The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-03-04
THE CLASS CONFL1CT.
is BETWEEN PRODUCERS AND
NON-PRODUCERS;
Inc Non-Produc ers are Now on TOP, and
ana Are Trying to Keep There by
Bluff and Observation-Disclosures Con-
traction and the Bank Credit System.

producing and non-producing classes.
Between these two there is an ire
presslble 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, falr and unfair, that can be de-
Vlseo by the ingenuity of man. Bluff
and deception is the main reliance OF
this class.
Inc reproducing class is the mon
ey-oWnlng and debt-owning class, the
salarled, the interest-drawing rent-re-
celVlng class. 1t is their interest-at
least 1t apparently is-to keep prices
OF property-especally products of
daily use-low. They are enabled to
BUY more with their money in low
priced market than in high priced
market, hence they jump to the con-
cluslon that is the condition which is
most beneficial to them. They may
De IN error, however, and when the
enc is reached that such conditions
must inevitably produce this will be
proven.
Inc more evenly property or wealth
is distributed among the people the
more prosperous, contented, and happy
that people will be. A forced or I'M
natural distribution of wealth could
not produce these results, but rather
the contrary. But the economic con-
dltlons of a country should be such
mat this state of affairs would natural
~ and logically exist. It is not neces-
sary, nor either is it possible, that all
persons should be on an equality of
wealth, but the producers should en-
Joy the privilege. which is their right,
or possessing the full share of that
wealth which their industry creates in
It's money representative. What use
they make of it is altogether a differ
ent matter. They may spend it or lay
1t up for rainy day, convert it into
stable property, anything which their
circumstances or fancy suggests. 1t is
none of society's business, but it is
the business CT 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 Gre
ate in it's 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 it's share of this
worlds goods. 1t is not necessary to
go 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 IN
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.
It is the credit system which interferes
with the cash rule and it is the lack of
money in circulation which is the fos-
ter mother of the credit system. The
disproportion in the circulating me-
dunn 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
princely privileges granted them, have
lo1 70 OF nh,
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 grooming
under.
A full volume Of money in circula-
ton 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 If he is of an economical
disposition, the chance to lay up 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