The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-03-22

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ssStill more of the rise of prices IS
due to the decline of ~aSrlculturd
products as compared with the IL
crease Of population Decrease IN the
number of cattle and swine was also
; given as a reason.
when due allowance has beer
made for the effect of these forces
that make for dearer living, there
still remains a large unexplained bal
ance." said Mr.. Hill. This be
credited to the lavish expenditure
which has now grown to be q national
trait.
Waste, idlenesS and rising wages.
al inter-related to one another, now
| as cause and now as effect, are. next
| to an oyer-issue Of i~rredeemable pa
| per. the three most powerful forces
in the world to raise prices.
perhaps the greatest factor OF all
in the price problem is the wage
| rate, Everybody knows that labor
cost is the principal item in all forms
of industry. The wage rate has been
rising steadily in this country. Pow
erful forces are back of this move
ment. It has public sympathy. TO
| resist it is difficult n may be dan
| gerous. AS cost of production IS
chiefly labor cost, the price Of the
finished article must go up il the
, price of the finished article must go
up if the price OF labor is raised. This
is lust as true of the farm as OF the
factory.
Efect of National Waste.
THE effect OF national waste OF
capital is felt Immediately in the
added weight Of taxation. The taxes
collected annually from the railroads
OF the country have increased more
tina 200 per cent. since 1889. They
increased by forty million dollars and
by more than 500 per mile Of track
between 1900 and 1908 Franchise
taxes. inheritance taxes, taxes on cor
porations and income are re-
ferred TO with neither.
The modern theory that you can
safely tax the wealthy Is just as OBJ
n~oxious as the medieval theory that
YOU can safely Cypress or kill the
poor. It is obnoxious not because
! wealth deserves special consideration,
but because capital is the handspring
of all industry and material Develop
ment: and, after 0 have devoted
so much of it to the u~nprOductiVe
purposes that the State represents
When it transcends its primary func-
ton as keeper Of the peace and ad-
ministrator Of justice, there viii be
just so much less left to pay cut
in wages and devote 10 the creation
OF other wealth.
Tnc Remedy Il Not Obscure.
The saving feature OF our situation
is that ii IS not complex, and that the
remedy IS not obscure. The ideal Of
Intelligent economy must be restored.
Let the rule be that every dollar un-
proiitahlT spent marks q crime against
pOsteritY just as much as does the
dissipation Of material r~esOureeS. Ex-
penditure must be cut down all along
the line.
Credit everywhere should be con-
served by y sharp scrutiny OF new
serve them for the crisis OF war; no
State need ever borrow again II it
IS wisely and honestly governed.
Parent Of Civic Decay.
stop grating, the offspring OF
public extravaganza and the parent
OF civic decay. Individual and puhlic
economy; 4 just distinction between
side and vulgar ostentation or c%rinqi-
nal waste on the other; q check on
income wasting, debt creation ana
credit infiation-these are the essen
tails OF the new and better conserNa-
ton.
Appeal TO Heart and Mind.
The reform is SO great, so indispen-
sable, 50 linked to our moral as we'll
as our material progress that it would
seem TO appeal to the heart and
mind Of every American and win his
enthusiastic devotion until its last
battle shall have been won. Patriot
ism and self-lnterest strike hands |
mere tor the protection OF our homes
and happiness from those most dan
gerous Of all enemies, the foes within
our own borders"
4 FINE SPECIMEN OF TIT
CONFIDENCE MAN" ARRESTED. /