Natchitoches populist., 1898-04-01
THE CLASS CONFLICT.
8 BETWEEN PRODUCERS AND
NON-PRODUCERS;
The Producers arc Now on TOP, and
and Are Trying to Keep There by
Blufi and Deception Monetary Con-
traction and the Bank Credit System.

There are two distinct and well-de-
nned classes composing sociery-the
producing and producing classes.
Between these two there Is an ire
pressible conflict. At present the non
producing class is on top and working
with might and main to keep there by
strengthening their position by every
means, fair and unfair, that can be de-
V1sed by the ingenuity of man. Bluff
and dedeception Is the main reliance OF
this class.
The non-producing class Is the mon
ey-oWning and debt-owning class, the
saiarled, the interest-drawing, rent-re-
celVlng class. 1t Is their interest-at
least 1t apparently is-to keep prices
OF property-especially products OF
daily use-low. They are enabled to
buy more with their money in low
priced market than in a high-priced
market, hence they jump to the con-
clusion that Is the condition which Is
most beneficial to them. They may
De IN error, however, and when the
end Is reached that such conditions
must inevitably produce this will be
proven.
The more evenly property or wealth
Is distributed among the people the
more prosperous, contented, and happy
that people will be. A forced or un-
natural distribution of wealth could
not produce these results, but rather
the contrary. But the economic con-
ditions OF country should be such
tnat this state of affairs would natural
ly and logically exist. 1t Is not neces-
sary, nor either Is 1t possible, that all
persons should be on an equality of
wealth, but the producers should en-
JOY the privilege, which Is their right,
OF possessing the full share of that
wealth which their industry creates In
Its money representative. What use
they make Of 1t Is altogether a differ
ent matter. They may spend It or lay
1t up for a rainy day, convert 1t into
stable property, anything which their
circumstances or fancy suggests. 1t is
none Of society's business, but it is
the business of society, the duty of
the state, to see that means are pro-
vided that will enable the producing
class to come into possession of their
Just proportion of the wealth they cre-
ate In its money representative, and
have the power and privilege of en-
joying the same.
Such is not the condition Of society
at the present time. The producing
class does not have the opportunity OF
Enjoying the full measure Of what their
Industry creates, while, on the other
hand, the non-producing class, enjoys
vastly more than Its share OF this
worlds goods. 1t is not necessary to
60 into tedious details to explain or
discuss this point, every fair-minded
person realizes and admits this patent
fact.
At the root Of this unequal and un-
just distribution Of wealth lies the
money question. The amount of money
in circulation is the gauge by which
this equal distribution of wealth must
be measured, and that amount will en-
able the purchaser to pay cash on de-
livery and the seller to demand It.
1t Is the credit system which interferes
with the cash rule and 1t is the lack of
money in circulation which is the fos-
ter mother Of the credit system. The
disproportion in the circulating me-
dium to the amount of property to be
exchanged for and by money has
caused the abnormal growth OF the
credit system, and the banks by the
prlncely privileges granted them, have
been enabled to stretch credit to the
bursting point, and they often do this
to the great detriment Of the wealth
producing class.
This evil has been frightfully in
creased since the civil war, and by a
conspiracy on the part Of the non-pro-
ducing or money class which need not
be restated here; the story Of the black
crime has been told hundreds Of times
and proven beyond the possibility OF
denial. The contraction Of the money
volume is the root of the evil which
the whole producing class is groaning
under.
A full volume of money In circula-
tion insures high prices for labor and
the products Of labor. Money In large
volume then comes into the possession
Of the producers. II debts have been
contracted the producer is. enabled to
pay them. II he Is Of an economical
disposition, the chance to lay I'D a
surplus or accumulate fixed property is
given him. Taxes, salaries, fees, and
such fixed charges remain nearly sta
tionary. The money class, the non
producers, are compelled to part with
4 more equitable portion Of their
wealth when high prices rule, while
the producing class becomes the re-
ceiyers. Cash payment, on delivery OF
goods Is the truest gauge of equity be-
tween producer and non-producer.
The question Of the greatest impor-
lance then is how this happy medium