The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-05-17
WHAT COXEY WANTS.
ASKS THE GOVERNMENT TO
GIVE MEN EMPLOYMENT.
Lays the United states should Issue $780,
OOO. 900 OF Fun Legal I~"d~r Money
asd spend 1t In Const ructi"g Good High
ways

TO where you may, talh 10 WHO III
you will, this question cOnfronts YOU:
"What do these men expect to accom-
plish after they get to Washington"
"What is it Coxcy is demanding from
Congress-? To answer that question
here is the good roads bill:
SEXTON /. Be II enacted by the Senate and
House OF Representative, IN tonsieas Assem-,
bied That the Secretary OF the Treasury OF
the 'nited States Il hereby authorized ana III
strucied 10 have engraved and have printed,
immediately after the passage OF this bill
five hundred million, o. dollar, OF Treasury
notes IA iega! tender for all debts. public ALI!
private, said notes to tee In denominations OF
one. two. tlye AKA ten dollars. and 10 De- placed
III IA fund to he hNOwn u, the General tnunty
Road rund System OF the L nited States. and
to be cxpe nded soiely for said purpose.
SE'. 2. And be II further enacted That 1t
shall he the duty OF the Secretary OF War to
take charge OF the Construct l., IN , .! me s;..d
States, and said CONSTRUCTION 70 commence as
soon ~ the Secretary Of the Treasury shall III.
form. the Secretary OF War that the said fund
when II shall he the duty OF the secretary or
W.. to tnauRurate the WORK ana expend the
sum Of twenty millions Of dollars per month,
pro rata with the number Of miles or roads IN
each state and territory IN the United states
SIC. g. BE 1t further enacted That all labOr
other than thvt OF the Secretary o. " ar. whose
corporations are already nxed ~ law shall
be paid by the day. and that 'he rate re not
Iess than one dollar and NIFTY cents per day Tor
common labor and three dollars and nifty cents
per day for team and labor and that eight
hours per day snail constitute q days LABOR
under the provisions of this bill.
By the terms of this measure the
National Government would issue five
hundred millions Of full legal tender
money, the same as it did when gold
stole away III the early days of the war.
This money not to be encountered or
crippled with any form of exception"
but 10 be in fact, what the United
States Supreme Court SAYS the Gov
eminent has the sovereign right to
make it q full legal tender for all
debts, public aud private, of any ma
turc whatsoever.
The Government resorted to this
means to put down the rebellion. Why
not issue this amount of money to give
employment to the millions of unem-
plOvci throughout the country?
But what will this money be re-
deemed with YOU ask When Il dol
lar OF this full legal tender money is
paid over the post office counter III ex-
change for postage stamps 1t is re
deemed" When the stamps carry
your letters to their destination the
stamps are Redeemed When one of
these road workers, by thrifty frugal
ity, or stealing from his fellow work
man, accumulates sufficient that he
deems it best for his health to take IL
trip to Europe. there is always enough
gold to exchange to meet any Euro
pean requirements. But the millions
OF bankrupt and idle men to-day are
not contemplating trip to Europe.
America is good enough for them.
They feel that they have u right here.
and are just now engaged i'll bringing
that question to al issue, as to who
owns the earth. anyhow, and who has
the right to say that the great ma or-
ity shall not be granted the privilege
employing their natural endowments
in line of providing Il living for those
dependent upon them.
\ Standing Competitor.
The provisions of this bill would
place Uncle Sam in position of a
standing competitor for labor. When
Il railroad issues an order that it's sec
ton men must work ten hours for
LAO. there stands Uncle Sam ready
to give them u job on his roads ut
$50 for day of eight hours. SO
with the iron mills, the dock compa-
MES. contractors. and in fact every
form of employment would be forced
to pay at least $3.50 per day Of eight
hours, or go without labor.
With labor thus employed there
would be no tramps: the excuse for
them would be removed. and under
such conditions the man who would
not work would soon be ducked in the
rivers or given such other admonition
As to I've preferable for him to work
than beg.
When men are employed they spend
what they make in buying the product
of other mems labor. The merchant
would quickly dispose of his stocks of
goods. bad debts would be thing of
the past. for men would have money
with which to pay cash for what they
bought and to prove this. is there Il
mail carrier or other employee of the
Government who cannot get better
credit when needed. than his fellow
employees in any other pursuits.
The one and only objection that
stands in the way of this measure is
che fact that it opens an avenue for
the g.eat debtor class to pay off their
cessi.at!nS that large class whose in
come Is derived from money invested in
bonds. mortgages and pawnshop en-
terprises. to invest their money in le-
gitinate productive enterprises en-
plovinS labor instead of labor hirelins
money and paying ruinous interest.
CoNsy's Second isill.
The question is raised. how this
good reads bill is to help the city Ia
horer. and for fear it would not. seq
oni provision is made IL shape OF his
nc.l-in,eres. bearing bond bill, which
reat.. ae follows:
BE II enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives.. III Congress assembled: That
Whenever any state. territory. county. town
shy, municipality. or incorporated town or
village deem IL necessary 10 make any pubic
improy efnent>. they shall deposit with the
Secretary OF the Treasury of the United States
y non interest bearing twenty i've year bond.
not Ia exceed one half the assessed valuation
Of the property In said state, territory. county.