The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-09-04
VOX POPULI.
Mr.. sWANssoN's BOOK is
DISCUSSED AT LENGTH

4
| Editor Pensac cola Journal
There has just been published and
placed on sale in Pensacola an epocn-
marking volume of political economy.
For it's fearless treatment Of social
| - and for the brilliant and in
genious remedy suggested. the vol
urTle deserves to be placed in a class
| with Adam Smiths Inquiry into the
| Causes of the Wealth Of Nations.
I refer to Swansson's Social Wrongs
and a Practical Remedy: Public
Property Reserve
In brief, the idea advanced by the
| author Is that the national govern
nent shall appropriate each year the
sum of one hundred million dollars,
which is ten billion cents as we reck-
on our currency to be expended In
the construc tion of forty THOUSAND
homes, each to cost twenty-five hum
dred dollars. Into these homes will be
placed good American citizens, with
their families, 1 hope who shall an
nually pay a rental of two hundred
dollars OF this rental fifty dollars per
year shall be applied to upkeep of the
houses, while the other one hundred
and fifty will be placed to the credit
of the occupant. At the end OF ten
years occupancy, the occupant will be
required to vaca5te his house and shall
not thereafter be eligible to a property
reserve lodging, but as a solace he
will be paid, in good honest currency.
his ten annual credits of one hundred
and fifty dollars total of fifteen
hundred dollars
The author declares that the adop-
ton of his plan will result in untold
benefits to our country-and to the
world at large, for other nations will
surely follow our example. It will
better the condition of the 1aboring
classes; it will abolish, or nearly
abolish poverty, and no longer will we
ton on the verge Of starvation,
Never again will we see the sad
bread line or feel the necessity for
free soup kitchens (but let US hope
IT won't abolish that great American
institution, the free lunch counter). It
wifi aid the back to tfne soi1'' move
ment, and 1t will undoubtedly destroy
or diminish the white slave" traffic
COZ course this will cause Mr.. Morey
10 lose his Job, but as a consolation
we can let him occupy a public prop
erty reserve house for ten years..
To handle this monumental project
the author believes that there should
be created a special department of
government, the head Of which should
be a member Of the presidents abb
net. without a doubt this should be
done, and, here and now, I wish to
suggest to the president that in select
ing the first secretary Of the public
property reserve he should pick the
person who understands the subject
and IT'S possibilities better than any
other living mantle originator Of the
idea and the brilliant author Of this
wonderful book. What an incentive 1t
would be to the ambitious youth of
the country to enlist In the army If
they could feel that enlistment mig MT
be a stepping stone 10 a seat in the
presidents cabneti And what a Joy
It would be to Mr.. Swansson's brother
members OF the coast artillery corps
If, in future years (when the nations
of the earth have followed our exam
pie and their peoples, happy and pros
porous through the medium Of prop
erty reserve houses, Are singing the
praises Of the originator of the idea)
they could say: I'VE soldiered with
him when he was a buck private
It is a great ideal Let us all wfoop
it up. We can label 1t made near
PENSACOLA
And now I want to suggest and
urge a plan Of my own which, II adopt
ed, will cure all social ills that are
not cured by the property reserve, and
If the national government adopts 1t
will only ask that 1t either pay me
a nice sum for the suggestion or else
give me fat pension for life; won't
ask for cabinet job would rather
live in Pensacola than in Washington.
My plan Is thts: Make. every mans |
note legal tender for all debts, either |
public or private.
If love of money is the root OF ali |
evil, my plan will make evil sldddoo |
No man will steal when 1t Is easier |
to give his note for what he wants, |
and the mad scramble for wealth will |
cease, and peace and happiness and |
prosperity will bless our land, and |
millions OF happy, carefree people, |
safely lodged In their property reserve |
homes all over this country, Will dream
of Pensacola and bless her because my