Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-06-25
The Government Helps The Strong
Against the Weak.

The Government Helps The Strong
Against the Weak.
I'm 1887 steel rails were selling in
the markets Of the world for $50 per
ton. Like wall around the United
States, there was protective duty of
ST, and steel rails were selling with
in this country at $37 II ton. Protec-
ton removed foreign competition, a
trust removed domestic competition,
and the two carried prices to the very
limit. Here the business men of
Pittsburg had gone out of the purely
business arena-they had stepped into
politics, had got the United States
Government into their business as a
business factor, and, securing to them
selves the surrender of part of its
taxing power, they had government,
which is only just when impartial,
playing OH their side
Now note, the business man by
Government Partially gets S37 per
ton where otherwise, or in the markets
of the world, he could only get $40
He has Il rise in price on steel rails Of
ST per ton. The young girl works
a day and gets 81; she wants 10
yards Of calico, and goes to store
and gets il at 10 cents yard, and
pays the 81 her day had produced.
The store keeper would have charged
only 0 cents yard but for extra
freight he had to pay ; the railroad
charged extra freight because Of the
increased cost Of its steel rails In
other words, when, 10y Government
interference on behalf Of the business
men, the price of steel rails was car
ried from $50 to $37 per ton, the
railroad got it back by increased
freights and the merchant by increas-
ed prices. The young girl got it back
from nowhere her 10 cents was pass
ed over to the merchant, who passed
it oyer to the railroad, which passed
it over 90 the business man.
Government, which can produce
nothing, has wrought different dis
tribution Of wealth the business man
gets all he earns us before, but also
gets one tenth Of the earnings of the
young girl. Government is no longer
just, because no longer impartial the
girl is no longer free, because not
permitted to ENJOY in full the fruits Of
her own labor. Ten cents piece,
once year, from a 100000 persons,
made up of young girls, boys, babies,
sick and old folks, and the general
ly-fOr the tax can always be landed
upon the poor at last make so, 900.
That 10 cents to the young girl was
blood money she will be less well
clothed, less we'll nourished, and
taken from supplies already scant, it
may mean hunger, cold, and even
death to her. To the business man it
may mean cigar, or II stick of chew
ing gum for his child, or, put with
forced contributions, the total may
take his daughter to Europe for
pleasure trip.
Here is one Of our great captains
Of industry, assisted by accumulated
capital and corporate franchises as
well as the ability which makes him
a captain of industry, competing in
the industrial arena for the necessities
and good things Of life with frail
girl who has only II onc-grl power to
depend ON, and of the two he it is we
find asking government aid, and aid
to do what p? Why, to take away to
himself all his own and part as we'll
of the poor girls earnings,
This is what ought TO be the manli-
est country in the world, on the part
of that section Of our manhood best
fitted by nature for. the financial
struggle for bread, and aimed by
these financial giants at the weakest
section of the community. We may
talk about the ferocity of the North
men tossing up babies and catching
them on their spears, or about atroci-
ties practiccd in Russia to-day we
may imagine Sullivan calling for
steel knucklcs with which to encount.
or II scvcn.year.old boy but we can
not believe that American manhood
will not some time rise above the I'M
PARALLEL mcanness of the protective
tarih.-Popular Science Monthly
Council Proceedings.
FlNl