The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-10-01
To the Editor of The Statesman:


by the subtreasury plan and by repeal
of various laws favoring the wealthy
classes. At this point the following
conversation ensued:
"Now, said 1, Mr.. F., you cult
vate over $50 acres in cotton, corn,
etc, will you please tell me what you
use on that large farm that is home
made, or made in Texas. Think over
your wagons, plows, cultivators,
mowers, hoes, rakes, forks, harness,
etc.,
After some moments study he re-
piled, nothing"
"Well, tell me what in the way OF
clothing you, your family and your
hired hands use is home made" He
answered nothing"
"What have you in the way of fur
niture, bedding, ETC., in your house
which is Of home manufacturer
Again he answered "nothing."
"What have you on your table that
is home made or home grown"
"In the spring." he replied, 1--WE
have vegetables from our garden, and
during the year we have milk, butter,
eggs, beef, and occasionally chickens"
"You buy your flour, meal, bacon
and lard, etc?n "Yes.n GLOW do
your neighbors compare with you in
these matters?" l asked.
hn
Some raise few hogs, but none of
them enough for the years supply,
and many of them make no gardens,
as the time cannot be spared from the
cotton.n
"Your children attend scnool, of
course. Now please tell me what
books, maps, states, desks and chairs
used by them are of home manufact-
ure?n
Again the answer, "Nothing.n
"Well, Mr.. F., if everything you
eat, drink, wear and labor with is
purchased abroad, how do you expect
to keep the per capita balanced? If
the United States government should
give to each man, woman and child
in Texas 500, how long would it be,
under the present system, until New
England gathered it all in?"
He admitted it would not be long.
! The case of Mr.. f. is not peculiar, in
fact, the same may be said of ninety
nine farmers out of each one hundred,
and with equal truth of our mechanics.
The old cabinet makers, wagon MAX
ers, shoe makers, ETC., have disap-
peared, and in their places are found
repair shops and cobblers.
The last census informs us that the
per capita wealth of Massachusetts is
1920, of Texas, the wealthiest of the
Southern states, $3.11, of South Caro-
lima about $1.13. We need not seek
far for the cause of this discrepancy.
We produce only the raw material
and from such production reap only q
meagre subsistence. Massachusetts
manufactures our raw material and
sells tons, reaping millions. These
millions, consolidated by corporations,
build our railroads and by a tax on
our raw material for transportation
draw other millions from our depleted
pockets. 1t is useless, it is folly
while we pursue our present policy, to
cry out against pernicious laws and
monied corporations.
If we would be freed from the
domination of Northern millionaires
and money kings we must put our
shoulder to the wheel. "GOd helps
those who help Themselves and if
we wish to restore the financial
balance, and keep it balanced, we
must take steps to keep our money
at home. How? BY the establish
ment of factories within our state to
consume at least a portion of our
products. Let us supply at least a
home supply Of cotton, wool, leather,
wagons and agricultural
The material for these
and many other other industries are
at hand, and their preparation for the
factories will give employment to
thousands of our people.
"But where" / hear asked, "is the
money to come from for these facto
ries?n
To this l would answer, in part
from the State of Texas. Our perma-
nent school and university funds are
rapidly accommodating and to use
them has already become moment
Gus question. Some have suggested
bonds, others investment
in building more railroads, but there
is no investment of these funds which
would more rapidly and visibly add
to our wealth as a state and as indi-
viduals than to use them in the en-
offactories.
An amendment to the constitution
will be required to enable the State to
so dispose Of the funds, but if properly
this should easily be Sc
cured. When that is done and the
has passed laws to guard
the investment, let those who desire
to establish factories of some pre-
scribed minimum value present evil
dence that they have One-half the
capital actually paid in, and then let
the State lend them like amount at
4 or per cent interest, taking lien
upon the whole. This would enable
men of small means to associate
themselves together and make a be-
ginning, and at the same time invite
outside capital to seek our state.