Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1912-02-15
REPLY TO ks" ASSERTION

Kind readers, did You notice that ar
ticle signed ''X'' in a recent issue o.
the News? l think a more appropriate
signature would have been so
(naught), but let's not fall out aboui
a name, a rose would smell as sweet il
called by any other name, and fact
will remain facts in spite Of TX" par
roting his pet party's phrase of pros
perity.
"X", Idon't blame you. you should
be pitied more than blamed. The sys'
TENS bosses have made you believe
when they talk Of ''oni", that you
were included in the ~''our", and now
you come at me just az q parrot tries
to initiate its owner. You have my
sympathy and the sympathy OF all
class conscious socialists.
Now, friend, "X'', be serious and
earnest; take off your hat, call in
your republican neighbors and for the
first time in your life try TO think for
yourself and family.
Your republican census report show
ed in the year 1900 that 125, 600 men
owned $33, 600. 00O, 600 of the total
wealth of the United States, or an av-
erage of 1854, 600 each. It also showed
that 8, 500, 900 men own $500, 900, 900,
or an average Of $50 each. 1t estima-
ted the total wealth to be $65, 900, 600, :
600, At that time there we're -, 500,
900 families. Then if you know per
centage | ask you to go to work and
you will find one family of every hun
d-ed owning fifty-five of every hun
bred dollars worth of property in our
christian nation, while more than elev-
en- million families own less than sew
en- dollars to the family, or putting it
palmer, it showed that 8, 500, 600 fam
lilies owned nothing. This is some of
''the greatest prosperity the world
ever saw" Prosperity for the few
and poverty for the many. You don't
know how this is done or you would
know how to vote. If you we're told
this by one of your bosses you would
believe it but being told by a Socialist
you will not believe it. You believe
the story of ''the greatest prosperity
the world ever saw because those
who are robbing you told you so, but
a socialist who reveals to you just how
the majority are robbed is a bad fell
low.
Rockefeller raised the price of oil
the last ten days n and one-half
cents per gallon, which means mil
lions more profit in one month for
him, even if it does come out of the
hide of workingmen. Grand system
this. l think it would be better for
the people to own the oil. but you
prefer paying "Rocky'' thirty times
what it costs.
You can't understand how easy it
would be for the people to own it. 1t
is a deal easier than what you are do
ing. Let us see how easy. When
Rocky" was being fined that twenty
nine million dollars, the court had
him swearing. He wor that his oil
plant was estimated at ninety-six mil
lion dollars, and sixty-four millions of
it was water. He also swore that bis
profit was 81 million dollars per an
.ent buys this plant and agrees to pay
thirty-two million dollars. The
government issues to him a bond for
bearing 4 per cent. interest. The
deal closed Jan. I, 1919, and is now
the property of the government, deliv-
ering oil exactly as "Rocky" deliver
I'd it, not a nan discharged, only the
ownership transferred from ''Rocky"
TO the people. According to Rock
VS. sworn statement, the people have
In the treasury eighty-four million
dollars profit on Jan. 1, 1918. Then
,ome fool Socialist suggests that we
Jake t~hirty7two million of this eighty
Jour million dollars profit and pay
Rocky" leaving fifty-two million
dollars in the treasury, and then about
his time another fool Socialist offers
resolution that as the actual cost and
of the oil is not more than
iwo or three cents per gallon, we put
{ down to three cents per gallon. This
would be an awful thing and hard on
he prosperity of one per cent. of the
who own IS per cent. of the
l have given you enough facts to en-
BILE you to go on the stump and whip
IL the Moons and williams in your
district. Eighty-four million dollars
'roft to Rocky" n hundred and
hirty million to the bankers, four bill
ion to the owners of fourteen trusts,
billion and forty-four million dol
ars cost of government, six hundred
nd forty-eight million to the rail-
Dads. Let us total these, and we will
nd it amounts to about sos per cap
ia. This does not include MANY
rusts nor rent Of land, nor in
on State and county debts, and
ct amounts to 1926 to the family.
his includes an average of $s5 per
mum for the use of liquors and to-
acco. Same statistics.
If "X" had been born the day Christ
vas born and went to work that day
nd worked until now at one dollar
day he would be worth $3.50, 780,
he had saved it all.
You may talk whiskey and tobacco
} the simple and economy to the ig-
GRANT who wouldn't know what a
luare was and that's most of us, but
won't work on me.
A. J. BRANNAN.
racy City, Tenn.