The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-03
PLAIN FACTS FOR VOTERS.

n LoE1Cal statement OF EX1St1ng
Conditions I'm the United State.
which Ono Need Only Read to
VIII Mean to the Trusts and What
II VIII Mean to the WorkinEmnn
To the Editor Of The Times:
We believe here in West Virginia that if
Bryan is defeated no other peaceful effort
will ever be made to protect the masses
against privileged class. His defeat will
COW and dishearten patriotic impulse and
be accepted as conclusive that the me-
ehanic and labor classes have so lost man
hood that 1t is useless to appeal to their
intelligence. 1t is difficult to conceive any
man so blind as not to see that those sup
porting Bryan can have no private inter-
est to subserve, whereas the financial men
and corporation officials supporting NC
Kinley are actuated by motives necessarily
antagonistic to the common welfare. An
illustration explains the situation. Capital,
labor, and employer form a partnership.
Capital puts in $1,000 and demands to
share on the basis that it has put in
$1,000. It is manifestly impossible for Ia
Dor to obtain its Just proportion II capital
receives two-thirds when entitled to only
one-third. Bryans defeat will prove that
labor lacks sense to comprehend SO simple
proposition.
Mr.. Cowen ,aunts the potency Of def
mite fact. Well. here are some facts. The
Baltimore and Ohio mileage is 2,047; the
Baltimore and Ohio stocks and bonds call
for one hundred and forty-six millions, of
which one hundred millions is water. Some
time ago you published list Of securities
aggregating twenty-five billions, whereof
thirteen billions represent fictitious CAPT.
talization These twenty-five billions call
for an annual interest charge of $780,
600, 900. which is one hundred and seventy
five millions greater than the profit Of the
entire production last year Of all the farms
and mines in the United States. Mechan-
les are urged to consider the potency OF
this definite fact. Is it possible to meet
this interest charge unless wages are
largely reduced?
Can wages be sufficiently reduced unless
We have government by Injunction? The
holding class are unanimous for
Injunction and unanimous against Bryan.
Cowen says II Bryan is elected bankers
cannot raise money to buy cars by selling
securities representing fictitious capitali-
cation. Sugar-coat it as you please, but
this means that Bryan's defeat means the
of wages to pay interest On fic-
titious capitalization. The mechanics and
aborers can out-vote the security holding
class by two hundred to one, and IL they
.annot understand such facts as these. then
The cause Bryan represents is lost, and |
hose now opposing injunction should ad-
'ocate it, because hungry labor is turbu |
ent and must be held in subjugation as |
he slaves were held.
The logic of facts is irresistible. The |
cost of living has increased more than % !
Der cent, hence 1t is not possible that |
Wall Street is lending England the saw
ngs Of the wage-earning class. Governs
statement cannot be true. 1t is not posi- |
lie that the increased deposits in savings
'anks represents the savings of the aver
ge mechanic and laborer. 1t is not true
hat trusts and fictitious capitalization
nable mechanics to lend money to Eng
and. But it is true that trusts and ficti-
ious capitalization give the security
olding class enormous incomes and this
|
II a county debt is held abroad, the in
crest Is SO much money annually leaving
ne community and going to another COM
Iunity. The interest on stocks and bonds
5 SO much money leaving the masses and
ding to the security-holding class. The
otency of this fact is illustrated by what
ccurred in Ireland Any Irishman can
ell the story. Twenty millions of rent
nd s30,0O0,000 Of taxes annually left Ire
ind and went to England. In 1919 the
opulation of Ireland was 100000 in less
nan twenty years it was only 100000.
he per capita which left Ireland was only
100. The interest charge on the s25,-
10. 100000 of securities mentioned above
i'll exceed per capita of over s19 leav-
lg the masses and going to the security
gliding class, which lends its surplus to
urope. Ireland is a piteous object les .
IN teaching us to call halt.
If Governs alleged facts are placed
ongside of each other even fools will
ugh. Labor is lending it's savings to
urope. We cannot buy cars unless we
III watered stock; we cannot sell water I
stock to advantage if Bryan is elected.
ne economist answers-the more water 6
stock you sell, the more you must re-
ice wages.
Merchants, accustomed to defer to bank I
icia!s, do not observe that many finan-
ii men are afflicted with the watered- {
ock craze. As thrift follows fawning. all G
urtiers to wealth. all promoters and go 7
tweens echo financial clatter about ma j
NAL dishonor, without considering that t
;kinley's election means government (
plutocracy. The class most active for v
'Kinley reward men who betray public
~, as Irish reuegades were rewarded by n
GLAND. 1t is already unaristocratic to D
sgest an income tax or propose measures /! n
iding to lessen the illegitimate profits n
fictitious capitalization. II Bryan is de- =
tied no high-toned man of real ability =
II be able to remain in public life. These n
! definite facts and thinking men should =
ifront the situation which will exist il -
van loses. Is it not better to hasten ;.
editions TO establish an hereditary ari.- !.
racy rather than drift under a Govern
mt composed of the hrelings of an ar "
ant and densely ignorant plutocracy! p
J. NJ. MASON. u
W. Va. Nov. 1.
a Question of Power. a,