Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1914-12-31
CUTTING POsTMAsTERs' SALARIES.

1t is stated that in the possible readjustment t. of matters in
the p~ostofice department the salaries of postmasters are likely
to be materially reduced.
Now, that's at least a grain Of comfort. W. know of no
more appropriate practice ground for experiments in govern
ment economy, than the misunderstanding! f there's a post
master in the land who earns a mere pittance Of what he gets
we'd like to see the cut of his jib!
What's that? We may some day be appointed postmas-
ter ourself?
Well, now, that's different. Come to view st in it's true
light, there's not a postmaster on earth but who is giving
more for what he receives than any other class of govern
ment employees. Instead of having his wages cut, he should
have his compensation increased!
We fear this two-eyed view of the situation is altogether
too conspicuous in our dealings with men and measures and in
dustrics. What's in it for us?
1t is the spirit of commercialism, which, although a com
%mendable spirit within certain limitations, appears to have
gone to seed along some lines.
There isn't a railroad in the land but that is getting too
much TOR the service rendered, In popular estimation. And
there ism t a railroad in existence that would not return greater
profit to the men having their money invested in it if we could
have our way about it, provided always that it was our money
Is apt to think the farmer is getting more than he deserves.
The toifng farmer, with stopped shoulders, bending over
whIf1etrees, is apt to look upon the man of "big bust
ness as a commercial tyrant. ~
Both may be partly right and partly wrong: We are
lacking In reciprocity, one with another. The mutually Of in.
terest between industrial classes is too restricted.
There isn't a business man in WATERFOWL or elsewhere
shall have departed from the farming class.
There isn't a farmer in the country whose prosperity will
long continue after the wheels of progress Of the Business in
forests shall have been turned backward.
We may legislate until the crack Of domo, but unless we
shall proceed along the lines of cause and effect our efforts
will be fruitless in applying a remedy.
'sBig business has come to stay. Modern conditionsl
demand that things shall be done on a large scale. The talk!
Of restoring old-timel competition by dissolving the big con-
Germs and converting them back into the small ones that vel
formerly had, would be ludicrous if the. question were not sol
serious. e# @4A4~
"Big business will not be headed off. The thing to do
Is to adjust ourselves to it, with only such restrictive meas
ures as will prevent oppression or injustice between the various
classes OF business and between business and the people.
Big business has much responsibility for the present
lniamed state with reference to it and It's methods. The rev.
Citations regarding the manipulations of so great and suppos-l
edly benefcent institution as the j. p. Morgan house and[
numerous others has done more to crystalize5 sentiment inI
Jectts than all the agitators of the present generation put to-
gether.
And that's what we are coming to eventually unless con
fdence between classes and between sbig business, and tha|
masses shall be restored.