The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-02-27
RENTS AND INTEREST.
A Correspondent Says They Are a
Steal.


days 1t occurred to me to search for the
real cause of the hard tines" and in my
search, the particulars of which 1 will not
go into in detail, I found what appeared
the prime fundamental cause to be interest
for the use of money, the toll always de-
manded of the debtor from the creditor;
but the question came up, how does it hap
pen that if this is wrong, the great major
ity of the people are interest payers and
less than in ten receivers Of interest?
To make it plain, 1 classed in my investi-
cation a corollary with interest and de-
Tended by the same process of non-reason
rent for the use of unimproved land and
for buildings above the natural decay or
wear or damage by the same that would
arise from above it's natural decay
without being in use, and profit above
the labor cost of handling products or COM
modities, in short, interest, rent and profit,
and interest is the mother and sponsor of
the other two. The trio ride in the same
chariot, covered by the same protecting
robe and screened from mud and dust by
the care of others. If interest is paid by
the great majority and received by the
small minority, why has it not been stop
ped by laws passed declaring it a crime
punishable by imprisonment of the offend
er? Not because it is not generally known
to be an injustice to the borrower a sin
recognized by religion, but because it is
for the benefit of the lender.
Senator Allison was once asked why the
leading men of our country differed
the financial questions of the day. Just
mark his answer, and make a note of it:
They don't differ so much in opinion, their
interests differ" Always keep this in your
mind when looking for the cause of things,
there are two different interests at stake.
One class is working to produce wealth
under the prinieval curse of natural law,
and finds capital a help to production, and
as they haven't been able to procure it
without paying for it's use have submitted
to the robbery as the less of two evils. An
other class has early learned that interest is
the devils way to get something for
nothing, although often practiced by
church people regardless of the right of the
original diScoverer; in other words, it is
ready process of absorbing wealth earned
by others without sweating themselves.
and they have carried the process to that
extent that there is not enough left for
the real producers to supply the most press
ing demands of hunger and warmth In
consequence large part of the producers
of wealth remain unemployed and this is
the least economical use you can put hu
man being to. 1t is about on a par with
putting a man in Jail for debt and paying
for his board while in JAIL and supporting
his family at the cost of the community
meanwhile.
absorbers of wealth lose their share of his
product, the manufacturer holds the goods
on hand that he, the laborer would have
consumed, the merchant loses his CUSTOM
while the community is in duty bound to
offer charity simply because he has been
denied justice.
But | wander from my text. I hear some
one of you have not proved your assertions,
and without proof it is mere dogmatsm
Great Scott! Must 1 prove by argument
that the shines all the time, whether
the clouds are between your eyes and it or
not? Statisticians have shown that the
average increase of wealth in the United
States in one year is but 27s per cent. How,
then, can the money mongers take Z per
cent on all the loan, While rObbng the pro-
Queer of per cent a year on all he pro-
duces? 1t is estimated that the total in
debtedness in the United States is from $25-
0OG 900, 000 to $50 600 900, 000 which is drawing
an annual interest of at least per cent Let
us take the smaller estimate of $25, 900 OOO O00
and find the annual cost to the people who
supposed to pay it. 1t is 81, $50 O00, 900. To
pay this interest it would take all the corn
wheat, OATS hay, rye, barley, buckwheat
and potatoes that were raised in the whole
country in the year 1894 at present prices,
and leave $142, $780, AS unpaid, or leaving the
farmer his hay, grain and potatoes to
carry him through another year of labor
and strife, and divide the interest per
capita, and it would leave $26. 40 for every
man. woman and child In the United States
to pay, or $40 547,723 more than the national
debt in 1864. 1t is difficult for the human
mind to comprehend so large an amount as
the interest debts much more to
devise means to pay it. I take for com
parison farm products of the most absolute
necessity, leaving nothing for the farmers
of the whole country for subsistence:
neither feed for horses cows, hogs, chick
ems or any live animals, and without these
domestic animals to aid him he would soon
be in condition not to care whether taxes
were levied on personal property, imports
land values or incomes, as he would soon
be exempt from all forms of taxation ex-
cept the poll tax, and even that would have
to be worked out on a collapsed stomach.
well, what will the harvest be after such
a sowing? Sow interest and reap misery
Estimates claim that one-half of the wealth
Of the United States is now owned bv 20 OOO
families. If these rich families have ac-
quired this amount Of wealth in a legal
manner within the last 30 years by interest
for the use of their capital. how 1onp will
it take to double their wealth without ex
ertlon on their part? If they simplv Law
in bed, interest will attend to the restH
absorb all that they do not already own.
Wilnih me next 10 years. fine prospect
Tor the younger portion of the communitvt
1t were better to keep silent than to point
out the condition We are suffering under
without giving remedy, and that is in a
few words, vote the Peoples party ticket
ana boycott the old parties! Why? Any
intelligent, unprecedented man, who keeps
posted on their designs can see with half
an eye that they have sold out to shylock
body ana soul, and are working with single
ann ana sincerity of purpose to fulfill the
contract on their part with stolid indffer-
ence TO the needs of the great body of the
people to keep the amount of money a long
ways short of the requirements of increas-
ing business demands and growing popu-
latlon, but the slightest wish of the bank
ing fraternity absorbs all their attention.
Their greedy demands soon become the law
of the land, and constitutional restrictions
are no more regarded than if made of the
fimsy fabric that materializing spirits use
to reconstruct the semblance of their cast
Off bodies that lie moldering in the grave"
while the Peoples party is the only panty
that is showing united front in opposition
to the contraction of the money volume.
The leading plutocrats admit that il
serves their interests to keep money scarce,
and also admit that they are informed of
still lower prices for farm products, labor
and all commodities, except gold and Sc
curities. Brother farmers, if you would be
loyal to your country, your own class in
terest and to the good of the greatest num-
Der, vote for the Peoples party, and work
to convince your neighbors of it's true prin-
ciples, for 1t, when its platform is fully car
ried out, will restore former prices of pro-
ducts, set to work the unemployed, reduce