Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1921-12-07
Ceoysight. Western NsWSpapee Union

CeDysight. Western NswSDapse Union
WHY YOU'RE INTERESTED.
wish you would take what is
written here as personal report adj
dressed directly to you from me about
your business. Don't think Of 1t or
read it as an article about politics"
or remote public affairs at Washing
ton. 1t is not that at all. It Is what
ask you to think 1T, a personal
business report to you relating to your.
individual concerns, your pocketbook
and your welfare. I have no other
interest than to 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,
the members of the cabinet, the
senators and all the members Of the
house 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 states
men, or you may call them in fippancy
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 it efficiently
and with single-minded 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 Is the high cost Of armament;
preparation for war. About 80 per
cent Of all government revenues and
that means the money taken from you
as taxes, goes to pay for wars, past,
present and future.
Before have concluded this series
Of articles I expect to show you con-
cluslvely that the impelling motive
that induced President Harding to call
the present conference in Washington
to consider Limitation of armaments
was financial. The pressing need OF
considering a proposal for a reduc-
ton or limitation by agreement Of war
expenditure was not made entirely on
the ground Of morality or righteous
ness, but as 4 plan for cutting down
the operating expenses Of the govern
ment.
If the United States government
were an individual we would say that
twas broke, for it's expenses exceed
itssincome.
Your interest is simply this: that
whatever decision is made you will
have 60 pay the BILL If today we
Didn't have these army and navy ex-
penses you would have to pay in taxes
less than 1000, 100000 year instead
Of 1000, 100000 That means we
would have about $4,000 100000 more
aF,year to spend on our private needs
and pleasures. frankly confess that
IMould enjoy having four-flfths of my
I taxes Knocked off. Wouldn't you?
Secretary Weeks Of the War de-
partment gave public warning a little
while ago that the government would
require Of US about $17,O00,O00 in
the next thirty months to meet cur
rent expenses and other obligations.
Persons who have given close study to
that possibility say that the need will
be- nearer $4,000 900, than ST., 00o,-
CO., The great bulk Of that IS for
past and prospective war expenditures.
For this, you and congress and the
zRecutive departments at Washington
me responsible. You more than any
body else, for it Is your money that is
being spent and you can stop It. In its
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 It. s
IA great part Of 1t il wasted. This is
Sstablished, conceded, confessed, and
acknowledged by congress, which
authorizes the expenditures, and by
che executive officers OF the govern
.nent, who do the actual spending. It
-sisI your money that you have earned
IA your business, on your farm, or by
The labor Of your hands, that Is being
suspended and wasted at Washing on.
livery cent that Is extravagantly OF
shsedlsssly expended By the govern
saent you could have In your pocket to
Smeet the increased cost Of food, lodg-
ing and clothing. doctors bills and
aamusements. or to put away and save
against . rainy day, II you only de-
.manded .determinedly and unitedly
that governmental extravagance should
cease. =.s
~ can tell you some Of the conditions
sssf governmental spending and how
your money Is chucked about, and /
.sean tell you how you can stop 1t. The
sspower Il yours, and until you exer-
"a =