The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-02-03
THE STATE MUST LIVE

than their StOmacnS demand railroads.
while without them those in our cities
would starve and freeze in a week.
All farmers produce much, and if
need be, can produce more, Of what
they use; but the man in a city must
have everything brought TO him.
Before the day Of railroads Picking,
China, was the single great city Of
the world not on a river or sea, while
vast numbers of prosperous farmers
could be found remote from any ad-
vantages in transportation.
The relative Importance of cheap
to cities is fixed by any
map Of the world; and as railroads
have now built vast cities, where null
titudes of parasites are gathered, one
might be lead to suspect that our
urban population finds these some
measure of exemption from its proper
share of the cost of railroad traffic.
This suspicion is now fully confirm
ed by the facts perhaps never to be
altered; but this advantage to city
jewellers may be offset in several
ways.
All wealth comes from, and must
begin with our producers; that others
may now have it simply proves that
they got it by fair, or unfair, means
after it had been transmitted into
money, as mere symbol of real
wealth.
Of the total of our wealth produced
by factories, mines, farmers and all
Others, that part produced by rural
producers far exceeds the part of
such total which our cities contribute;
stillcities grow and farms are desert
ed.
Thus we know that the city man is
not earning his keep. The rural vot-
ers may well be puzzled to know how
to reform him; but in any such effort
our nation may count upon the aid of
many in our cities whose intelligence
the world cannot over match and
whose patriotism admits of no second
place in any field of action.
No one cause has produced the
abuse we see and our danger lies il
inability Of rural and urban intelli-
gence to unite in action; while safety
lies in the modification and repeal OF
many of our present policies.
This is no party question, for both
democrats and republicans have done
much to produce what we should now
deplore.
Seeing that rural production pays
the greater part of all costs, including
that of all rail transportation, regu.
lation Of all businesses and of tariffs
and from all such derives less benefit
and having no desire to abolish raj
transportation, we might offset the
advantages to the city dweller by re
ducing to the minimum all tariffs anC
all state and national regulations.
Such change in our policies would
benefit in still another way, for i
would force increased per capita pro
duction in cities, and reduce parasites
The cities can then adopt, and pay
for all cost of any additional regula
tiOns which they need There mus
| always be needed some national regu
| lation of railroads to prevent rebates
and in the plan of organization, the
larger salaries paid by them, distrl
button of dividends and methods Of
operation, the public must at all time.
be in a position to protect Hsel
against the greed of these vast mo
nopolies. They must live; so mus
| the state.
If a president of a railroad draw
| 100000 salary it must be paid By
production, and it would offend me t.
know he got it. But it offends me M
less when | know that probably on,
hundred millions are now lost annual,
to production, as incidents, to our at
tempted regulation of railroad fares
alone, irrespective of other govern
mental regulation of railroads.
To pay the salaries and expenses O.
our several state railroad commits
sions, to attend their hearings, collec
data and hire lawyers, and other para
sites, to fight constant changes il
rates makes up huge total; ever!
dollar of which must come out of pro
duction.
The nation, as a whole, derives lit
tie or no benefit from this expense.
is true that cheap rail freights on ar
ticles shipped by US to foreign coun
tries may greatly increase our nation
al productive wealth, but even thi
is not always true. But this annua
cost is not all the nation loses by pur
suing such policies, for the talents
time, energy and money thus diverted
| if employed in productive pursuit!
should add one hundred million to gu
annual production.
. Say rural production is about two
thirds of our total national produc
ton, thus it pays every four year
nearly one-tenth of its annual saving
to make parasites in our towns an,
cities, in order to decide, in the main
which particular farmers in our ma
! ton shall be permitted TO fill the eve