Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-02-19
TAKES ISSUE wiTH
MILLARD ON SOCIALISM.

EDITOR CENSOR: / have read the
articles in your paper written by Mr..
Henry C. Millard from New Zealand,
describing the social and economic con-
ditions in that colony. ! have studied
the social con 4tions there and can read
ily perceive that Mr.. Millard writes en-
tirely from the capitalist standpoint.
He seems to think that country, where
the capitalist does not have things his
own way, has gone to the bow-wows.
OF course, Mr.. Millard can be partially
excused for his one-sided view, consid-
ering that he has always been fairly
well-to-do, and knows not what want
is
From the standpoint of the common
people, the useful producer, New Zea-
land is the most prosperous country in
the world. Is not that country which
serves the best interests of the masses
the best country? If the capitalist, or
landlord, of New Zealand doesr t lie
that country he can pack his baggage
and pull out, and it is certain he cannot
take the natural rcso Irces of that coun-
try in his satchel. The government
there is offering him every inducement
to sell out his holdings by imposing a
progressive tax on land values and pass
ing laws in favor of labor in the factor
les. The government is also forcing
the landlords to sell their land to the
government at prices fixed by gov
ernment tribunal. In this way the
large estates are constantly being
broken up. The land, again in the pos
session of the government, is being
placed at the disposal of the people.
Abraham Lincoln said: "A time is
coming which alarms me, when all the
wealth will be in the hand of a few.
have moce anxiety now for my coun-
try than during the war Daniel
| Webster once remarked: Liberty can
not long endure in country where the
tendency is to concentrate wealth in
the hands of the few +
NeW Zealand ID making Efforts to
check this Capitalization Of wealth and
to diffuse it on a basis OF equity. and
Justice. Mr.. Millard speaks of the
tyranny of labor in New Zealand, and
| / suppose it is tyranny to the profit
monger in comparison to the privileges
they enjoy in countries where they own
the government (the United States for
instance) Viewed from the standpoint
Of the people ''the tyranny of labor
is synonymous with the rule of the peo-
pie, or democracy.
Mr.. Millard comes from a country
where the people are supposed to be
supreme al the majority to rule, still
he denJunces the rule of the people
| (labor) in New Zealand. But where he
shows his utter ignorance of social evo-
luton is when he says that the govern
ment of New Zealand win have to sen
back to private parties its entire hold
ings to keep from gong bankrupt.
Such a statement is as absurd as TO say
that town would have to sell its roads
to private parties for the same reason.
| mo, not while they have the taxing
power in their hands,. He says the
working people land sheds a crocodile
tear for them) are getting worse off
every year, but he does not say any
| thing about any soup houses, or bread
lines or unemployed armies there. He
| had better come back to his own free
| (7) country if he has any sympathy TO
| bestow on the working class. 1t Is just
possible he has not heard that has own
beloved country is writhing in the throes
of an industrial panic. If so, some of
his friends ought TO apprise him of the
fact, as he might want to dole out some
of his charity to the starving millions
here.
Mr. Millard only told q half truth
when he said the taxes in New Zealand
are $50 per capita, because the people
are acquiring property through their
government which some day will more
than reimburse them for these taxes.
Also he failed to state that the bulk Of
these taxes come from the large prop
erty holder and do not fall on the poor
er people, Yours for socialism,
A. W. BREY.
Ontario, Wis, February 10.