The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-11-18

cerned. 1t helps the trusts, because
it restricts the supply of all COM
; modities, while the demand is ever
increasing, thereby allowing large
combinations to control the available
supply, and charge all the traffic will
bear.
Even supposing it resulted in in
creased wages for the working man,
is it right to tax eighty million peo-
pie dollars that a few thousand may
gain cents? But it does not increase
wages. With the trusts and corpora
tions owning most of the jobs, and
SO per cent of the workingmen con-
tinually out of job, competing with
their fellow working men for their
job, is any sane corporation mana
ger going to pay any higher wages
than he has to?
But you say the American work
ing man does receive a higher wage
than those of most other countries.
So he does; but why?
The history of the world shows
that when the standard of living for
the working man was reduced to
three meals of rice a day, that three
! meals of rice was about all that he
received
The United States being a new and
undeveloped country up to few
years ago, and plenty of jobs to be
had in the development, also plenty
OF opportunity, the American work
ing man being the working men of
other countries set his standard of
living higher, and demanded a wage
that would support that standard.
The powers that be do not dare to
reduce that standard to three meals
OF rice day, at one blow. If they
did. they would have a revolution on
their hands. But they advance
wages one per cent to fool the
worker. and then advance the cost
of living five per cent. About how
many advances like that will it take
to gain the desired result? That is,
to reduce the worker to Just enough
to keep himself, and allow him to re-
produce himself?
Now. my dear sir. just few more
words in an endeavor to jar you out
of a rut in which our law makers
have long run. By education and
association you all have become so
trained to think of and for property
interests, that you all seem to think
that one who has no property is not
worthy Of being legislated in behalf
Of
Now, if you consider that twenty
per cent Of the people own eighty
per cent Of the property, you will
find that as long as you only con-
slider property interests, you are rep
resenting really only a small per cent
of the people. Surely, he who has
the greatest need should get the
most attention Or, do you all be-
lieve that ''to him that hath" should
be given. and to him who hath not
should be taken away even the little
which he has? Well, that is the way
! our laws are being framed to-day.
But | am not one who accuses you
all Of dishonesty; but rather thai
most of you are honest in purpose
However, your education and asso
Citations are such that you are really
in touch with but the one class, who
represent property interests. AND
your sympathies and tastes NATURAL.
being with that class, you do not ge
in touch with the great masses wht
need you, and badly; and so vol
have really no opportunity to stud.
their needs, or to find out what i
really best for them.
i do not apply this to you person
ally, but to most members of GU
legislative bodies:
Thanking you for your kindl
hearing, / am
Very truly yours, -
o. H. Dedges.