Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-04-03

a breach in the intrinsic value OF the
dollars. as represented in gold and
silver respectively.
Nov large portion of the people OF
this country in SO. frightened into sub
mission to the program OF the banking
monopolles, began to clamor against
any attempt at reconciliation. and by
urging their representatives In con-
gress, not only succeeded In preventing
reconciliation. but forced the repeal
of all laws favorable to silver as
standard of value. Thus one-half the
standard money was given final blow,
all of our silver money becoming mere
ly token. or like paper currency. re-
deemable In gold. T. is natural that
when redemption money is reduced py
one-half, the half remaining will IN
crease in purchasing power. Prices AT
once began to fall. 1t was soon found
out that money would purchase nearly
twice as much product as before. For
instance. wheat fell from 80 cents
bushel to 40 cents. To the owners or
money this meant prosperity, to the
owners Of products and all those VINO
have something to sell. including their
labor, It simply meant ruin.
There were, or there are, some rich
men, strong enough and patriotic
enough, to resist this form of infamy.
even at the cost OF their own fortunes.
| Chief among these Is the subject or
this address. Mayor Pingree is
wealthy manufacturer as well as mayor
of Detroit. On expressing his opinion,
he Immediately became the object OF
ridicule at the hands Of large por-
ton of the prominent newspapers OF the
country. But ridicule is not argument.
facts can never be answered by abuse;
in this day the people seek the truth,
not abuse They behold In such men
as Mayor Plngree, a possible savior for
the cause of humanity, and OF the re-
public.
"Now let us look at Mayor Pingree's
views on transportation monopolies. He
believes In government, state and mu-
nicipal ownership, in all quasi public
monopolies. For instance, If the gov
errment runs the postofiice department
successfully, why should 1t not run
the entire railroad system or telegraph
system? II municipalities run the
water system successfully, why not ex-
| tend our ownership TO gas or street
railways? Such condition Of affairs
would have two good results, the aboli-
ton of vast private fortunes and in
more equitable distribution of wealth.
For instance, instead Of paying ex-
orbitant rates to private persons or
corporations, the people would be prac-
tically paying their own money into
their own pockets, as it were. l: Is
plain that government and municipal
ownership of public monopolies would
be a benefit to mankind. The subject
admits of very little. II any. adverse
argument.
Now let us look at Mr.. Plngree's
views Of land mcnopolies First, we
must find oct what land monopoly is.
| will give simple Illustration: On
the corner OF Garfield and Michigan
bouleyards there Is vacant lot valued
al twenty thousand dollars; its owner
holds 1t at that price. What gives the
property that value? improvements?
No: it stands to-day in the same con-
dition as in the infancy of Chicago,
O, when the Indians roamcd the plains
of Illinois. 1t is plain that the improve
ments made around 1t, such as the two
bculevards, built at public expense,
and houses adjoining, give 1t its value,
and this value will continue TO increase
Indefinitely as result of Improvements
made around it. but not upon it. The
owner is what might be called dead
head in commercial life, that is he lakes
advantage of natural conditions and
the industry OF his neghbors. Such
a man is an enemy 10 society, for with
out producing anything useful. he
grows wealthy out of the industry of
others. Wealth thus accumulated may
be called legitimate by some, but never
theless, 1t is not. God gave the lend
to the people to improve and to beau
tify, and not 10 hold in idleness.
ITO abolish land monopoly it wou.f
only be necessary to pass a law increas-
ing the taxes on vacant or idle prop
erty taking 1t entirely OF improved