Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
President Wilson seems to be in

something tangible in that direction
in the near future. Now the oppor-
tunity appears for Hon. Frank P.
Woods to do something. 1t was
given out some time ago that Mr..
Woods was working upon rural
credit bill and was studying the
question. If Mr.. Woods will lead in
this matter and will succeed in get
ting congress to adopt some salts
factory measure embedding the
principle of rural credits he will
have accomplished something worth
while for his district. There are
100000 farmers in the United
States who own about 100000
900 worth of property. They pro-
duce annually nearly S10,OO0,000,-
900 worth of products. They owe
something over 6,O0O,OOO,O0O and
pay more than s5O0,000,O00 in in
terest each year. 1t is estimated
that commissions and interest
amount to nearly eight per cent,
which is much higher than the rate
paid by railroads, municipalities
and mercantile establishments, yet
the farmer has as good security to
offer as the best. 1t is proposed by
some members of congress to enact
a law providing for long time loans
on mortgages, issuing debentures
against them. In this way the gov
eminent could sell the securities in
small amounts and could realize a
fair profit for assuming the bust
ness. Farm loans would be cheaper
If some organization having finan-
cial standing could guarantee loans,
and the government could do that,
as it would know just what land is
worth in various sections and could
realize enough profit from the bust
ness to make itself safe.
Henry Ford has brought lot of
trouble upon himself and upon
thousands of working men by his
spectacular increase of wages of en-
ployees. Some $4,000 men have
Travelled to Detroit in the hope of
getting work in the Ford factories, |
but were turned away because every
job was taken. So far no benefit |
has resulted to anybody except the
men who are working for Mr.. Ford
and it remains to be seen whether
or not it will be more beneficial |
than harmful to them in the aggre-
gate. Of course many individuals
will be helped Those of strong
character who can and will make
good use of their increased income
will find the higher wage OF much
1Iyov Co. D,,{ ,,,h Ill IN
influence upon the class that ex-
ponds all it gets and oftentimes ex-
ponds it in riotous living? Employ
ers ought to pay as high wages as
they legitimately can, but is it good
policy to pay far beyond the mar
ket value for product and then
charge the consumer a higher price
than would be necessary if the arti-
,1e were created under normal con-
1itions? If the Ford car can be
made for $500, as is claimed, why
1t serve the public best to ,
give the consumer a part of the ad- l
,antage of the monopoly secured by
ETC., than to give it all to
! few thousand men who make :
hem? 1t is claimed that from 1907 q
100 to 100000 Fords are sold each I
ear. Then the purchasers of these +
ars are really the ones who con-
ribute to the increased wage scale.
n other words 100000 men are ~
1ade to pay more than a legitimate a
rice and $4,000 men receive the Il
eward. At that, it is admitted that IL
be Ford car is the best for the :.
rice upon the market, still if a rea- 4.
Enable profit could be made after
aging liberal wage scale by SELL :,