The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-08-27

IJoymeut, Dy peoples widely separated
of the natural advantages and skill in
various occupations peculiar to each
To many operations of this class (but
not to alI) there also attaches an in
crease similar to that due to the re-
production forces of nature. ''In one
place, for instance, a given amount OF
labor will secure 200 in vegetable food
or 100 In animal food. In another
place these conditions are reversed,
and the same amount of labor will
produce 100 in vegetable food or 200
in animal. In the one place, the rel
| alive value of vegetable to animal food
will be as two to one and in the other
as one to two; and supposing equal
amounts of each to be required, the
came amount of labor will in either
place secure $50 of both. But by de-
voting labor in the one place TO the
procurement of vegetable food, and in
the other to the procurement of ami
NAL food, and exchanging to the
quantity required, the people of each
place will be enabled by the given
amount of labor to procure 200 of
both, less the losses and expenses of
exchange; so that in each place the
produce which is taken from use and
devoted to exchange brings back an
increase" (This is made very plain
by use of charts, in Louis F. Posts
1.-THE Single Tax, published by Frank
Vierth, Cedar Rapids, Ia; Is cents
postpaid. 1t is fact that advocates
of the protective tariff never attempt
to "explain.'')
But this natural increase attaches
only to capital engaged in the modes
of growing and exchanging; how then
can interest be justly demanded by
capital of non-increasing nature,
such as money (Which can be readily
exchanged for capitaD, machinery,
buildings, ETC.? Simply this: Since
all forms of wealth are interchangea-
hle-may be substituted one for an
other-any natural increase attaching
to one class of capital must be aver
aged among them all, otherwise CAPT.
tai would tend to engage only in the
mode of affording an increase.
Thus we see that interest is not
alone payment to the lender for the
use of coveted article, but is the re-
turn by the borrower of the average
increase which would attach to wealth
of that value in exchange, If used for
a given period in those modes afford
ing natural increase, and which JUS
tice demands be returned to the own
er, that he may suffer no loss.
But payments from borrowers to |
lender form but small part of the
returns to capital and, while the pay
ment of normal interest by lessee to
lessor is in itself perfectly legitimate,
such payments will largely disappear
with the necessity for borrowing, upon |
the abolition of special privileges. The
great bulk of interest is even now
composed of returns to the merchant, /
artisan, manufacturer and farmer en-
ploying his own capital in active pro-
auction, and upon the destruction of
these will form still great
n part of interest.
This latter portion of interest is by
some termed profits" 1t must be
understood, however, that any excess
# profits due to monopoly is not in
crest. When these exorbitant re-
urns are not due to artifically created
7 onopolies-such as those originating
T the tariff, patent and coinage laws
hey are traceable to some form of
and monopoly and then they must be
,redited to rent"
Normal interest (profits), uninflu-
need by special privileges, is Just
Is legitimate as wages.
For instance, a certain man has. by
int OF hard work and self-denial, &C
umulated two thousand dollars. He
determines to eng lge in the dry goods
BUSINESS and exchanges his money for ,
he necessary capital. The ability and
abor necessary to conduct so small /
usiness may be no greater than that :
equired from the average clerk, yet {
We instictively feel that this man !
hould receive more than his clerk.
lie must keep on his shelves, from 9
ay to day, stored up labor (capital !
nth which he serves his customers as r
'ell as with his head and hands. vet.
ccording to the socialist, he should !
eceive no extra compensation for his !
apital, but only the wages of a dry +
Gods clerk performing the same +
rental and manual labor. :
But natures view comedies with the +
ltuitive perceptions of man and by d
fording natural increase in the
lodes Of growing and exchaL ging. she n
lys, that either this man must be paid !,
Tot g.. -