The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-10-15

control the manufacturing OF all innings
that are manufactured from the raw
materials of the farm and the stocl
ranges. Not only could they become
the exclusive element in this manu-
featuring, but also control the retail
price for anything that comes from
the farm. They could make life cheap
er to the working class, while making
more money themselves, provided they
check the rise in land values. But il
land is rising according to profits pei
acre, and to density of population
nothing can improve the condition OF
the farmers permanently; for it SHOULD
be we'll understood that each genera
ton of farmers must buy the land, ant
if the land rises according to income
per acre, or density of population, al
the profits derived from any scheme
or organization of the farmers is en-
tirely offset by interest on mortgages
and payment of purchase prices, and
higher rents.
A rise in land values benefits only
farmers who wish to sell out to enter
some other business, for, when cheap
land is gone, if a farmer wishes tC
move to another locality, he must pay
there as much more for land as he gets
more for his, according to income pei
acre. Even the o retiring farmers
lose as much in the course of their
lives through interest on high mort
cages and purchasing prices as they
gain by increased land values.
To the intelligent reader it will al
no n
ues can only be checked through legis
latiOn, and this brings us to another
neglected point in the education of the
farmers, by the farm press-the study
of political and social economy.
1t is of absolutely no use to the
farmers to work hard if they let the
capitalists make the laws in their own
interests. A number of reforms are
proposed to stop the control of oul
legislators by corporate interests, but
not one of these will stop this control
except by the initiative, referendum
and recall. Direct election of United
States senators, primary election laws
the election of the best man or of in
dependent tickets will not prevent cor
pOrations from getting their way as
they possess the economic power tC
influence by favOrS, intimidation, OF
bribery, the legislators, and the admin
istrative, judicial and executive Of
ficeholders.
The farmers are interested in tariffs
tradaD and transportation, banking
trust and board of trade manipulations
etc, but they cannot get relief except
through an amendment to the cOnsti
tuition granting the voters the power
to compel the lawmaking bodies to en-
act into laws, the petitions sent in by
the legally required number of voters
or to submit these petitions to popu
lar vote, called a referendum, and tC
make the rule of the people more bind
ing, to make every officeholder subject
to recall by petition and popular vote
This would stop government by cor
poratiOns. as then the people would
learn to study the effect of the laws
upon their personal interests, and
make the voters proof against selling
their votes.
If could have my own way | would
abolish all elections and appoint all
pub ic officeholders by examination by
a strictly no-partisan civil service com
mission (the commissioners them
selves to undergo an examination and
to be paid officeholders) the appoint
ment to go to the applicant securing
the most points; and their rulings and
legislation to be subject to the refer
endum; and all officeholders' be sub
ject to recall.
Can the public afford the risk of put
ting the management of public affairs
in the hands of men of whose honesty