The Elbert County tribune., 1908-02-20
LESSONS IN PANIcS
PEOPLE ASSIST IN BRINGING
ABOUT FINANCIAL DEPRESSION.
LOCAL WELFARE NEGLECTED
During Prosperous Times, Provision
for the Future 10 ignored, and
Natural Laws Afterward Ex-
act the Penalty.

During the past ten years the busi-
ness of the United States has in
creased in greater ratio than the pop
ulation. The wealth OF the country
has also expanded in a like manner.
Alarm has been expressed in the pub
lie press and from the rostrums as to
the danger of the mammoth accumu-
lations of wealth by a few in control
Of different industries. Great stress is
laid upon the contention that in these
vast accumulations OF individual
wealth there are elements that men
ace our free institutions.
How came about this aggregation
of great wealth is question that
suggests itself. What particular con-
ditions allowed the aggregation OF
such pyramids of money? Money is
merely representative OF value.
medium for the exchange of com
modities necessary in civilization. The
values represented by money have as
their standard labor, service, bene-
fits. That there is danger In the Sc
questering of the circulating medium
of the land and its equivalent in prop
erty. cannot be well denied. He who
superior talents and by honest effort
in combining circumstances to work
to his advantage. is as much entitled
to this wealth as is the toiler whose
ability to do is limited to the earning
OF few paltry dollars daily. But 1t
is what can be done with vast wealth
that is the question: 1t can be used
for either good or evil. 1t depends
upon the individual who possesses 1t.
Money is power for good as well as
being the root of all evil"
During the past decade the United
States has never been more pros
porous. Within the past few months
there has been financial stringency, a
reaction and swinging back of the
pendulum In compensating way.
This to the logician is merely the re-
suit of the workings of natural law.
The husbandman does not always ex-
pect under natural conditions equal
crops. A succession of large crops
covering a period of four or five
years will most likely be followed by
poorer crops for a season or two.
Financial successes as well as panics
alternate. There is a period of prog
ress beyond the ordinary and then a
decline. But It is possible for natural
laws to be directed in a manner to
better serve the people. Such wizards
as Burbank, understanding the laws
of progeneration and properly direct
ing these laws, has brought into exist
ence highest perfection In plant life
BY like exercise of high intelligence
1t is possible to control the accummu-
lations of wealth, or rather to control
the distribution of wealth and to pro-
tect against so-called panics.
The United States has S6,OOO,O 900 of
people. Three-fifths of these people
reside outside of large cities and
towns. With prosperity coming to
them they have been neglectful of a
duty to the sections wherein they re-
side. and have allowed systems to
withdraw to the large financial cen
ters their surplus earnings. These
earnings have found their way as in
vestments in large corporations These
large corporations, which give strength
and stability to the country in a COM
mercial way, by manipulations OF
those in control OF them, by stock
gambling and other forms OF specula-
tion. have evil elements which attach
the stigma of dishonesty to great com
binations for control of Industries.
While the per capita production of
wealth within the United States has
been great, 1t Is evident that the
masses of those who have created II
by their labor have not received their
full quota of compensation. For this
the workers themselves are to blame
They have assisted along the unequal
distribution of their earnings by ig-
noring simple principles of economy;
and by SO doing they have helped con
centrate the wealth of the land in the
hands of a comparative few. Were
the money invested and spent in the
large cities by the people of agricul-
tural communities, invested in local
enterprises. just SO much would have
been done to guard against concentra-
tion. Were the millions sent to the
large cities for goods, that might as
well be purchased at home, retained
within the communities where the dol
lars were earned, the distribution of
wealth would be more equitable.
Thus it can be seen that the pro
ducers, the workers. the masses in
the agricultural districts have care
lessly assisted in bringing about con.
ditions bordering upon panic. Depres-
sion in financial lines works to the
detriment OF the poorer classes. When
there is scarcity of circulating
medium, prices are forced to the low
est level. Thus those with money can
buy at lowest prices. When the
pendulum swings the other way and
values advance, the fortunate pos
SCISSOR of wealth who bought in low
market finds his wealth increased.
Panics can he aYerfad hu tho rnanran