The record-union., 1896-01-16

fornia women are legally bound to sup
port their husbands who are sick or
otherwise unable to provide for their
families. It is given out that this fact
will be a surprise to women. Perhaps 1t
will, but the fact remains that there are
in California many women who have
| been Supporting their children and hus-
| bands, law or no law, the husbands IN
many cases being able-bodied loafers,
| with no affliction beyond unaloyed lazi-
ness. AS a general thing, women will
! do their duty and more without be-
ing prodded by legislative enactment
| The average woman will work herself
to death without complaint to provide
for those rendered dependent upon her
through misfortune. Women are not
found sowing their substance around
gin mills while their children's toes are
out to the weather and their husbands
are wearing the bottoms out of wash
tubs. Yes, brethren of the press, the
knowledge Of that law may prove a sur
prise, but it will work no practical diff
ference.
UTAH'S CONSTITUTION.
Los Angeles Times: Among the pro-
visions Of the Constitution of Utah is
one to the effect that the State shall
never go into debt to an amount ex-
ceeding 100000, except in case of in
surrection. Another section provides
that juries shall consist of eight men,
instead of twelve and that in civil cases
| three-fourthS of the number may rem
der averdict Still another section-more
important than either of the above
guarantees to every citizen the right to
accept employment wherever he can
obtain it, and makes interference with
this right a felony.
A provision like the one last named
should be imbedded in the Constitu-
ton of every State in the Union, and
should in no case be allowed to be-
come dead letter. There is no right
more sacred to the individual than the
right to sell his labor to whomsoever,
and upon whatsoever terms, he
chooses. The new State of Utah is to
be congratulated upon having incor-
porated into its organic law SO sound
and sensible a provision. If properly
enforced it will be of inestimable bene-
fit to the State and its people.
PERHAPS THEY SHOULD.
Riverside Press: In an Indiana town
the other night a man got drunk and
was frozen to death within ten feet of
his door. This gives opportunity for the
philosopher OF the Fresno "Republi-
can" to point a moral by saying: Again
is demonstrated the priceless value of
the glorious climate of California. Lots
of men are exposed here, but they never
freeze to death"
A TRUTH
Santa Cruz Sentinel: If fewer people
spent their time in idleness on the
streets times would be better and less
discomfort would be manifest. No man
has a right to demand that another
man give him employment. AS near
as possible every intelligent man should
supply himself with employment.
UNDERSTANDS US.
San Jose Mercury: The reports for
warded to the London Chronicle" by
its special correspondent ait Washing
ton will doubtless have considerable
effect in soothing the perturbed public
sentiment in England over the Vene-
zuelan incident. The Chronicle" is
about the only paper in England that
really understands that this country
is in earnest, and 1t is doing its best
to convince the English Government
that it's duty is to withdraw from its
present position and ito submit the
question of the divisional line to ar
bitration.
ANOMALOUS FACT.
Antioch Ledger: Fanatics forget the
anomalous fact that while the Govern
ment accepts silver and does business
on silver basis, the people reject that
metal and insist on doing their busi-
ness on a gold basis. The proof of this
fact may be found in the fact that
there is no bank in any of the larger
cities that will accept silver on deposit,
and that every contract among the peo-
pie is made on a gold basis. The peo-
pie repudiate silver and insist on gold,
but the Government gets no gold to do
business with. If the Government, like
the people, should insist on gold pay
|, ments, there would be no necessity to
issue bonds, but silver would go a
glimmering to the dingnition bowwows.
Silver men do not understand them
selves when they criticise bond issues.
CAPITAL AND MONEY.
Los Angeles Herald: The merest
tyro in political economy knows that
there is no absolute interdependence
between labor and money. Labor is
one primary factor in wealth produc-
ton Land is the other primary factor.
By a union of these two factors, either
directly or indirectly, all wealth is pro-
duced. Capital, which is one form OF
wealth, is as truly the product of labor
as wealth in any other form. It is such
labor products as are used to assist
labor in the production of more wealth.
Money is simply an intermediary, a
medium of exchange, a convenient tool
of trade. Money is not even capital,
though it may represent capital, and
can readily be exchanged for capital.
These are economic facts, fundamental
in their nature and they should be un-
.. derstood by every person who attempts
to instruct others in political economy.
What an ordinary man eats
- W \ A. l. "a 4