Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1904-10-20
THE TARIFF IS A TAX
(Contiatea from last sOeekJ

NOuAN P"J u4J S"-'N "A.- "NA
/ asked.
MAY be not, answered the Secretary, |
"and as before said we tried to find |
work for you, that you could obtain
money. But, allow me to state, that If
you had no money to pay your board |
bill with, any landlord would be more
likely to accommodate you if you had
an interest in house here than IL you
did not have it. The building you help
pat up will surely be worth the mater
ials and labor bestowed on it; and, If
those who furnished said materials and
labor own the building, they certainly
have a base to secure landlord for
board, to the extent of said interest, but
regarding the Associates, 1t is evident
that those who contributed materials
will be bettered by the secure position
of said materials. (Lumb Der in house
is better than rattling about yard. }
and those who contributed labor, if they
we're idle, will be the, gamers of the
whole interest they retain as If it had
been gift"
decided to join the Association and
go to work. would be idle anyhow,
reasoned within myself, and at the end
OF the two weeks | received $50 in La
Dor Checks When the secretary paid
me he held one dollar as q membership
fee, repeating that the eOSf 70as 'n5isH.f-
cant, and assured me that would find
my membership pleasant and profitable.
l left at the end OF two weeks to 60 to
my job, and finally left the city also.
Years passed during which time the
Labor Exchange had spread to many
towns and cities OF the west, and after
wards found, had become wealthy in
stitution. Several times in my travels
came in contact with branches of the
Association, obtained their assistance
to procure employment and also worked
for it on several occasions, and had ac-
cumulated S12O of its in checks, on
which, however, | must confess, did
not set Uery much OaIne.
Finally resolved to move west with
my family, On arriving at the place Of
our destination, we searched the city
for house to rent, and at last found
one suitable in size and location. We
we enquired as to the owner, and were
told that it belonged TO the Labor Ex-
change. l told my wife knew that
Association, in fact, that belonged to
it and had worked for it on several oc-
casions and in various places when ac-
cidentally out of employment. We
made our way to the office of the Labor
Exchange, which was now quite diff
ferent thing from the office | had en-
tered few years before.
We asked what the rent was and we're
told ten dollars per month. We rented
it and moved into it. AT the expira'
the rent. Before doiug so | stated &c
the secretary that had the money &c
pay the rent but that was member
of his Association; stated when and
where / had ioined; that l had worked
for it on several occasions and held
S12O of its checks. Now / desired tC
know whether said Checks would be re-
ceived for rent.
Certainly" he promptly replied
then added that the Checks of the As
soci alton were zOoyth more to the deposi
tors than ordinary money.
This latter assertion l could not com
preheDd, nor did 1, at the time, 6efieve.
paid our rent and left the Office.
"These payments in Checks contin
ued monthly until at the end of one
year | had exhausted the amount il
hand. felt that finally | bad found
use for my checks, and said to the sec
retary when paid my last month, I"
am pleased with your system of doinl
business, as your Checks came in gooC
play. / made those Checks when m.
time would have been lost in idlenes
and now they have saved me their tnl
value in money, so" l added, "wheI
idle, will ever be ready to work TO
you again"
"We are grateful that you are pleas
ed with the Association and busines
methods, said the Secretary, "but yoI
seem to believe that the Labor EX
change Checks are worth only as mucI
as ordinary money. They are worth t.
VOu far mare than money" "
"How can that be-" asked.
''You took the Checks in payment TO
rent 0NLy dollar for dollar"
81 had S12O OF them and with them
paid s19O of rent. Where is the beifey 0
the more value to come from2"
"Here is where the Checks exceed th
value OF money" explained the Secre
tsry. If you had worked for cap
talist and had received $40 in money
then rented the house from the sam
capitalist. and paid him Sl2O in rem
would you have any further interest i
the property Of the capitalist?"
''Oi course not, replied.
'Now for the difference" be contir
ued, "you worked for our Association
We paid you sieO; we paid you the rat
Of wages that the capitalist would hav