The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-07-01
THE ST. LOUIS PLATFORM


ought not to be considered. Here it i.
given IN full
l am asked to reply to correspon
dent in BROOKLYN, N. Y who proposes
the following queries as to the ST
Louis platform of the Peoples party.
81. How is the 2 per cent money
borrowing scheme, set forth in the sub
treasury plan, or some better system, to
open new avenues for employment and
to increase the earnings of mechanics,
laborers, clerks and storekeepers ?
90. How are the masses, and espec-
tally the wage earners, to be benefited
by the free aud unlimited coinage OF
silver? What basis of value do you
advocate?
"3, Why should the amount of the
currency be increased to not less than
$50 per capita p? Iu this connection
what natural law should regulate its
volume, or should the latter be like the
tariff, subject to the capriccs and sup
posed political interests of successive
Congresses s?
81. Why should any PERSONS earn
ings, be they large or small, be taken
from him by graduated income tax or
any other kind of tax?
rs. 1.-THE land belongs to the people,
why should aliens be excluded from its
use, on suitable payment for such priv
ilege, any more than citizens? Why
should lands bought in good faith
under our present unjust system be
reclaimed without compensation l
iner) from aliens rather than citizens
Will not the single tax on land values
make such discrimination wholly
unnecessary ?"
REMARKS IN REPLY.
l. Ifthe farmers can procure plenty
of money chcaply they will employ
more labor and thus relieve the pres
sure among laborers seeking employ
ment, to some extent. This will tend
to raise the prices which laborers may
demand for their services. With cheap
money and employing more labor, the
fair inference is that the farmers oper-
atoms and business will be larger and
his profits greater; and, hence, he will
be better customer for the products
of the shops and factories; then, ulti-
mately, he and all who are bene fitted by
his prosperity will be better customers
to the storekeepers. As general
proposition, the prosperous farmers, the
hired laborers on the farms and in the
factories and shops, being generally
employed and better pa j, become bet
ter customers to each other as we'll as
to the manufacturers and merchants
When money, which is tho blood Of
civilized society, circulates free] y on
terms which industry and business can
afford to pay, the whole Industrial
body feels the vivifying influences. and
general prosperity is the result. This
is a law of society so plainly visible to
every observing man, and SO plainly
stated by all standard writers, that it is
amusing to see it candidly asked in this
day Of general thought on the subject
1t would be far more sensible to ask,
"How can cheap and plentiful money
in the hands of farmers fail to benefit
mechanics, laborers and storekeepcrs ~
2. Continuing the same line oil
thought it will be seen that "the masses
and especially the wage earners," will
be benefited by the free coinage of sill
yer because that policy will give the
county more money and rising prices
which, according to all experience and
history on the subject, will give to
labor more employment and better
wages. AT time of shrinking money
and falling prices, labor goes tramping
in search of masters. At time OF
rising prices bosses 60 hunting labor
Rising prices for the products OF labor
never fail to create greater demand
for labor and better wages. 1t is said
that the cost of living will also be
greater. That is true. But employed
labor can pay better prices for the
necessities and comforts of life than
unemployed or poorly employed labor.
Let me illustrate A mechanic owes
81, 1000 on his home. Without employ.
ment he can never pay his debt, how
ever cheaply he may live. If he earns
So per week and it costs him So per
week to live, he can lay aside So per
week to meet his debt. If be earns S12
per week and it costs him Sc per week
to live. he can lay aside Sc per week to