Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-05-27


the millionaires and trusts. And we
must provide further for the war fund
by issuing bonds upon which the peo-.
pie will have to pay interest for gen.
erations.
If we now had really popular gov
eminent no such schemes would win.
II submitted to vote of the people
there would be an overwhelming ma
jority in favor of an income tax, and
stead Of taxes upon labor and inter-
est-bearing war bonds. Let the voters
pass upon the two propositions at the
polls next November. We appeal from
the plutocrats at Washington to the
patriots in their homes.
The well-known reform writer, Celia
B. Whitehead, writes to the Twentieth
Century of the popular loan" hum
bug, as follows:
"a certain journal in this city has
for years, whenever the mem with
money have decided that the United
States of America must issue bonds,
cried out for popular loan;' by which
it means bonds from $50 up offered to
all the people.
1.-THE writer of these popular loan
editorials must know that there Is no
sense in the idea. asked young
college man this morning, How many
people do you know who have $50 In
spare changer and he replied, I don't
know as I know any, only those who
have a great deal more!' And that Is
Just the fact in the case. A five hum
dred million dollar loan means an
awful burden on those who have not,
for the benefit Of those who have
money to take 1t up. I doubt II taking
the country through, one person IN a
thousand can invest in a $50 bond. To
call such thing popular loan can
have but one object and that is to de-
ceive the people and keep them quiet
while they are being robbed
1--WE want no bonds at all. Let us
have greenbacks; not those with an
exception clause, but receivable for
all dues, public and private, and not
any we promise to pay endless chain
attachment. If we as a government
promise to receive it, it Is enough.
What the government wants Is some
thing with which to enable those 1t
employs, either as soldiers, mannfac-
turers or what not, their services. to
exchange for food, clothing, manufac-
turing materials, etc. That is all 1t
will get by selling bonds"
The Grand Rapids Chronicle says:
ut Ia proposed to- tax the producers
and consumers for war purposes to
the extent of $110,OOO,0 900. A moderate
tax levied upon the incomes of our
multi-millionaires would realize suf-
ficient sum without heaping addition
al burdens upon the common people.
War financiering in the interest OF
the financiers is thus described by the
Santa Cruz Surf: 3d..
when government issues a bond
for $1,000. to run thirty years at 81
per cent, it attaches to that bond $1,000
in coupons The issue of bond then
for 81, 1000 at once creates an obligation
for $500, because the government
debt includes the body of the bonds
with the coupons attached. Carry this
up into higher figures, and for every
81 .OO0,O 900 the government, will OBJ
tain, it issues obligations for $2,5OO, 900.
Assuming that war with Spain
will cost 81 900 900, OOO, in ordersto OBJ
tain that amount Of money the gov
eminent must issue obligations
amounting to $2,5OO,O00,O0O. :"
"These bonds are always purchased
by the rich. They are exempt from
taxation, and including this exemp-
ton, they pay the highest interest,
when the character of the security is
considered, that is known. For ex-
ample. in a municipality where the
rate of taxation is 21s, including state,
county and municipal taxation, the
exemption operates to add ~ per cent
to the per cent which the government
bond bears.
"Let 1t be remembered that the la
Dor of the country pays the cost. of
war. Railroad corporations charge
their taxes in the rate Of transporta-
ton. The water companies charge
their taxes against the water consum-
er. The banks charge their taxes in
the rate of interest. The merchant
charges his taxes to his fixed ex-
penses and raises the percentage of
profit to meet 1t. -
"War means that the poor will do
the fighting, make all the sacrifices of
life. endure all the hardships which
was necessarily entails, and at the last
pay the entire cost"
al
The silver Knight Waterman says:
"Above all, do not allow the money
power to enslave us while we are
fighting foreign foe. Bonds mean
~~1dox voka cround tho nooLo ~ a.