The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1913-11-13
HANDMADE PANICs.

1t is of course enough to disturb business consti
tuted to have both tariff bill along free trade hnes
and currency SYSTEM and administration TO turn
heold the That could never hap
pen wsthout disturbance usually amounting to disaster
Yet it is fair question whether the present financial con
ditions are proof of general conspiracy at least
striking unanimy Of thought and action on the part OF the
individual wealth of the country to withdraw their real
money from circulation expecting not hoping for hard
revenge for the peoples interference with
vested rights and their representative government
The situation does not prove, even reasonably IMPLY
that the republican party essentially the party OF
privilege democracy essentially the party OF reform and
progress 1t merely indicates that OF the special inter
es and privileges wanting to wn had fastened themselves
like eeches to the republican party and nave not yet De
ieved that Wilson and democracy though now triumphant
will be permanent enough actabe enough to pay them to
form an alance-yet they sit tight their money
bags and watch the people ready oon final victor
The fundamental princrest there are any--of the two
great parties hardly in the election So
whatever trouble there hardly partisan politics. little
credit to the or blame to the other.
But the attitude of great individual wealth enough to
locate the nations sorest spot We have no communal or
national wealth; it IS all individual We have little actual
money; do business mostly credits We have no sys
which the restore replace the cred
it's that may be withdrawn by private owners and with nut
which panic can be manufactured in dayas 1T was III
1907. In plain words largely at the mercy OF the
private wealth which have allowed to be accum
uated
1t is time to strengthen state and limit the indiv
dua Rockefeller could buy all Idaho at its assessed value
three times The laws alone make this poSsble no
unaded by law, could accumulate one tenhou-
sandth part of his wealth. To such he and Others OF only
less degree given the ruseeshp of the nation by giving
them its wealth. in money and in credit the government
ans power curb punish if they misuse their trust
1t bar to the development of individuality, dead
level of medocty limit private fortunes by income and
inheritance taxes by open appropriation of uneaed IN
values Even conservative England takes four times
heavy inheritance the Morgan estate paid in this
country These should for the purchase and deve
opmen of public necessities that pay enormous private
profits lighting plants, power plants, transportation sys
TENS irrigation and drainage systems and banks, and
other enterprises that have paid private profits be
the people must have them at whatever cost TO limit
private wealth by taxing at the top and by cutting off its
opportunities for monopoly at their would rob
any inherent right would destroy the working value
If single dollar but it would foy the government and
he people against these perennial assaults of privilege when
he holders of wealth simply close their purses and watch the
people squrm. !
Roosevelt president would have tried to fight this bat
lie for ALL though he might have failed with congress
lot in sympathy with him. Taft would hardly have know
here battle if the people had victory with