Denver labor bulletin., 1916-12-02
The Public Pays

Adamson eight hour law, and during the
negotiations prior to the settlement OF
the threatened railroad strike, the
cha nges were and are being rung upon
the phrase, "The Public Pays" Here's
hoping this fundamental truth will be
driven deep into the public mind. 1t
means much to the future OF this nation,
ii a real comprehension OF this funda-
mental truth shall grow out OF the
campaign of "cduca ton" which the IL
nancial interests are financing. 1t mat
tiers not a whit that this education IS
in the interest of but one branch OF hu-
man activity.
The public paysl But not alone for
the eight-hou day for railway employees.
Oh. no.
1t pays interest on every bit of water
in railroad stocks.
1t paws for every stock -jobbing wreck
ace performed in Wall street, when the
financial interests thimblcrig the stock
market to get control OF u railway sys-
ten.
1t pays every cent of dividend on rail-
way stocks and bonds.
1t pays for every paralleling line OF
rival railroad companies.
1t pays for every boost OF freight
rates, no matter for what purpose
granted.
1t pays for lack OF equipment to
move freight, no matter why the rall-
ways have not provided such equipment.
1t pays for every locomotive and
every car and every steel rail and every
foot of railway line in the nation.
1t paws every cent of the millions of
waste in railway management.
1t pays for every boost of prices in
the grain and stock markets manipulate
ed by the gamblers in food products,
who play the game with loaded dice, and
control the food supply OF the nation.
And the public furnishes the capital
for these gamblers, who secure it for
short time loans from the banks to gam
bic with, while the small borrower and
the farmer are denied loans at any price.
1t is a vicious circle, all right, and
We should not be fooled by political
claptrap.
The great European war, at final
analysis, is going TO be a new engine OF
profit taking. Just profit taking.
The public paysi it will pay for this
wur--every cent of commissions and
profit; every cent Of waste in men, and
wealth. We are paying even now. We
will nav more and more, up to the very
limit Of the greed of the money kings,
and our capacity to be blcd and con-
tinuc to produce.
We pay, because we are bound so
closely together by the common interests
of humanity that what touches one
touches all. The money power, which
controls the medium of exchange OF
wealth, has strnngle hold upon pro-
duction, distribution; upon human life
and happiness; and eNerts that hold to
take more and more; to capitalize hui
man distress. human misery, human am
bition; to turn every event to the pro-
ductions OF more and more profits piles
as high as greed can pile them. The
writer above quoted says that the econo-
mic condition confronting this nation
and the world are not the result Of
"deviltry OF design but has resulted
from conditions growing up in modern
lie"
AS far back as history goes, there
were money changers" very crude. and
not to be compared to the finished prod.
uct OF today; but still financial sys-
tenn" which levied tribute from produc-
ers. Modern financiers have taken what
they found, and as the complexities Of
modern life multiplied. their financial
system more than kept pace.
VIII our bOasted civilization develop
us no remedy for this evil, which holds
its vottries and chief bcneficinrics ms
rolentlcsslv as it does the remainder of
mankind?
Who kuowsl Perhaps, If we learn to
think straight enough to be not deceived
with specious lies.-Thc Pacific Echo