The San Francisco call., 1904-06-14
PROBLEM
IS DISCUSSED
KimbalI Gives His Opinion
on Economic Questions
Before a Clerical Body
INIQUITIES OF WEALTH
Alleges That Money Power
Seeks to Influence Even
the National Government

THE Relations Between Capital and
Labor" was the subject discussed by
]. H. Kimban yesterday before the
regular weekly meeting Of the Congre-
gational Ministers Association. The
Rev. Dr. RAIDER presided, and there was
a large attendance.
MIR. Kimball said, in part:
The first condition in the industrial world
is the concentration Of wealth, the second con-
ditiOn Is the consolidation of wealth and the
third condition is the control which corpora
tions and wealth seek TO exercise over our
Government. Concentration, consolidation,
control-that is the order.
During each session Of Congress an army
Of lobbyists the best legal talent Of America,
lays siege 10 our nations capital.
II any one suppOses they are there 10 secure
makers In their effort to act with eye
single TO the interests Of the people. study
OF the Congressional Records for the last ten
years will suffice for complete disillusioning.
Not only does corporate wealth seek TO con-
troll our legislative bodies and our judiciary.
but II has come to believe itself entitled to
special privileges at the White House
President Roosevelt was taken to task by a
number OF visiting New York magnates for
not hrst consulting them before instituting
legal proceedings against the Northern securi-
ties Company
No living American can do otherwise than
believe in the honesty Of purpose Of President
Roosevelt, but the law Of environment operates
on Presidents as well as other men, and it
must be confessed that the atmosphere OF
Washington is not at present conducive to
clearness Of vision.
Too many of our money magnates are
1ttingly compared to the famous Corsican, Ma
poleon the colossal highwayman Of history.
Their moral and social irTesponsibility is as
fragrant, their predatory instincts are as IN
satiable, their egotism is unbounded, their
defiance OF law and moral principles as ruth
less that of their great military prototype
There is a popular impression abroad that
the condition of the wage Garner has greatly
improved OF recent years The belief will not
bear analysis.
Without doubt wages have advanced during
the last half century.
EXODUS OF FARMERS.
But a close examination OF the alleged i'm
provements In the condition Of wage -earners
in more recent years leaves one at a loss TO
account for the widespread misconceptions.
Local conditions among California wage
esrners are exceptional and Of course not
TO be taken criterion for general esti-
mate but the other hand nowhere in the
United States is the cost OF living higher than
in California.
The farmer so far from making headway is
into a medieval tenantry. In 1850 25 per cent
Of the farmers OF the United States were ten
ants To- day 35 per cent are tenants The
farmer is ground between the upper and neither
miilstones of the railroad company on the one
hand and the commission merchant or buyer
on the other hand.
There is little wonder that 25 600 farmers in
1902 and 40 600 in 1908 found their way over
the Northwest border into Canada, and theA
the exodus for 1904 bids fair TO far surpass
these figures.
The best statistical authorities that have
produce an overwhelming conviction that rela-
lively the masses do not get anything like their
of the wealth they produce