Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-10-19

The suffering was widespread through
ont this country. Suddenly the war came.
At one stroke this country was granted
o measure Of protection greater than any
it had ever received under any tariff in
its history. Moreover, the demand for
munitions of war was stimulated to such
an enormous degree as to completely re-
verse trade conditions. For example, com
pairing the fiscal years ending June 30.
1914. and June 30, 1915, that is the year
before the war and the year that has just
elapsed, the losses in ordinary exports dur
ing the last year, compared to the former,
were over two hundred million dollars;
whereas there was a gain in exports OF war
material of nearly two billion dollars. II
it were not for these artificial conditions.
the suffering from unemployment in this
country at this time would in all proba-
bility he as great as vt was In 1914, and
we would have seen two or three years
of an industrial crisis at least as bad as
any we have ever known in our history.
The present stimulus is artificial. 1t will
cease with the war conditions coming to
an end. 1t will then be difficult to avoid
some suffering anyhow. If Mr.. Wilson is
kept in office. this suffering will doubtless
be prolonged. and acute.
In short, you miners of Pennsylvania, I
appeal to you. and I appeal to all wage
workers of the United States. both in the
name of sound American citizenship, and
also in the name of your real and perma-
nent aelf-interest. No American citizen
can afford to put the stamp of his ap-
proval on any law supposed to be passed
for the benefit of anybody without inves-
tigation, under duress of threats or for
fear Of the loss Of political power. ask
any men who are tempted to approve OF
the politician. big or little. whom they
think has helped them by doing wrong in
their interest. to remember that the maj
. who for his profit does wrong in your in.
terest will just as unhesitatingly do wrong
against your interest, if ever he thinks II
to his profit to do so.
In the old days. thirty years ago, when
lived on a cow ranch in the short-grass
country, the branding iron and the COW.
boy took the place of fences, and our
herds were managed by branding each
calf with the brand of the COW it followed.
II the calf was not branded the first
year, then the next year when it was an
unbranded y%earling, it was called a NAV.
erick. BY range law We were supposed to
brand each maverick with the brand Of
the ranch on which it was found. One
day | was riding across a neighbor's ranch
with a puncher | had just hired, and we
came across a maverick. We got down our
ropes, threw the maverick, and built a
little fire of sage brush to heat one OF
the cinch rings. and the puncher started
to run on the brand. | said: "Put on
the thistle brand'-the brand Of the range
we were on. He answered: All right.
boss. | know my business" and in an
other minute he had put oil my brand. re.
marking: II always put on the boss
brand" answered.: "Well-go back to
the ranch and get your time" He jumped
up and said: What's that for! was
putting on your brand, wasn't l?' | an
svered: Yes, my friend; you were put
ting on my brand. and If you will steal
for me you will steal from mel"
This is a good rule to remember. for
laboring men, farmers, professional men,
business men. for all citizens Of the United
States. in dealing with their public serv-
ants. If a public servant will do wrong
to please any particular class, it may be
taken as absolutely certain that he will
do wrong against the interest of that par.
liruIar class whenever it becomes to his
own profit to do 80.