The record-union., 1893-09-14
A NOVEL PROPOSITION.
ReVoIutionizing the Distribution Of
Wealth.
Farm Products Moved as Mail Mat
ter at a Uniform Rate for
All Distances.
For the REcoRD-US1oS.l ]

times past to the present, and this alone
has rendered development possible.
There is perhaps no other political
power on the globe whose tendency it has
been to utilize the advantages of this con-
servation in its growth and development
to greater degree than this Nation.
As a result the high ambition, exalted
achievements and future tendency of the
American people point to destiny singu-
larry grand and without parallel among
the nations.
This grand destiny, however, is threat
ened by phase deteriorating in its infiu-
ence, and has its root in the established
order Of lower civilizations of other ma
tions.
Chief among these may be noted the
unjust and unequaled distribution of
wealth, resulting in extremes Of super
nuous uperaOundance and abiect pow
erty, resulting In centralized despotisms.
we're II possible for this nation TO
escape the deterorating influences ex-
erted by foreign forms of government,
then, IN that event, the several progress
slve stages would be passed through,
ultimately producing a maximum state
OF CIVILIZATION, which, when once reached,
would become the guiding center 1or all
nations.
The deteriorating influences above
mentioned are, however, at work, which,
II not checked, must ultimately neutralize
ana change the current OF events deIri-
mental to a realization OF ideal progress.
Material prosperity is an essential ele-
ment OF true progress, and agriculture is
the basic foundation of lasting material
prosperity.
Any cause detrimental to the realiza-
tlon OF the maximum benefits to be de-
rived from agriculture is a check TO gem
eral and lasting development, and unless
removed the deterlorating force will per-
slst in its operation in a line of degenera-
ton.
Those, therefore, who seek to promote
the best interests OF agriculture, desire to
conserve the highest interests of the Ma
ton and Of the individuals therein.
Chief among the deteriorating forces
tending toward degrading level in agri-
culture IS that OF foreign competition,
ana TINS competition is caused by the
class Of labor employed and the compen-
sation paid therefor in Europe and more
especially in Asia and Africa
AT time when the production of our
country did not warrant our seeking a
foreign market this competition was not
felt TO the degree that il is now. The
vastly increased volume OF production
made 1t necessary for producers to seek a
foreign market. The price being gov
crned by the demand aud cost Of produc-
ton, our producers are compelled to meet
on an equal footing with the producers
employing the European peasants, the
lclIah ana ielaheen OF Egypt, the moujik
OF Russla and the Indian and Chinese
cOOlie.
W hen we consider that the peasant and
mouJlk are content with 10 TO % cents a
day. and the Iellah and coolie with from
10 ~ cents day for field labor-what
wonder then that our producers are grad
udlly bat surely driven to the extremity
oi mortgages and ruin, and that in spite
oi tie TACT that they habitually toll a
greater number OF hours, live in the
greatest simplicity, and as 4 general rule
pay their labor lesser compensation
lnau those IN other occupations.
The question is often asked, 'Whv do
farmers 1OrsatIe their farms, and why do
they and their sons flock to the citv?''
hose who ask these questions gener-
ally answer them themselves, and as a
rule Derate the farmer and his sons for
theIr supposed disregard for the beauties
OF nature.
pom proper inquiry these questioners
would learn thai the reason why farmers
ana their sons tlock to the city is because
farming, as general rule, is an unprotit-
able occupation, and that there is no
prospect ior Its becoming profitable and
remaining 50.
hat as soon as farming could be made
prohtabe-the farmer and his son would
NOT alone cheertully remain on the farm,
Dut mat very many city people wouId
llock to the farm and stay there.
me question OF competition with coolie
ana felIah labor IS not the only one con-
fronting the producer; the question of
transportation IS equally important.
III IS complained that the arbitrary ana
often eNorbltant rates Tor TRANSPORTATION
nave n9Rn Tfn1
grevlous hlndrances toward progress.
but greater than all these is the sinpuIar
phase OF distance competition.
10 illustrate: manufactured article
made IN Jersey City to be sold there for
80, When sent to Chicago has say s.
added, and to San Francisco saw s. added
Tor cost of freight (which the consumer
pays Tor, with an additional profit added
on the outlay OF the freight bv tha
mercAant but OF two producers, one iiviuo
within ten miles OF the market and
another living 300 or 1900 miles from mo
market, the product OF both III the sanel
VIII prlng the same price in spite of the
TACT that the cost OF Transportation was
lor the former % aud for the other 500
re may say to this that the distance
from market governs the price of land
as Tue coUullohs are now this is true.
out the question remains-is it rirht2
Merchants, as rule, deal in nerchan-
NAASSt bAAC ' a uG VI W 11Cu IS unknown and
can, therefore, fix any arbitrary nrire
thereon to suit their convenience and
their Ideas OF profit. Now. even under
these favorable circumstances. wonId
they be willing TO sell piano. a plow. a
hat. or an ostrich feather at the same
price IN the city OF its production and at a
distance OF hundreds or thousands of
miles? No, indeed; the freight and fbo
proht on the freight would be added to
the selling price.
Now, what merchant is not WILLING
TO do with an article, the selling nlice of
which Is an unknown quantity to the
public, the farmer Is compelled to do
with products 50 staple that he is in Iuck
II he receives but the price quoted on a
thousand price currents.
The fact that land near a marlzat is
more valuable than land great distance
from 1t has not nearly as much TO do
wllh the true prosperity OF the Nation as
II the Ianu near and far were OF eQual
value. IN other words, the citizen living
near New York IS not OF any more value
70 the republic than is one OF California or
Kansas, and when conditions confer a
oeneht on the citizen near New y orIx
at lhe expense of a citizen of Ohio or
Oalhornla II is a wrong, and this wrong.
II permitted TO continue, must in time
produce evil effects. This wrong is no
where more manifest than in the United
states, lor no other country has such
vast INSTANCES to traverse before reachjDr
its ultimate market
10 Simply point out the difficulties
unuer Whlch agriculture labors, and that
alone, Is hot my sole object, for this has
been done often, and by ADLER minds
nat propose 10 do is to offers remedy.
as follows:
70 meet the competitive cool;o .-d
peasant labor l would recon1nend ra-
tional legislation to the effect tbot III