Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-16

the thousands, but the scores Of thou.
sands: and I was in active correspond
ence with men and women In other
cities, Chicago, Detroit and Philadel-
mia. where the conditions were Just as
bad as in New York. Every kind of
provision had to be made, by private
charities and by the publi0 authorities,
in order to care for thu multitude of
people who wished to work but who
were in dire want because there was
no work. The misery was widespread
For instance, the Board OF Health Of
New York, had to pass special reso-
lutior allowing the eating of horse
meat Il think the exact phraseology
gave permission to fatten old horses
for slaughter and food). because every
effort had to be made to give to those
out of work the cheapest food that
would sustain life. Remember that
those times were normal. There was
then no war. We were at peace. We
were simply experiencing the normal
results of legislative action under Mr..
Wilson and the Democratic admins
tration.
The suffering was widespread
throughout this country. Suddenly the
war came At one stroke this country
was granted a measure OF protection
greater than any 1t had ever received
under any tariff in its history. More
over. the demand for munitions OF war
was stimulated to such an enormous
degree as to completely reverse trade
conditions. For example, comparing
the fiscal years ending June 80, 1914.
and June 80, 1916, that is, the year be-
fore the war and the year that mas Just
ELAPSED, the losses in ordinary exports
during the last year, compared 10 the
former. were over two hundred million
dollars: whereas there was a gain IN
exports of war material of nearly TWO
billion dollars. If it were not for these
artificial conditions, the suffering from
unemployment in this country at this
time would in all probability be as
great as it was in 1914, and we would
have seen two or three years OF an In
dustrial 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 any
how. If Mr.. Wilson is kept In ONCE,
this suffering will doubtless be pro-
longed and acute.
In short. YOU miners of Pennsylvania,
7 appeaI to you, and l appeal to all
wageWorkers of the United states,
both in the name of sound American
citizenship, and also in the name OF
your real and permanent self-interest.
No American citizen can afford to put
the stamp of his approval on any law
supposed to be passed for the beneht
of anybody without investigation, I'M
der duress of threats or for fear of the
loss of political power. I 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
man who for his profit does wrong in
your interest will just as unhesitatingly
do wrong against your interest, If ever
he thinks it to his profit to do so.
In the old days, thirty years ago,
when I lived on a COW ranch in the
short grass country, the branding iron
and the cowboy took the place OF
fences, and our herds were managed by
branding each calf with the brand of
the COW it followed. If the calf was
not branded the first year, then the
next year when it was an unbranded
yearling. it was called a maverick. 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 neighbours ranch
with a puncher / had just hired, and
we came across a maverick. We got
down our ropes, threw the maverick.
and built little fire of sagebrush to
heat one of the cinch rings. and the
puncher started to run on the brand.
l said, Put on the thistle brand"-the
brand of the range we were on. He
answered. "All right, boss, I know my
business" and in another minute he
had put on my brand, remarking, II
always put on the boss's brand" l
answered, "Well-go back to the ranch
and get your time" He jumped up
and said, Whats that for? / was
putting on your brand, wasn't II" l
answered. Yes, my friend. you were
putting on my brand, and If you will
steal for me you will steal from me-"
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 servants. If a public ser
want will do wrong to please any par
ticular class it may be taken as abso-
lutely certain that he will do wrong
against the interest of that particular
class whenever it becomes to his own
profit to do so.