The labor world., 1899-12-09
Appeal to Reasons.

~~O~~~~O~~~~O~
YVES, Kansas farmers are paying of
their mortgages. One near Girar6
paid off one on his horses and
other personal belongings last week.
by the shot gun route. He was toe
poor to own a shot gun and borrowed
one to blow his brains out. Mortgages
are good things, for many good people
live by them! The poor fellow having
| nothing but misery, he took this me.
thOd Of getting out Of it. And yet
millions like him are voting to uphold
the system that makes suicide better
than living. Verify people are Joined
blindly to their idols.
The Democrats Of Denver went into
the campaign with demand for the
city ownership of the water system OF
the city. Though the city has always
been about 5000 Republican majority
the Democrats carried it by 5000. May
be you think municipal socialism is
not popular. That is pointer for the
future.
Again have the biters been bitten.
People Of small means have been
blindly trusting fellow named Miller,
in New York, who promised them 10
per cent a week interest on money,
which he claimed he was making on
Wall street speculation. Lured by
such promises fools poured money into
him at the rate Of $4,000 a day. They
wanted to get something for nothing
and got just what they deserved-got
bit. Only on the theory that there is
a fool born every minute does it seem
possible that any considerable. number
of people would thus put their money
into the hands Of gamblers for specu-
lation of all kinds is gambling. It is
this desire on the part of the masses to
swindle some one that Aauses condi-
tions by which they are themselves
swindled. rs' So
The Erie Telegraph and Telephone
company is advertising million Of
bonds to construct more lines to make
more money. This advertisement tells
you that in the first six months of 1899
the gross receipts were $1,077,297, and
the operating expenses were $671 ,292-
a profit to the skinners Of $346, ,0O5.
Now, to have public ownership Of the
wire and to have this $346,005 go into
the public treasury, or reduce the rate
and leave the sum in the pockets of
the people. would ruin the country!
They are, on their own showing, maxi
ing 80 per cent profit, and want you
to furnish them the capital 1T 5 per
cent interest to make 80 per cent. And
several thousand dupes5 will likely do
land not see chat they, the public,
will pay 80 per cent to8get per cent.
And we re=a great people, we are! %
I&s = 4 -
Consuelo Vanderbilt, duchess Of
Marlborough, the kaiser of Germany
and the prince of Wales have formed
an American-German English alliance,
so we are informed by the daily press!
Just where the American freeman,
who has been taught(?) to hate king
craft, come in, is not given in the dis
patches. The idea of a republic and
kings and emperors going into a com
bine! And yet it does not seem out
of place to the average money grabber.
They would welcome the rule Of the
Turk or the Russian bear if they
thought they would have little better
place than the rest Of the citizens OF
this country. We are travelling fast
the road that leads to the lair Of the
crafty rulers of men. Some day there
will be the deuce to pay and nothing
to pay him with.
Before the industrial commission in
Washington city the other day w. H.
Griffith, tin plate maker. testified that
while tin plate was selling al $3.50 he
made profit of 20 per cent. The trust
then raised it tos5.65 and has since
made another advance. And the coun-
try is prosperous. Wonder how many
farmers pay all the wages for time on
the farm and make even 10 per cent?
or they would see how easily they are
buncoed by the system of private
ownership prevailing.
The political, not industrial, govern
ment which lives in Washington has
just shown it's ability to do things
well-for some people. There are $685.
100000 Of government bonds which are
due and should be taken up. They
draw per cent interest and sell at
par Banker Gage, whom the Repub-
licans have selected to look after the
treasury, wanted to, pay out some
money to help out his brother bankers,
and instead of paying off these bonds
which are due he pays off $25,OO0,000
which are not due, and pays the hold
ers a premium of s3,00O,0O0. He there
fore made the holders of these bonds a
present of $3,0OO,OO0 rather than pay
off bonds that were not entitled to any
premium. But what does Gage care
about what the masses have to pay
so that he and his friends get it? What
would you care if you and your friends
got it? And there you are, getting
just what you Ike. Lovely govern
ment.
AROUND THE WORLD