The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-09-13
Who Owns the Land.

equal 10 all the northern states between
the Atlantic ocean and the Mississippi
river except the two lake states, Michi-
gan and Wisconsin, and enough has
been given to other parties to nearly
cover one Of these great states.
AS divided into farms-From 1870 to
1880. farms containing from % to 30
acres decreased 8 per cent, and smaller
farms to a still larger per cent. Farms
of 500 to LOCO acres increased 3l9 per
cent. Farms of more than 1000 acres
increased 668 per cent, or nearly seven
fold. This process must have gone on
with equal rapidity in the decade from
1880 to 1880, for the tenant farmers in
creased 70 per cent in that decade.
In about 40 years the property in the
names Of actual farmers has decreased
from three fifths to 0ne-ffth Of the total
valuation. Yet they pay about four
ffths of the taxes in one way and an
other. Careful investigators say their
average income as the result of other
diligent toll is about One-half an Ordin-
airy day Iaborer's pay.
The tenant class is 70 per cent of the
population-in cities rs per ceHt-being
greater than any other country except
England, Denmark coming next with
G6 Per cent.
Distribution of Wealth.
In 1860 there we're two persons gen
orally known as millionaires-now the
number is estimated at about 10000.
Less than 10 per cent of the people
own 80 per cent of the wealth, Less
than 10000 people own over one-half of
the wealth; that is, less than one
fifteenth of per cent of the people
own over 50 per cent Of the wealth.
Joseph Cook says; "If present causes
which produce a concentration of
wealth continue, the republic will soon
be owned by less than one-tenth of 1
per cent of the people" That is, by less
than One-tenth of l per cent of the
people.
Mr.. Depew says that there are 50men
in this country who have power to stop
the wheels of industry in a hours
throughout the land,
Whitelaw Reid asserted that this
class of men have power to defy con-
gress and the laws.
Senator Window said there are four
men among US who, in the matter of
taxing the people by manipulating the
prices, possess and frequently exercise
powers which neither congress nor any
state legislature would dare to exert
powers which. if eXerted in Great Brit
ain, would shake the throne to the
foundation
The New York World states that
there are already $50 combines and
trusts They have obtained control of
nearly all the important branches of
industry, and they fix prices at just
that point where they find they can get
the greatest possible aggregate profit
Tor rather plunder) out of the people.
The most recent dOings of the oil
trust are an illustration Of this point.
The coal combine takes at least S40,-
100000 a year out of the people above a
fair and legitimate profit.
The meat trust holds up the price OF
beef by shipping all surplus cattle to
Europe and selling at any price, SC
that American beef is frequently
cheaper in London than New York.
1t is not probable that the most abso
lutte despct that ever lived would have
dared to trifie with the rights Of the
people to such an extent, or to rot
them on so vast a scale.
Dishonest Incomes.
Astor's income (which we pay him
for merely being an Astor) is S8,000,0Ot
per annum, 100 times the salary which
we pay "our" president, the man whose
service is supposed to be more impor
tant than any other person in the land
Rockefeller's income is at least
100000 GAO times the presidents
salary and he declares his intention;
to be worth s5OO,OOO,OOO-and Henry D
Lloyd has shown in his book entitled
Wealth Against Commonwealth, " that
this great fortune has been built up by
gross violations of the principles Of
fair dealing, and even of the civil
statutes.
The millienaireS of New York city
alone worth 100000 and over number
more than so and their combined
wealth is more than Si,300,0000O0.
While in the same city there art
10000 prostitutes, mostly women who
are forced TO sell their bodies fol
bread, 10000 children in the sWeatshops
and factories, 100000 persons who
own no home, and the eyictions each
year are about 5000, about five time:
as many as in all Ireland.
Not less than 100000 are virtual pan
pers, though not yet in the almshoUse
while one 9Th Of all deaths take plaCS
in the poor houses and asyiUms.
In the country at large there are &
million Of tTamps, more or less ad
vanced in the profession. three million;
of unemployed persons who wOuiG
gladly work. two or three millions o.
children in the shops and factories
/ 100000 Of labor paupers. twag,
slaves who, Senator ingalls, tells Us
never get enough 10 eat from on,
years end to another and Nc
less than 100000 who may fairly b,
called drudges- iust getting a fair liz
I ing by toll SO constant and exsetinG
that they have little time or strength
/ left to persue any Of the higher ends
of life-white slaves working foT theii
beard aud their clothes
+ Tenalug Toward Concentrated Wealth.
In the 10 years from 1880 to 1890 thi
single eapitalistic state OF Massachu
sets increased ia wealth more By
sl009,o00 than the nine prodne
ing states, W. Indiana, Illinois
Iowa. Nebraska, North Carolina
Georges, Alabama aud Mississippi