The state herald., 1907-08-02
OPPRESSION IN FOREIGN LANDS.
lasorers Reduced to Slavery Through
Systems Of Land Holding.

Systems OF Land Holding.
Americans should be thankful for
the liberty that their form of govern.
ment allows. 1t 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 peasant
classes to a 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 conti-
mental countries of Europe the farm
laborer receives as compensation from
81 to sl.50 week In Silesa, where
there are large cotton factories, expert
weavers receive from $22S to SO per
week, and women employed at like
work earn less than 81 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 $4.S6 to 5000 a
week, Where wages are so low 1t Is
impossible for the people to save
money, and II 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 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 a men.
ace that Is too lightly estimated The
| preventive remedy for this evil lies In
the hands Of the masses There IL
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 OF 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 we're 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 grea,
captains OF finance evolved means for
the employment OF this capital. A
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 II can be seen how
trusts have been built up and III,
money OF the people used for this pur
pose. and too often to oppress the
very classes that contributed the
funds which made II possible foi
bringing into existence these comblna
tions.
II can be understood how essential
It is that industries of this kind / 9 es
tablished In the different states. ant
how the money contributed by tn,
people OF state to n company IN
some other state works directl,
AGAINST the contributors What holds
good In the Insurance business applies
equally TO other Industries. By keep
ing the earnings Of n people In N,
community where these earnings ar,
produced. Is to the best interests oI
the people. II It Is necessary that they
De sent from the community. as fni
as possible keep the earnings within
the limits Of the state. for what nsslsti
a state to greatness makes lighter IN,
burden Of taxation upon all the people
Within It and materially helps cycJ
community within the state.
The student can plainly understand
how the concentration Of business and
ot money can be- prevented by a sim
ple rule which Involves tho patronnr,
of local Institutions and the retaining
W each community hs FAR hH possible
all the wealth produced within that
community n this principle be close
ly adhered 10 Il VIII be impossible Tot
any requirement Of such vast powei
aa win opprosa the American people
na the common classes OF many oi ths
European eountrica are oppressed.
i