The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-08-03
OPPRESSION IN FOREIGN LANDS.
laborero Reduced to Slavery Through
Systems Of Land Holding.

Americans should be thankful for
the liberty that their form OF govern
ment allows. Ii is only necessary to
study into conditions as they obtain
in many of the European countries, to
learn how enslaved are the common
classes Of the people Of those coun-
tries. The holding of vast estates by
the nobility has reduced the Leasant
classes to condition of serfdom.
In these countries 1t is also notice
able that the artisans, and the work
ers in the mills. receive wages that
are barely sufficient to buy them food
and clothing In many of the cont
mental countries of Europe the farm
laborer receives as compensation from
81 to $3.50 week. In Silesa. where
there are large cotton factories. expert
weavers receive from $2.2S to 50 per
week, and women employed at like
work earn less than - per week.
Even in Old England, where labor is
paid the best of any European coun-
try, In the cotton factories the scale
for labor runs from 81 So to 5000 a
week. Where wages are so low 1t Is
impossible for the people to save
money, and 1t is necessary that they
live upon the plainest and cheapest
food in order to make ends meet.
In comparison with these countries
how grand are the opportunities for
the laborer in the United States! In
America there are homes for all who
would build them. In no part of the
earth is there such reward for indi-
vidual effort 1t Is said by some that
there is a tendency even in this free
country toward oligarchy. That the
tendency towards the concentration of
financial power and business in the
densely populated districts is men,
ace that Is too lightly estimated. The
preventive remedy for this evil lies in
the hands of the masses. There is
great need of the people in general
studying more deeply into economic
subjects. The simple principles upon
which business rests appear to be lit
tie understood by the average citizens.
The remedy for the prevention of the
building up Ct one section of the
United States at the cost of another
section is readily at hand, and each
and every citizen can do his part in
administering this remedy.
For many years great insurance
| companies have maintained their
| headquarters in large eastern cities
| Millions upon millions of dollars annu-
| ally were contributed to them by the
| people in all parts Of the United
States. The vast funds built up for
the protection of policyholders had to
seek profitable investment The great
| captains Of finance evolved means for
the employment OF this capital.
dozen small industries independently
conducted would be combined into one
company, capitalized far up in the
millions and the money contributed
to the funds maintained by the insur
ance companies utilized in carrying
out the plans of the great combina
tions. Thus it can be seen how
trusts have been built up and the
money of the people used for this pur.
pose, and too often to oppress the
very classes that contributed the
funds which made it possible for
bringing into existence these combina
| tions.
| 1t can be understood how essential
it is that industries of this kind l. &. es
tabished in the different states, and
| how the money contributed by the
| people OF a state to company in
| some other state works directly
against the contributors. What holds
good in the insurance business applies
equally to other industries BY keep
ing the earnings of people in the
| community where these earnings are
produced, is to the best interests OF
| the people. If it is necessary that they
be sent from the community, as far
as possible keep the earnings within
the limits of the state, for what assists
state to greatness makes lighter the
burden of taxation upon all the people
within 1t and materially helps every
community within the state
The student can plainly understand
how the concentration of business and
| OF money can be prevented by a sim
| pie rule which involves the patronage
| of local institutions and the retaining
in each community as far as possible
all the wealth produced within that
community. If this principle be close
ly adhered to it will be impossible for
| any requirement of such vast power
as Will oppress the American people
as the common classes of many of the
European countries are oppressed.