Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-06-07
FARMER JOB AND L0AFER
JIM-A PARABLE

To the citizens and Taxpayers Of Wis
consin Two boys of about the samt
age grew up in neighboring homes. The
name of one was Joe, the other Jim
They played together on the same
green, they skated on the same pond,
and for a time there seemed to be but
little difference between them. AS theil
boyhood days passed each followed the
teaching and example of certain Older
persons. joe spent his time at wora
when not in school Jim worked lit
tie, went to school occasionally went
fishing frequently, and spent much
time in the village loafing places. Now
they are fifty years old. Today, June
10Th, Farmer Joe is blowing corn In his
own field he Is worth $4,000. just ov'
er the fence, under the shade of tree
on the county farm, sits Loafer Jim.
He is worth-a minus quantity. AT
least so think Farmer Joe and his neigh
bors who are paying taxes, to support
him. Loafer ''Jim is just saying TO
another of his class:
This world Is sham and life is a
fraud. have never found IL worth liv-
ing. Farmer Joe is just saying to a
passing neighbor who has stopped mo-
'ment to let his horses rest while be ex-
changes a word on the issues of the day:
Il have no fault to find with this
world. learned to like work and study
when / was boy, and like them yet.
But do not enjoy paying taxes to sup
port that Loafer Jim and several thous.
and like him who spend their youth in
idleness, and their later lives in vice and
crime and now fill our prisons, insane
asylums and poor houses. | have one
boy in college, and one has Just bought
q farm. They are both doing their best
to pay their own expenses, and am
helping them until they get started In
life. Loafer Jim has one boy in the re-
form school, and another in the peniten.
tiary and is himself in the county house.
The taxpayers of the state support
all three. While the officials are hunt
ing up my last dollar for taxation wish
they would also hunt out the causes and
conditions that make such host of fell
lows like Loafer Jim to support"
Citizens of the state: According 10 Of
fetal reports there were in 1901 in the
various insane ssylums of Wisconsin
$500 inmates costing taxpay-
ers. .................f byO, UUO
Sill in state prison 90, 900
~" IA AAAAAckA AhA SNADO1s tO3OVO
l2S In reformatory. ...,... 80, 600
2,5l9 in poorhouses. ........... 132, 600
Total cost. .............S 81 ,01S, 900
II, 900 in jails during year
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. cost not given
At low estimate, five people, either
relatives or friends, are directly touched
or disgraced by either of these 1000
above named persons. This appeal is
then most vitality in the interest, first of
the 10, 600 directly concerned; next, the
20, 900 relatives and friends, and last, but
well worth your consideration, the many
more thousands of taxpayers and all
who care for the welfare of their fellow
men.
The presence of at least eight out of
ten persons in these institutions is dis
grace to US. Their places need not be
taken by others in the future. Let every
thoughtful person study his own COM
munity TO know what makes loafers and
criminals, and see that the causes do not
continue. Then loafer Jim will support
himself and pay his own taxes, greatly
to the social comfort and financial relief
of Farmer Joe. ALBION E. SMITH,
Secretary of the Good Home League