The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-02-16
THE STATE MUST LIVE
XIV

not hope to check its bad effects by
breaking the thermometer, or by turn
ing it upside down.
Money is the thermometer which
but reflects the temperature of the
consuming and buying
public.
Such temperature Is increased by |
confidence, which induces credit; but |
confidence will wane if not soon re-
warded by actual results of any bust |
ness in which it has led any to en-
bark.
The size, or color, of this national
business thermometer will not pre-
vent it from rejecting good, or bad,
results produced by economic causes.
None try to escape the good results,
and the only escape from the bad ones
is to shunt them upon others; this we
all try to do.
The manufacturer of shoes will
fight to the death to protect himself,
not others, against the demands of
union labor; but if all labor of the
class needed by him makes like de-
mands upon his competitors it pays
better for all to accede to such de-
mands rather than shut down their
plants. So such manufacturers shunt
their troubles on those who buy their
70
hundred pounds of raw leather for one
pair of shoes.
Thus, too, coal, which fixes the base
cost of transportation and most manu-
featuring, is now twice as high, and
the farmers meats twice as cheap, as
in 1915.
Truly shunting class troubles has
become a national game. which fur
nishes no sport to our farmers; while
all gate receipts go to others.
Worse still is the effect, on our
farmers, as our nation and our states
play in this game of "shunting"; with
all the politicians still betting on the
| team which makes the most noise. In
stead of standing in the vanguard to
meet selfshness with bludgeon they
now use the powers of government to
shunt upon the shoulders of silent
worth and prudence the costly de-
mands of noise and insolence.
Free Americans are no longer left
to choose for themselves their walk
and their way of life, for the accidents
of political action may intervene tc
damn one class, or elevate another
| Thus intelligence, thrift and honesty
may be stripped of it's rewards, anC
the god of political chance arises te
save ignorance, sloth and vice from
it's just DOOM.
To increase it's power by swelling
its membership class interest is Undue
ed to gauge its demands by it's weak
ness and most incompetent votaries
and to offer only that minimum Of
service, or benefit, which the lazy, o.
improvident, may give.
The manufacturers and union labor
ers are not the only ones among u
who are guilty of this charge. AS ;
rule all organized class interests d.
the same thing. In 1917 our southern
farmers easily subjected themselve
to the very same charge in asking tn
government to fix a price of 35 cent
on short cotton.
. While this game of shunting trou
bles and sparring for governments
favors, goes on the relative number
and wealth of our rural producers
shrinking so rapidly that wise an
disinterested we'll wishers of our ma
ton are alarmed.
The writer would suggest that GU
farmers now call off the game, i
, which they are always beaten; tax
I one million parasites off of our ns
tional and state pay rolls and tur
some two hundred thousand lawyer
out t.. grass, as rural production pay
y two-thirds of the cost of the who
show.
q Remember, my friends, that you
i Congress and Senate are now SUI
O rounded by thousands of place-holder
: and some lick-spittles, who grind oil
the day on the eight-hour plan, bl
who stand ready to take all of yor
eight and most of their sixteen houl
to help re-elect some congressman, {
senator So this job of house cleal
ing is no easy task.
Politicians may tell you that Il
y public is simply spending the mone
u of the rich cities and manufacture
interests, as ten of our more populoI
II states, where manufacturing predon
& mates, now pay half Of all incon
taxes. But such politicians do n
. agree with any writers on polite
> economy, as they all say that all co
| - 1e h1- ~,