The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-01-12
THE RICH AND POOR.
A WAGE GARNER PRoPouNps QUE
! RIEs TO Mr.. M'MILLIN.

1he story OF the Peddler ana His Friend
Forms u Strong Parallel ro the Demo
Gratis and the Laborers--usvs the Poor
Grown RichY
In an interview with Hon. Mr.. Nc
Millin, chairman of the subcommittee
having in charge the internal revenue
end of the tariff question, the New
York World, Nov. 81, quotes that gen.
tleman as follows:
We admit that as soon as 1t could the Repub-
lican party repealed every tax that bore on the
rich, but at the same time It held on to the
taxes which the poor had to pay. The duties
bearing on the poor had been retained. with
the result that the rich have been getting rich
er and the poor poorer.
Looking at the question from the
standpoint of labor, and with all due
respect for Mr.. McMillin, beg leave
to take issue with him and would re-
spectfully ask if the increasing wealth
of the rich does not maintain industry,
employ labor and sometimes benefit the
poor. If the poor were getting poorer
under Republican rule, how was it the
Democrats found them rich enough to
rob after 80 years of taxation? Have
not the Democratic party taken from
them their employment and their wages
and robbed them of what the Republic
ans had left? Has not the poverty of
the poor increased tenfold under six
months of Democratic administration
Does not the gentleman's own policy
tend not only to keep the poor poorer,
but to rob the rich and poor alike foI
the benefit of foreignersf
AS the burdens of the poor have al
ready borne heavily on the tender
hearts of the Democrats, and the poor
are beginning to get interested in them
selves, is it not fitting that the poor and
their friends in congress should under
stand each other and correct any false
idea that may creep into the minds of
either? In pursuance of which and for
a better understanding on the subject OF
rich and poor and the cause which pro-
duces those extremes, the writer, being
one of those interested, would like to
have his reply in English to the follow
ing questions:
First-Is it not money or its equiva-
lent in value that designates what he
here terms the rich?
Seconds it not the lack of both
money and its equivalent that desig-
mates what he here terms the poor?
Thirds not his labor the only
value the poor man has to sell to &C
quire money!
Fourth-Has not the money of the
rich increased in purchasing power, and
the labor of the poor decreased In pro-
portion, since the Democratic party took
control of our national affairs?
Fifth-Then have not the rich grown
richer and the poor grown tenfold poor
or under Democratic influence and the
fear of Democratic legislation, and il
not that party responsible for condi-
ton of things much worse than it found
after almost 30 years OF Republican
rule?
This is the light in which large
number of the poor, who have beer
there, see it, and as the honorable gen.
tleman thinks he knows better he may
be able to enlighten some of them by
brief reply to this letter.
Before closing, however, / woulc
like to call his attention to what ap
pears to our rude understanding par
allel case-the peddler and his friend
The subject Of the sketch was return
ing to the city after disposing of por
tiono his week. supply of goods, COM
planning to himself of his small profits.
AS he trudged along he met an old ac
quaintance who kindly inquired after
his health, and being informed he vol
unteered some advice and told him If
he would go his way he would do much
better. He went his friends way, and
the friend relieved him of his goods
and of his money. That was exactly
what happened to the poor in 1892.
They met their old acquaintance, the
Democratic party, whose heart was
melting in pity for the poor. 1t invit-
ed them to go in its direction; they
went and were robbed Of industries, the
employment and wages which, under
Republican administration, protection
had guaranteed them.
JAMES JOHNSON.