The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-08-03

men by hand Is now IS much out Of
date as Is the manufacture Of rails
cloth and shoes by hand
Killing Is now by wholesale and this
requires billions Of money. the same
as huge capital is needed for the
manufacture OF steel rails, cotton
cloth. shoes. or any other big product
Moreover governments must borrow
money the same as do steel compa'
MES, cotton mills and shoe factories
This the governments have done By
issuing bonds.
Up to the present time. the allies
have borrowed for the war over Slo,'
100000 and Germany over S5,00O..
100000. making a total Of S15.000.00O'
900. II you want to know what this
means. look up the asseSsm ent OF your
city or its total Indebtedness, and seS
how it compares. The average city
in this country has an assessed valua'
ton Of about $1,000 per capita. That
is. city OF 10000 has an assessed
valuation OF about 100000 900; OF
city OF 100000 people has an assessed
valuation Of about $I00,0O0.OOO.
The countries at war have thus Dor.
rowed for war purposes alone a sum
equal to the sum OF the assessed val.
uations OF 30 of our large cities. hav'
ing a combined population OF nearly
100000 people. or one-Seventh q
this country's entire population!
Moreover. the war has lasted just one
wear. What do you know about that
These bonds are just like the bonds
any corporation would issue. They
are Just like note that you would
give neighbor for piece Of land. or
in payment OF a bill. They should he
paid. principal and interest. The IN.
terest alone on these bonds VIII
amount 10 over S2OO.OOOOOO year.
OF course. that proportion Of the
money received from these bonds
which is spent in The home country
is not all wasted. but there IS no get
ting back the money which IS spent
in the United States or other lands.
For this reason Germany is in sound
er financial condition today than any
of the other belligerents. Her Dor.
rowing has all been among her own
people.
Encland's blockade OF Germany
which has prevented Germany from
buying goods from other countries has
forced her to become selt.supportlng
Hence. she has been able TO retain
all her gold Hence. her people have
been forced to economic, Hence. for
every dollar Germany spends. the a.
lies must spend two. It is TOO bad
for the allies that this is so: but tig.
ures unfortunately tell the truth
When the working people OF Europe
finally get through their heads the
fact that they are the ones who must
ultimatIy pay al. these bills; that
while they are getting poorer the man
ufacturers are getting richer: and
that modern war results simply in TAX
ing money out OF the pockets of the
poor people and putting it into the
pockets Of the rich people. II seems
as if the working people Of all these
nations would rise in their might and
refuse TO fire another shot
Moreover. this is not the silly talk
of some peace advocate; il is cold
fact. The government buys million
dollars worth OF shells and turns the
money over to some manufacturer who
makes a biz profit. To obtain this
million dollars. the government sells
a million dollars worth Of bonds to
all classes OF people. To pay these
bonds and the interest thereon. the
government increases the taxes on
real estate and persona! property. TO
pay these taxes. the landlords raise
their rents and increase their inter.
est rates. The result is that the work
ing people are obliged ultimately TO
pay this million dollars. and the in