The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-12-08

Why YOU'RE INTERESTED

I.
WHY YOU'RE INTERESTED
wish you would take what Is
written here MS n personal report adj
dressed directly TO you from me about
your business. Don't think OF II or
read Il as an article about politics"
or remote public affairs at Washing
ton. II Is not that at all. II Is what
ask you TO think II. a personal
business report TO you relating 70 your
individual concerns. your pocketbook
and your welfare. have no other
Interest than 10 tell you the exact
truth.
Assume that you have sent me to
Washington TO find out for you what
your agents are doing. how they are
managing your affairs and spending
your money. call them your agents
for that Is all they are--the President.
tie members OF the cabinet, the
senators and all the members Of the
fOuse Of representatives. You hire
them. you pay them, and you can fire
them.
You may think OF them In Difference
and awe as group Of eminent stntes-
men. or you may call them In illppancy
and too hasty contempt "a lot OF
politicians" But whatever you call
them. they are your hired men. They
attend to your collective business.
which Is called the public business.
Query: Are they doing II efficiently
hnd with slngle-mlnded devotion to
your interests7
Perhaps the largest Item In the high
cost OF living Is the high cost OF
government. And far and away the
largest Item In the high cost OF govern
ment II the high cost OF armament
preparation for war; About 30 per
cent OF all government revenues. and
that means the money taken from you
ms taxes. goes TO pay for wars. past.
present and future.
Before ! have concluded this series
OF articles | expect TO show yon con-
cluslvely that the lmpellIng motive
that Induced President Harding 20 call
the present conference IN WASHINGTON
90 consider limitation Of ornaments
was financial. The pressing need %
considering proposal for reduc-
ilon or limitation by agreement Of war
expenditure was not made entirely on
the ground Of morality or righteous
ress hut ms a plan for cutting down
the operating expenses OF the govern
ment.
II the United States government
were nm individual we would say that
Il was broke, for It's expenses exceed
its income.
Your Interest IN simply this: that
whatever decision Il made you will
have 10 pay the blll II today we
didn't have these army and navy ex-
nenses you would have TO pay In taxes
less than Sl,0OOOOOOO0 n year instead
OF $4,000 100000. That means we
would have hbout $4,000. 100000 more
year TO spend on our private needs
and pleasures. I frankly confess that
] would enjoy having four-hfths Of my
taxes knocked on. Wouldn't your
Secretary Weeks OF the War de.
rartment gave public warning n little
Willie ago that the government would
require OF NuS about Sl1.OO0,0O0 In
the next thirty months 10 meet cur
ren, expenses aud other obligations.
Persons who have given close study 20
that possibility say that the need WIN
he nearer $20,OOO0OO, than $1,000.
000 The great bulk OF that Is for
past and prospective war expenditures.
For this, you and congress and the
Executive departments at Washington
are responsible. You more than any
body'else for II Is your money that Is
belng spent and you Gun stop II. In It's
simplest terms the procedure Is this:
You earn the money. congress takes It
away from you IN the form OF taxes,
and then. congress and the Executive
departments spend Il.
A great part Of II Is wasted. THIS Is
established, conceded. confessed, aud
acknowledged by congress, which |
authorizes the expenditures, and by
the executive officers OF the govern !
ment, who do the actual spending. Il
4 your money that you have earned |
IN your business, on your farm or by |
tie labor OF your hands. that Is being /
eNrended and wasted nt Washington. |
Every cent that Is extravagantiy or /
nee'llessly expended by the govern
mcnt you could have In your pocket 10
meet the Increased cost OF food. lodg
4 g and clothing. doctors bills and
nrnsements or 10 put away and save
nmlust nlny day, n you only de-
: nnded tetermlnediy and unltedly
trai governmental extravaganza should
cen G.
can tell You some OF the conditions
az governmental spending and how
your money Is chucked nhout. and
can tell you how you can stop II. The
power Is yours, and until you exer-
else II waste ana extravaganza win
not stop.
UNCLE SAM AS EMPLOYER
The Unlte Sthtes government is Tie