The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-01
RECIPE FOR THE MILLENNIUM


Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Before 1t Is too late. some one
should notify the press of this country
and the multi-millionaires, tha, the vast
majority OF our people are justly dis
satisfied with the general results of our
civilization. 1t must be apparent to all
close observers of the times that some
thing is radically wrong in our politico-
economic methods. During the last for
ty years 1t is Il notable fact that about
one-tenth of our inhabitants have largely
Increased their wealth, while the nine
tenths of us have been obliged to follow
very near the line of II hand to mouth
economy. II any one doubts this state
of things, | refer him to our national
statistics, where 1t Is shown that nine
per cent of our inhabitants unjustly
own about Seventy-One per cent. Of the
wealth of our country. When We remem-
Der that this large majority of struggling
humanity make ii possible for the mil
liOnaire to exist. and are also more cs-
sential to the development and progress
If our country than the insignificant rich
minority, the positive need of an equit-
able adjustment of our governmental af-
fairs cannot be questioned. The old pO-
litical parties have persistently refused
to heed the voice of God, as empha sized
through the cries and petitions of OPP
pressed humanity. till now we may look
for union of strength that must, ere
long, place our government on Il higher
plane of civilization: which means more
intelligence. temperance. prosperity and
contcntmcnt for all The Equitable
union is the title under which 1t Is con-
sdcrcd best To organize and carry out
our mlch-neclcd reforms In this move
mcnt no one questions the equitable
rights OF capital any more than We do
that Of labor, and with brotherly intent.
we earnestly invoke the hearty co-opera-
tion of the better elements of humanity
from all pursuits and conditions Of life.
This unfortunate condition of wealth for
the few ana poverty for the many is a
result chiefly due to only four causes.
Lac. us, therefore, remove or correct
these few causes, and the result VIII
then bc greatly changed for the better
These four greatest evils of our present
civilization are ignorance, mtemperancr,
concentrated wealth and usury. by le-
vcrsng these evils, We would have the
pleasure "f enjoying general intelligence,
temperance, distributiye wealth and low
interest. The first of these four evils re-
uuires vigorous prosecution of our free
school system throughout the country,
for which purpose our government should
make an annual appropriations of not less
than 500 900 To correct the second of
these evils, all special taxes must be re-
moved from the liquor traffic. This
would strike n death blow to its ill-gotten
gains by rendering 1t almost proiltess.
and thus make the way easy for proper
legislation, which seems impossible to Sc
cure now, TO cOunteract the third great
evil, an equitable tax, In lieu of other
taxes, must be collected according to the
amount of wealth owned by an indiyid-
ual, consistent with the ability of such
persons to pay. No intelligent person,
who s consistent in judgment, can deny
the justness and great need of this
graded tax. The fourth evil, usury or
high interest, encourages the bond and
mortgage feature of finance, and thus
prevents capital from seeking invest
ments In active industries from first
hands. general reduction of interest
to three per cent per annum would drive
the "money sharks into honest pursuits
and stimulate general industry In all
equitable vocations. Under the influence
of these four changes, the disagreeable
and demoralizing features of Industrial
strikes, and the bitter contentious be-
tween labor and capital, would here find
their logical solutions. Besides this our
country would then naturally unfold its
greatness into a condition of perpetual
peace, prosperity and general content
ment. Other papers please copy in full.
n. II. Badgey. NJ. ID.
$40 ". 18th ST., New York, Sept. 20.