The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1916-02-03
EQUITY RESOLUTIONS
STAND THE TEST
MURRAY HOPES FARMERS WILL
STAND BACK OF RESOLUTION
ADOPTED BUT THAT THEY
WILL GO NO FURTHER.

New Ork, Jan. ZO.-1ne beCn-
lehem Steel corporation, which is
said to have received orders
from the Entente allies for ordi-
nance and other war supplies am
ounting to more than $20O,OO0,-
900, declared the first dividend in
it's history today on its common
stock. The dividend amounted to
$50 share, or $4,500,O00, and is
payable in quarterly installments.
Prior to the outbreaking of the
war, Bethlehem Steel was almost
unknown as stock. In 1907, the
year after the corporations or
ganization, the common sold as
low as SO share. In 1914, be-
fore the war, its low price was
S29 ~ and its high, SAG So. In
October, 1915, it had jumped to
5000. The next month it fell to
S4OO, and since that time has
ranged between $3.50 and $485.
Employees of the corporation
also will share in it's prosperity,
as 10 per cent increase in the
wages of it's unskilled labor was
announced simultaneously with
CI1G NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 4CCAA.
The usual way of looking at sucl
news as the above is to look only OF
one side. The side of the bond-holder
The idle rich. Those whose chief OBJ
iect is to spend money, boast of theil
wealth, and set examples of extrava
gance, but never advance the world il
morals. literature, science, discovery
nor in civilization.
Let us examine the other side O.
this question, which presents SOM
facts pertaining to other matters II
the sea of ignorance.
Let the detail of figures show the
relations of both sides. The maximum
price of the bonds just prior to the
war was SAG, the minimum price Of
them today is $780, The actual profit
shown by the advancement in the val
ne of the shares is $403. This is 86s
per cent advancement. While the ad.
of the laborer who actually
produced the wealth is only 10 pei
cent. Every time the bond holder
earns S86 extra dollars the laborel
earned one extra dollar.
Why this proportion? Why DOM
The producer of the wealth get the
arger portion? Why don't they share
equal. These are appropriate ques-
ions to every student of political econ.
>my.
There is but one answer. 1t is be.
cause the laborer does not control his
own selling price. price of his
wages.)
The question arises, why is this
condition considered right?
1t is another case, like the proof
which made the earth fiat, because
Long belief" was accepted without
questioning. i
The Citrus Organization of Califor-
1ia (fruit growers) has demonstrated
what farmers can do when they con-
;rol the selling prices Of their own
products. Mr.. Ralph Headmark Of
Pomona, CAL, fruit farmer, was in
his state recently and while here dis
.ussed the conditions before and since
heir organization in this state. Be-
ore they organized, it was common
hing to ship car of fruit to some
eastern point, and, after selling the
.ar load, the railroad company would
all on the shipper for additional mon
~ to pay freight. Since the organiza-
ion, they so completely control their
selling prices that they make reas-
Enable profit on their fruit T., the value
If their land has increased, and all are
satisfied. The consumers pay no more
Today for their fruit than they did be.
lore.
The Yucatan farmers who raised the
nenequen plant, the leaves of which
are used to make Irvine used to bint
the grain in the sheaf, were under 9
stronger monopoly than the c. of c
were ever accused Of being. The gov.
eminent aided them to the extent thai
a terminal elevator would aid wheat
grower and no more. Their chief Of
fcer announces over his own sigma
ture as follows: "Comision Regula
dora del Marcado de Henequen.'
Translated to English and exp1ainet
by DR.. Victor A. Rendon, "Commissiol
for the Regulation Of the Henequel
Market" It means to regulate tn
price Of henequen in accordance will
the law Of supply and demand. T
stabilize the market; to protect tn