The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-10-18


prevent all jewing Il price, detect all shoddy and
Iad'llturated articles, exposing the deceitful person
and prevent buyers, who are not expert Judges Of
articles from being imposed upon in quality or
price. Il would be less expensive as it would
abolish commercial drun1mers, concentrate the
wholesale trade in each political division, reducing
clerks and salaries. It would be the sub-treasury
lplan of the Farmers Alliance, modified so as not
to be class legislation and made local option so it
could be applied to small communities and would
not require the education and conversion of the
entire United States before any community could
have the benefits OF an improved system, many
prudent men would vote for the plan of local OPP
ton who would not favor one that would be arbi-
trary byth national government, but would favor
a small experiment in which the political patro-E
mage of the federal government was not increased.
The custom of most refor1ners of wanting all
reforms only national issues, is like a general of
an army OF raw recruits engaging in a
pitched battle against a strong and well disciplined
command instead drilling and discip1ining his men
by engaging in skirn1ishes and minor battles to
ibAiilAl OIL Il C1S L4Sll WILL Liz ollLlCS. "A WdI y
IN progress between the 1aborers, who are the
wealth producers of the country and the greed for
great wealth in individuals and corporations and
it is a maxim in war to cut off an enemies rations|
and destroy his resources. We submit that the
enemies ratlons are the great profits made in
Finance, Commerce and Manufacturing and that
this system will greatly reduce or destroy
them.
It would be possible to exercise a much better
control of railways without owning them as the
government would be the main shipper of
freights.
The outlay for government agents in foreign
countries would be nominal as United States CON
su1s could perform the duties and they are already
paid salaries.
Also another economy in government could be
introduced by employing the greater part of the
navy in commerce in time of peace by building
a large proportion of fast cruisers that could be
employed III carrying mails and commerce, dispen-
sing with subsidies to private steamship lines,
dhd S1GID1N CAAS lCC1oA W Ill llll1CllS
navy on short notice yet s~elfsupporting when not
engaged in active warefare.
After the system was adopted by the entire ma
ton it would be possible to abolish all custom
house officials as the government itself would be
the wholesale purchaser and importer of foreign
made goods. But although it would abolish the
tariff laws and the revenue therefrOm it would
furnish a very equitable means of taxation, by
adding the required per cent Of profit ii trade,
would be a just system of taxation as could not be
shifted from one class or occupation to another.
Also individual purchases are generally in proper
ton to income or ability to pay taxes. Under our
present tariff tax system it is possible to cripple
or destroy an industry by fixing tariffs, rates and
in the confusion Of theories thereupon the guilty
legislator escapes, cause and effect are SO much