all,
that 70 out OF every 30 business men
lose money, or go 10 the wall, ana that
all the money they pay for Interest
AhOrtenA the business OF others, and the
opportunity OF labor; but necessity
GOmpellB him 10 take my money or do
worse. The necessities OF Others now
becomes my opportunity, | am not
supposed 10 be governed by any law OF
equity. IL ia now buBlnefa with me;
aud this seems 10 DO tho popular idea
Of the law OF interest Many want II
that way because II increases my cap
ital, regardless Of whom II Injuries,
The idea that money increases the
wealth Of society IN as much OF II delu'
sion as u protective taflll, aud works
about the same way. They both Ignore
the law OF equity. II the law of equity
could sanction any Interest for the use
OF money, such interest could not pos
Bi0ly exceed the natural Increase of the
wealth Of the country, after deductlng
the rise In land values, which belongs
to the whole people, aud not TO the
money OF the country. And the failure
OF 40 many business men iS due mostly
TO the rent interest and taxes people
are compelled TO pay by tho best gov.
ernmcnt In the world,
by the law Of nature, whoever In.
lures one member OF society Injuries
society as whole; but IL will he
said Is that Ia true, then whatever ben
ellts one member OF society benefits So
ciety as u whole. This Is true also,
provided that benefit does no Injury TO
other members of society, which the
law OF interest and the law of protec'
ti0n must necessarily do,
But II will be said that the produc'
ton of wealth could not 20 on without
money; this deny Set practical
shoemaker down. In community where
they need shoes aud have the means TO
buy them; u that shoemaker has moth.
ing but u knowledge of his craft he will
20 10 making shoes and make good
wages, employ other laborers and in
crease the business Of that community.
But set that same shoemaker down In
q town whore they need shoes, but have
no means (as Il result Of too much IN.
terest, rent and taxes) TO buy them, and
II that shoemaker has n bank Mt his
command he will make no shoes, EN-
ploy no labor, nor Increase the business
OF that community. Demand only EN-
ploys labor and increases business, and
wealth In the hands Of the masses ere
ates demand. A. j. KNIT.