The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-02-17
PRESS FoRWARpl
Reformers Must Not BE too Conserva-
tive If They Would Win.

Reformers Must Not BE too Conserva-
tive II They Would Win.
In this reform movement we must
bear in mind if we occupy conserva-
tive position the plutocrats will win,
as in Germany and other foreign
| countries. In so-called government
ownership Of railroads, telegraphs,
ETC., the people are still in poverty.
1t has been said every wageworker
has soldier to support, which con-
tlnues under government ownership
the same as under Incorporated mon
opoly. Whyp Because interest is
continued The government, instead
of coming and paying out money, bor-
! rows and issues interest bearing
bonds, thus becoming the agent of
the plutocrat, paying over labor's
! products. The Nationalist of the
United States quote from them, thus
only going half way in government
| and municipal reform. Under our
present financial system, debts would
continue.
One thing is certain, the present
system is wrong Or we have no cause
to pose as reformers, writes Galen P.
Atherton to the Topeka Advocate and
Tribune, If we are right, why should
we weaken our cause through make
shift measure? In Kansas they were
the most radical and realized the
largest gain. In Massachusetts they
were very conservative, and the gain
was small. Why? The people voted
the old party ticket, largely the
Democratic for governor, because the
working people could not see much
difference in Democratic reform and
National reform. They said; elbow
much are we benefited through mu-
nicipal ownership, providing bonds are
issued and we pay the bills? The
usurer would still clip his coupons;
the debt against the people still re-
main" A mere makeshift which
under our present competitive system
is a bid for official dishonor and fraud,
through which monopolies would
still flourish.
When commenced to study the in
dustrial question | found it had never
been solved. Why? Because all
past reformers failed when they al
lowed the rights of interest. Henry
Georges writings portray almost per-
feet equality which he annuls through
interest rights. Herbert Spencer re-
pudiates past writings through in
terest concessions. Interest and
equity are not homogeneous; they can
not thrive together. The farmer who
loses his farm says, II could not pay
the interest; it swept away the saw
| ings of lifetime" The merchant
says, 1.-The high interest failed me- :"
The manufacturer says, 1.-The amount
OF interest was SO great itruined me-. :"
1t ruins all it gets in it's clutches,
and is the father of competition. It
favOrs those who control it in trade.
The only relief is in honest nation
al money at cost, which is true capt.
tai and would stay in this country.
There is no call for us to ask Europe's
| advice as to Our financial policy.
There would have been just as much
sense in asking England in 1875 if we
had better declare the colonies free.
1t is not the money stamp that can
cells the balance in trade it is the
product of labor. What did we gain
through seven years of war for indie
| pendence, when to-day, through de-
based currency, European capitalists
take $770.0o0,000 as interest Of the
products of the United States? tell
you brother workers, this is the big
gest problem mankind ever grappled
with, and the financial question is the
key that unlocks justice. Agitate
the question, and the usurers cry
"cranks," fools" 'idiots, which
they never do if their system is not
in danger. 1t is natural we receive
representation in exchange at cost,
and any more in that direction will
increase our prosperity; and our only
hope of defeating the money power is
to be honest and square with the peo-
pie. No makeshift is ours.