The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-03-03

menus tnaL cOuSlucT u-mUCldtic. Inc
government borrows money in En-
gland at low rate of interest, and
lends it to settlers at small advance
to cover expenses connected with ne
gotlating the loans. This Is probably
the most popular reform they have
srIcd, as it brought down the general
raic of interest; and If the govern
ment would issue the money instead
Of borrowing it Gas some Of them adj
vocate) it would be a still greater
benefit to the people, as the interest
in that case would inc lease the rev.
enues of the colony. They build and
operate the railways, and try to make
about 5 per cent on the capital in
vested, but as the railways are built
with borrowed money, it takes most Of
the profits to pay the interest. They
bought coal mine in 1901 and Oper-
ate it on the same principle, and the
principle might be applied to ali 9TH
er industries.
II all men have right to life, they
have a right to an opportunity to
make a living, and no man should
have the power to deprive others of
the opportunity. 1t should be the
first duty Of government to see that
all have an opportunity to earn at
least the necessaries of life. All civ
illzed governments attempt to relieve
the destitute through charitable in.
situations; but how much better it
would be to give all an opportunity to
earn a living. | believe that one of
ha re vc%r L. T.. cfk ~
ing to do this. 1t has passed law
that all who cannot find employment
at seven shillings per day, from pri-
vatc parties, must be employed by
the state at that figure. If that is
true, and If the colony is able to carry
out the plan successfully, it will be
the most important step taken for
some time towards settling the labor
problem.
The single takers are the vanguard
of democracy; they not only see that
all men have a right to the use Of
enough land to live and work upon,
but they see that by taxing land val
ues and removing the burdens of taxa
ton from the products of labor, that
that right can be secured to all.
But capital is also necessary, and
great many of them do not see that
the interests of capitalists are OPP
posed to the interests of laborers, and
that even without special privileges
the capitalist is in a position to claim
more than his just share. Many of
them, however, do see it, and Ernest
Crosby in the January number of the
Single Tax Review writes: "The last
fallacy have to consider is the trite
saying that the interests of capital
and labor are one. +. Capital and
labor are in fact partners up to GER
tain point. Partners interests are
identical in their relations to all the
rest of the world, but when they sit
down to divide their profits. their in
terests are absolutely hostile, and ev-
cry dollar added to the pile OF one is
subtracted from the pile of the 9TH
err
Ii reformers would try to minimize
their differences instead of trying to
keep as far apart as possible, (as
many of them dol they would accom-
plish far more than they are doing:
but although we are not moving as
fast as some of us would wish. and
although democracy has lost some
skirmishes lately; it is STRENGTHENING
its position, and extending its out
works, and we have no cause to fear
what the future has in store.
JAS. s. PATTON.
Riverside, Cal.