The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-03-17
Uncle Johnathan
Discusses the Late POpuIist Party.
He Says II Died Of the Itch
Office Seeking Itch
And All Future Reform Parties
Should Take Warning.

Mr. EDITOR There are 100000 I'M
employed men in these United States.
The census tells US that an able-bodied
man employed ten hours can produce S.
worth OF wealth per day. This shows
the enormous less to society of our pres
ent social organization. These 5000, 900
of men could produce $4,000, 900 worth
OF wealth per day per week $4,000, 900
OF wealth per month $4,000, 600 worth
of wealth in homes, clothing, fuel and
food, and all things that contribute to
supply the wants of man. This repre-
sents an annual loss to the people Of the
United States of $1,000, 100000. This
represents, in part, what God permits us
to suffer in conse quence of our own folly
in keeping eternally at loegerheads over
such trivial questions as the tariff and
silver.
Mr.. Editor, just consider for a moment
the fine graded and macadamized high
ways these millions OF unemployed men
might build if employed by Uncle Sam
in this work under the direction OF capa.
BILE engineers. And how much more de-
lightful it would be to ride and drive
over well-paved roads, than to go pulling
and Juggling through our modern mud
holes and bitches. Think of the pleas
ure, Mr.. Editor, in mounting tirst-class
nd fol q uNiKa ha D.
and even surface of such road as In
Gle Sans unemployed would build
for us, to picnic or political gath
ering where the genial Elisha Ash
craft is billed for a speech on the
iniquities Of the gold standard and the
advantages OF fusion, or where "Silver
Dick" hewitt is announced to address the
voters on the importance of electing him
County Court Clerk for the fourth time,
and taking subscriptions for your excel
lent paper.
Again think of the many and excellent
homes these men might build, the cloth
ing they could manufacture, the food and
fuel produce, to feed the hungry and pro-
tect the shivering from the blasts of the
winters cold.
How they might, these unemployed
poor, if they were employed and their
labor rightly directed by the public
authorities, build and beautify public
parks, gardens, gymnasiums and public
libraries to be the common property Of
the whole people. Then our working
people might enjoy an afternoon or an
occasional day OF recreation in the peo-
pies parks, drinking in the fresh and fra
grant breezes and listening to the songs
OF birds and studying the beautiful works
OF nature and OF ant, instead of as now,
spending much enforced idleness in
brooding over their hard lot in life and
cursing the institutions OF society that
force these hardships on them.
-
We might have large and comfortable
public libraries where the people might
assemble in the evenings and read and
study the works OF the great Master in
literature and art, where new acquaint-
ances might be made and friendships
formed and the fraternal spirit quick
ened.
Then, also, think OF the sins good roads
would save our teamsters and farmers
from committing. Having fine system
of nuhlic hiohw ava taamatara aud farm
ers would not have to swear at and beat
their faithful horses for getting stuck in
the mud or stalled in chuck-holes, rocks
or bitches, as happens so often, on, or
rather in, our modern roads.
1t would then be real pleasure to 20
driving. Our teams would move with
ease and grace, with spirit and speed
over the even and solid surfaces OF the
peoples roads. Few people would then
be obliged to remain away from the pub
lie libraries, parks or churches on account
OF our heathenish and outlandish roads.
20
But, Mr.. Editor, it's certain that some
free-trader, protectionist, gold bug, silver
bug or fusionist will say this is impracti-
cable, will say that Uncle Sam has. his
hands full now without attempting to
furnish work for the unemployed. But
such objections always come from the
croaker, who always has his face turned