Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-20
Need the Billion at Home.

MT. Editor: It is an anomalous con dition where the hnanciers of the United States can get together and agree that the humane debt we owe to the war-stricken countries of the old world properly can be paid only by sending a billion dollars Nor so to them for the support of the millions that have fallen victims before the ravages of war, while the daughters of the workmen that have made it possible for those same fnancierS to propose the billions must go out to work to contribute to the family purse that the family of the worker in the United States may keep somewhere in touch with the high prices due to the war. There is no disposition to minimize the desperate conditions of the stricken people of Europe, but as to this billion or more to be raised for their relief, let it be understood that it comes from the workers of this country and not from its fnanciers could get from the nations for which they express so much sympathy and have made additional millions through the high prices they have been able to fix for domestic necessi- ties. It seems quite proper to ad- vance the thought that when this money has been raised for the dis tressed of the old world. and the need of assistance has ceased, would it not be equally proper to raise another billion or so for the benefit of the many who can not meet the constant 1y increased price of necessities in the United States, and who have to appeal to private and public charity for as- sistance? The suggestion is not out of place when we know the rapid ac- cumulation of wealth has been taken this country as we'll as from the na- tionS at war. It is also @ safe Opin- ion, that the suggestion will not be followed Man, woman and child who e. problem of getting along: which be- comes more acute every day. The fear of want Cvershadows everything else in the mind of the wage-earners, future for immediate improvement. In these prosperous, poverty stricken times, criticism of these remarks will be made from sources, far removed sources whose environment in life makes 1t impossible to realize the bitter fight that is waged to escape the poorhouse. Much is said noWa- life of the American worker. Can his extravagance be due to flirting with frenzied finance? Or can 1t be he deals in stocks. bonds. mortgages, bills of sale, options, margins, waiv- CTS and gentlemen's agreements The fact is, the children of Israel in bond age to the Pharaohs were better taken care of than is the unorganized la-
 
 rebellion had nothing on present-day industrial conditions as a producer of blood money. We pray the kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. If we are here at the coming of the kingdom we will see a dearth of clean ing and securing material, caused by men trying to get the marks of blood money off their fingers; what a reck- oning at the coming of the kingdom.
 Roughly speaking, three-fourths of the wretchedness in our country, is due to forces quite beyond the control of the individual, but entirely within the control of society. With all our vaunt of prosperity, enjoyed by the wage-earning class. we can find measures by which. we may deter mine how far short we fall of the re- quirements of an efficient and ethical civilization.
 JAMES H. CUMMINGS.
 Norwich, Feb. IA. 1917.