oregon;city courier, FRIDA, SEPT. 13, 1912
MATTERS IN THE
PUBLIC EYE.
JOHH STARK'S COLUMN
CAUSTIC COMMENT.
OF
Matters of Public Interest and a
Socialist Sees Them.
Calm yourself my poor palpi
tating patriot Old Glory is still
sale among t lie stars, for our
Secretary of Slate has gone half
way around Hie earth to attend
the funeral of a foreigner, so our
beloved Ireo institutions of our
dear country are safe also. Oh,
(ho glory of it. reminds me of the
time when Ihe daughter of (he
president had the flattering of
fering to grape the harem of a
Coon; yes "Princess Alice" as she
was fondly called hy the "royality
haling Americans," actually had
a chance fro male up with a negro.
How Hie proud American Citizen
swelled up his narrow chest 'till it
nearly hurst with patriotism. All
join in and sing "the land of the
free and (he home of the brave."
You have all heard of the cradle
of liberty down Massachusetts
way, yes anil Paul llevere. Also
Ihe minute men of aclion, Con
cord and Lexington. Many times
nave tlic lialls of Congress re
echoed wilh thrilling eulgoy by
ner statesmen of the glorious
achievements of the common
wealth, liut a hush has fallen on
one grand achievement as far as
her statesmen are concerned;
one act of fame is not screamed
at us just, now.
Let 1110 read you something out
of Senate document 870: "from
a study of Ihe table of earnings
it is very apparent that in many
occupations, if the father of the
family has not at least one child
old enough to go to work it be
comes necessary for the wife to
ent er I ho mill to suplenient the
earnings of Ihe husband in order
to maintain the family.
The economic condition of the
the head of the family in one of
the power paid occupations, with
lvo or three children so young so
young as (o necessitate the moth
er remaining at home to care for
them, is one of extreme hard
ship." .Now my prosperity shout
ing friend, what-have you to say
to a condition of that sort? I
wish my knowlege of the English
were not so limited; perhaps I
could (ell you what I think of it.
That's where I fall down. Now to
the question, what do you pro
pose to do about it? Tinker with
the tariff some way or wait for
that learned commission ; elect
the senators by a direct vote of
the people by and bye; sing the
hound dawg song; build u few
more battleships; strengthen our
army; swat the rum (lemon, or
don't you give n damn Imxviuho
they are not our own flesh and
blood?
Here is what I say: Let us
slop sueli a condition; to hell
with the stability of our banking
system, let us rescue the child
ren of men, give to the linhics the
care that nature intemls and no
one but a mother can supply,
Are not Ihe children to be the
future citizens; are they not to be
the men and women when wo are
dusl; is it our only care to
raise hogs? If so Congress is the
place to send Ihem. Have we no
higher aims than cash dividends?
Then I say it is lime to tear old
glory from the mast, head of the
ship of stalel If that he treason
make the most of it !
I should like to read you a lot
more out ol (he report, but her
is one retatiive lo housing: "As a
matter of fact, two or three
houses occupy so fully (he lots on
which I hey stand I hat, there is no
room to (dace a garbage can on
the same lot with the house.
What a line playground for Ihe
children of the useful workers of
(lie United States. Let nie ask you
lo send lor the report, it is free
Senate Document 870, 62d., Con
gross -'d. session, and read it.
six years say ho needed to look
for a job shoveling on the grade
mink or a man of two genera
lions working at an occpuation
which taxes the energy of men in
their prime of life. I protest
against an economic system so
cruel, so unjust. This man
sober and industrious, yet the
fear of want is upon him at
lime of life when he should be
cared for, not as an act of charity
but justice, humanity. An old
age pension bill was introduced
in congress by Berger, the lone
Socialist. Did the Demo-Rep con
gress pass it?. Not yet. Now
here is what strikes me as queer
This same man will not vote for
Socialism, though Socialism pro
poses to look after him. That
shows the result of wrong habits
of thought. Ho will vote for cap
ilalism which rewards him with
the fear ol want alter so many
years of useful toil. ISo doubt if
the bill became law the grannies
in the supreme court would pro
ununce it unconstitutional. Well
if they do, we will need to take a
day oil and attend to that court
affairs, and perhaps look after the
constitution and see what is tin;
matter, for "I do not think God
woi'd will fall apart because we
tear a parchment more or less.
Not long ago the loan shark
was up for a word spanking, but
you never yet saw a city put
slop to the extortion of your
Uncle. et it is a simple matter
lo do so. Do you. know how? If
not here is the way. Let the city
loan its credit at a rate just high
enough to protect against loss
and Isaac's occupation will be
gone. Jiut that will not be done
You know it is constitutional to
be skinned.
JOHN F. STARK,
MUST OWN THEM.
Only Means to Break up Trust
Rule Is to Rule Trusts.
Editor Courier:
In your issue of September C,
in a comment on an item from
the Sheridan Sun on the advanced
price of shoes, you state:
Leather is not on the free
list just hides. If leather
and shoes were on the free
list there would bo some
competition for the shoe
trust to go up against. Hut
with a leather trust, a tan
ners' trust and a shoe trust,
poor old hides don't cut
much figure.
I see they have one of those
periodical moral spasms in Port
land, niter spying about for
long lime ttiey find out m a
semi-oll'icial way what anyone
could guess hy going through (lit
city on a gallop, if he had evei
lived in a city and had gone about
without blinders.
It is possible you did not read
the report in Ihe Oi'egoman, but
in short it is something like Ibis
Tin1 police are protecting vice,
the disorderly houses are ownet
by our best people. And now
what? oh just go Ihe same child
ish route of reform and soon a
new sensation will spring up
and then it will be forgotten, but
for heaven's sake don't study Ihe
cause or you will destroy pros
perity and some of our kid gloved
gentry will have to go lo work,
and wouldn't that be awful?
Oh yes New York is now ill the
middle of a row because a gam
bler got killed supposedly by the
arrangemenl of Hie police be
cause he was going lo "peach on
the coppers." The police are good
at arresting when they find a
couple of newsboys "shooting
craps" for pennies but Ihe big
gamblers pay hush money. There
is however a gambling den in
New York no policeman will be
able lo bleed for hush money, nor
even the governor of the stale
would Iry lo stop it. That gang of
crooks are the makers of this
government of ours. They estab
lish Ihe price you get and the
price you pay in a general way, in
fact have complete control over
our means of existence, but you
never hear of anyone getting ex
cited about Ihem. oh no, they are
our best people, for they bleed us
to Ihe limit.
I recently heard a man of sixty
Now doesn t it occur lo you
that the only real remedy is for
inn government to run these
trusts?
Some months ago you quoted
a talk from Chauncey M. Denew
in which he said it would not
lower the price of living if we had
absolute free trade, for the
trusts were powerful enough to
control the foreign products and
tix their prices.
Competition will never solve
thu Lrunt prohlom, for the trusts
have solved competition by pre
venting it.
The only solutiou is for the
government to own the trusts
to own and control the outputs
of necessities. Lowering tariff
duties won't do it,
W. W. MYERS.
LOOK AT THE FACTS.
400,000 Farmers Rush to Single
Tax Canada Each Year.
Editor Courier:
George Ilicinbolham seems to
bo worrying over the increased
assessment of land values in Ed
monton, Canada. Of cours(. it is
increasing George. Land values
increase ns population increases.
Ihe only question is who is lo
get the increase, the speculators
or the public till?
Now in Edmonton tho cilv has
grown from less than 5,000 a very
lew years ago to over 50.000 to
day. Naturally Iho privilege of
doing business and living in a
cily is worth more, and land val
ues continue to go up about
$1,500. every time the population
increases by natural process or
the incoming of any person.
I lie fact that these land values
ontinue to increase with pop
ulation is a complelo knockout,
George, to your claim that, nnv
ingle tax measure will destroy
land values. You can't destroy
Ihem- except by driving away or
destroying Ihe people. They are
people value, in fact, and the
people create Ihem. Last year
this town issued building permits
of over $15,500,000. If Oregon
'.ily issued that much in building
permits, don I you believe that
the land values would go up some
George?
Ml your doleful misgivings
iboul what would happen if Ore
gon follows ltrilish Columbia and
Uberta are not carried out hy the
facts, old man. You are dead off.
I'he fanners are rushing into
uuula at Ihe rate of 100,000 a
ear, and they are more than sat
fied with the method of laxa
lion that does not tax their labor
products. Don't squirm so and
just, open your eyes and you will
see that there are no aligators in
Ihe swimming hide of the single
ix. I he other boys are in, more
ing in, and when yon jump in,
sooner or later you will, you
ill holler, as they do, "Come on
i; Ihe water's fine!" You could
not drive those big lusty bovs.
Mhorta, Saseatchewan, Hritish
olunibia. New Zealand. New
South Wales and many others out
f that swimming hole. George.
ilh a hickory club. If California
jumps in next Kebuary "We-uns"
ill have to slide after her, and if
We-uns" go in first California
ill slide after us.
Rub Ihe dust out of your eves
that Standard Oil Shields has
flung in them and don't be skeer-
ed of no alignlor.
Alfred D. Cridge.
PLAIN OREGON!
MISSTATEMENTS
UNTRUE AND MISLEADING ARGUMENTS.
W. W. Myers Calls Attention to
Unfair Oregonlan Editorial.
Editor Courier:
'The following editorial appear
in Sunday's Oregonian. Will vou
Miiuiy reprint same, with my
comments:
Emil Seidel, Socialist candidate
for Vice-President and former
mayor of Milwaukee, is respons
ible .for the following succinct
definitions of American political
parlies and what they stand
for :
"The Republican party stands
for things as they are; it wants
no change. "The Democratic
parly stands for any old thing:
it wants the offices.
"The Progressive parly stands
for "honesty" on a platform made
up of stolen planks.
the Prohibition parly can
only see poverty when there is a
beer sign in sight.
Ihe Socialist parly recognizes
in the present system only an
poch in the development, of so
ciety.
Striking
true. The
and pointed, but not
Republican parly, de-
Uie Socialists are being recog
nized; second wo are putting
them on the defensive; third, it
makes An open misconception of
the principles.
If the Oregonian would print
thai part of the Socialist platform
wherein we defy government and
resist authority, there would be
some argument. Saying and prov
mg are two things. Let me ask if
there had been no Socialist agi
tation would we have any Social
ism adopted by tho Republican
parly or any oilier party?
All wealth springs from mother
earth; all tho reforms spring
from the bottom or lower strata.
If this was not the case we would
need no revolution or reform.
The man who is hurt is the one
who cries out, not the one on top.
The cry has become so loud and
long, men of affairs begin to take
notice. Even the toriffio T. R., the
monkey killer, is up in arms
almost ready to take over, own
and operate the public utilities.
Wonderful how fast you are get
ling next to the dear people.
There is no one who has taken
notice of the changes but who
knows (beyond a bare possibil
ity) that Roosevelt today believed
that by adopting tho entire Soc
ialist platform, would elect him,
he would fly to it in a moment.
Neither will we exempt Wilson
or Taft, as the desire to win be
ing so powerfully great. Here
lies the hope of Socialist prin
ciples. We may not win as a par
ly but force of circumstance will
compel others to adopt it.
The red flag is an internation
al emblem of the Socialist party,
not a national emblem of the
Socialist parly of Americans;
the Stars anil Stripes will still
ARGUMENTS WITH
WEAK SPOTS
o.
D. ROBBINS SAYS MR. HIC
INBOTHAM IS WRONG.
Shows the Inconsistencies of his
Line of Arguments.
it necessary to increase it to $100
there is but one explanation, their
budget has increased in that ratio
as it certainly would under the old
system. Go back seven years and
I expect you will find as great an
increase in taxes per acre in Port
land. Assessments are over
$1,000,000 per acre there now and
everything else is assessed there
also. If the people of Edmunton
have tried the new plan seven
years and still have it they must
be satisfied with it.
Mr. U'Ren has proven that in
Editor Courier:
It seems from my humble
viewpoint that George Hicinboth
am's last letter about caps the
climax for lack of logic' and rea
son. Yes, I have been farming
about all my life, but unlikke a
great many farmers, I have taken
a considerable time to read and
study as well as work, and for
the last two years I have studied
all sides of this lax quesltion as
presented in the hooks and pham
plets, newspaper discussions and
personal arguments.
I have also used a pencil and
paper and the assessment rec
ords, without a prejudice either
way and have read impartially
what is said by those paid to ad
vocate single lax, and by those
who are paid to oppose it. For
these reasons, and not simply be
cause I am a farmer. I think I
can see as far into the long run
as my friend, and shall do my
own thinking and not let George
do it.
Robbing and U'Ren do not de
pend on the way tho figures work
out under tho present way of as-
Farmers
Look Up Your FALL
Requirements in Farm
Tools
NOW
If you need a new Plow
or Harrow, Feed Cut
ter, Waj?on, Buggy
ANYTHING in Imple
ments or Vehicles, you
will find it in the
Dm
The Best for
The
West
ee Us!
CANBY
HDWE.
IMPLE
MENT CO.
Canby, Ore.
Implements
4.
and Vehicles
Fa Goods
of Quality
at Right Prices
That Never
Fall Down
Hoosier Drills
Positive Forced Feed
Bloom Manure
Spreaders
Double Steel Reach'
J.I. CASE PLOWS
The Plow a Man Can Pull
Dick's Feed Cutters
A big line, and good
Drew Litter Carriers
A genuine labor saver
HARROWS
Disc, spring, spike-tooth
Water Systems
The Mitchell Wagon
Monarch of the Road
See Us!
w. J.
WILSON
&
CO.
Oregon City
Ore.
BIG FREE IMPLEMENT CATALOGUE SENT YOU UPON REQUEST
proven
1910 Mr. Spence's and Mr. Hicin-
bothein's assessment at-from $12
to $20 per acre and others in like
proportion was sufficient to raise
the same amount as was raised in
that year and the only necessity
in raising it in future years would
would bo the necessity of raising
more money, which would effect
the present system of general pro
perty assessment in the same way
Therefore, as their taxes would
have been less in 1910, they would
pay less in any succeeding year
than they would under tho present
system. This may bo proven by
comparing tho assessment of any
two men, one with all improved
land and the other with all unim
proved land. Multtiply their as
sessments under both systems by
any llgure and their taxes will
bear the same ratio as before with
any rate you may use. This is
elementary knowledge, Mr .Hicin
botham,, as I learned it when I
went to school, and if you know
any new kinks in llgures, trot cm
out, as I am not too old to learn
I think, however, that this proves
that my mark is not far out of
the way.
"Just as soon as that law is
passed" we might not hear so
much about exemptions, but if it
would, as you say, be a simple
land tax, the exemptions would be
in effect just the same. After
seven years' trial in Edmunton
we are still hearing of exemp
tions, even from George himself.
That picture of the wealthy
man retiring to a few cheap ac-
res in the country, and leaving
the farmer with many acres to
pay nearly all tho. taxes, fails to
inspire me with a desire to do.
feat single tax. Our comparison
of the single tax and the com
pound tax assessment shows that
farmers pay much less tax under
the formeiv and a few wealthy
men retirin g would have as
much effect as when you put
your finger in the water and pull
it out again. There would be
plenty left in business to pay the
taxes, someone would take !his
place, and his attempt to escape
taxes would be futile anyhow.
The only way a wealthy man can,
escape taxes, direct or indirect,
is through tho unearned incre
ment of land values or of kindred
monopolies, such as water pow.
er, timber, etc., or through the
franchise monopolies, and single
tax, especially the graduated sin
gle tax, would catch him on all
these things. Take the case of
Mr. Starkweather, given in the
last Courier. It is not likely that
he will ever retire so far into the
counry but that tho ownership of
that property will remain with his
family, as there would remain a
handsome income after paying
the graduated tax. And that is
only a small sample of such cases
That fine automobile is men
tioned again. If it is a line one
the owner paid a tax of a few hun
dred when he bought it, and the
tax went into tho hands of the
workers, skilled and unskilled,
who produced it and brought it to
him. He will continue to pay-a
tax for a driver and for repairs,
and in a few years will be taxed
for a new one.
A good public service com
mission is all right, but it should
be their duty and in their power
to tax waer powers and franchises
and the graduatted tax bill would
so arrange it, with no more trqu-
blo an expense than at present.
: O. D. ROBBINS.
H-MM I Ml 1 1 I 11 111 H 1 II I
t TIPS FOR HOME MERCHANTS.!
It ia all building prooat. Th
rook ia built of atomai tha traa
la built of cells; tha houia ia built
of bricka) auooeaa In buainaaa la
built of eonquarad dataila.
Of buainaaa tha mora ' you
know about it tha mora you know
what thara ia to know about it.
If you aro a good merchant tha
blggaat invaatmant you hava ia
not in atock, but in tha good will
of your ouatomara.
1-WMlH-lll 1 111 11 M 1'1'IH
A THRIVING TOWN
THAT HAS NO CITY TAX.
8i'ivarton, Colo., Haa a N oval and Ef
faotiva 8yatam.
Sllverton, Colo., a thriving town
of nearly 3,000 people, at an altitude
of over 0,000 feet, ban the distinction
of being one of the very few munici
palities In the United States where no
city tax Is levied. The running ex
penses are paid from the Income of the
water and light systems, both owned
and operated by the municipality, and
from various licenses.
The town owns Its teams, sprinklers
and wagons and has recently complet
ed and entirely paid for a handsome
city hall costing $55,000. In this build
ing there Is sufficient room for all the
city offices, courtroom, assembly room
and fire apparatus.
The successful operation of munici
pally owned public utilities In Silver
ton extends over a period of nine years.
For electric current the rate to very
small consumers Is Vk cents net per
kilowatt hour and to large consumers a
little over 5 cents net The water rates
vary for different classes of users. A.
one family residence of four rooms
pays $8 per annum, with SI extra for
each additional room, or the consumer
may Install a meter at his own ex
pense, the rental varying from 45 cents
to 10 cents per thousand gallons, with
a minimum charge of $20 per year. All
water bills are subject to a 15 per cent
discount if paid by the 5th day of the
month. American City.
THE VALUE OF A KICK.
It Is Good For Your Buainaaa to Know
Paopla'a Opinion of It
The best time to remedy a mistake
la before It happens. And the next
best tlmo is as soon after It huppeus
as possible.
Mo business bouse can know too
much of what the outside world thinks
of it The average man Is slow to
complain. That is why thousands of
concerns are habitually back on their
orders. The average mun will let the
grievance pass, but next time be takes
his business somewhere else.
The big department stores In large
cities realise the Importance of know,
lng what possible grievances people
may have against them. They put the
complaint department In the most ac- -cesslble
places, and tbey make sure
that the person with the kick may be
able to give it while it is hot
"Please complain when anything
seems wrong," Is the constant Invita
tion to the public. "We want to treat
you right, but we can't wutch every
thing at once."
T. L. ParKS, Murr yville, Ga.f
Route 1, is in his 73rd. year, and
was recently cured of a bad kid
ney and bladder trouble. He says
himself: " I have suffered with
my kidneys. My back ached and I
was annoyed with bladder irreg
ularities. I can truthfully eay,
one 50 cent bottle of Foley Kidney
iJnis cured me entirely." They
contain no habit forming drugs.
Huntley uros.
nouneetl liy Socialists. Proeress.
ives and some Democrats alike as
reaelioiuiry ami stand-pal, is au
Ihor of nearly Ihe whole body of
progressive legislation adopted
by the various slates. From (he
Republican party and its progres
sive leaders has eoine the irre
sistible demand that the trusts
.. ii... i ...I
Miry me i.iw, aim ny successive
uepuiiiieaii administrations the
movement for social justice and
mtiusiriai equality lias been pro
moled. That a strong and stub
born Republican fact ion has re
sisted Ihe parly is true; but that
1 1 i . . .
mi' rt'uri inuarics nave noon
steadily and certainly losin
ground within Ihe nartv until
Iheir influence is almost' nil ami
all know it lo be true.
Mr. Seitlel is tender oMhe Sue
mlist parly only, and it deserves
less from the people than any of
mo otiiers. Hy ?
Because it preaches revolution
under the Ihin prelense that it
means peaceful revolution. Yet it
sings the Marseillaise (the song
of revolution), flaunts the red
flag, tlefies government and re
sists authority. The instinctive
conservatism and righteous lov.
ality of the masses teach fear of
Socialists. We may have we
have now some of the things the
Socialists demand, but we did not
get them through the Socialists
and never will.
The above is amusing from Ihe
fact that it comes from a great
Republican daily.
The editorial shows first that'
represent this nalion and will
clearly and definitely represent
Ihe cooperative commonwealth,
llroaee (freely, the great eman
cipator, called tho Stars and
stripes a flaunting lie because it
floated over dial lie slavery, and
if he was alive he would also de
mand that it should not float over
wage slavery. The flag today does
not represent what it was made
for. So let us get in and adopt the
I lungs the flag was intended to
represent a people's govern
ment. W. Y. Myers.
Many Driven From Home.
r.very year, in many parts o
the country, thousands are driv
en from their homes by coughs
and lung diseases. Friends and
business are left behind for other
climates, but this is costly and
not always sure. A bettor wav
the way of multitudes is to use
lr. Kings New Discovery and
cure yourself at home. Slay right
there, wilh your friends, and take
Ibis safe" medicine. Throat and
lung troubles find quick relief
inn Health returns. Its help in
coughs, colds, grip, croup whoop
ing-cough and sore lungs make it
a positive blessing. 50 cents and
1.00. Trial bottle free, tiuaran
teed by Huntley Bros., Co.
Children Cry
FOR FLETCHER'S
CASTOR I A
sessing, but give the old way side
by side wilh the single tax way
to raise Iho same amount of mon
ey, as that is the only way to
compare the two systems. As to
the raising the assessment on
land in Ihe future under single
lax, I totik up and explained that
point of his once before, but as
he has entirely ignored the ex
planation, I will make it out once
more. We do not exnect reason-
anio people, who understand ele
mentary arithmetic, to believe
that to raise the same total of
tax as was raised in 1910, under
single tax, neither the general
result or the tax of each indivi
dual would be changed by multi
plying each assessment and con
sequently the tidal assessment by
any figure. Raise the general
valuation as high as he says it is
in Edmunton, Canada and the
rate would be correspondingly
lower. Of course the total am.
out of taxes to be raised in the
county may increase in (he future
as it surely has in the past, and
that increase would have to be
met under single (ax or ayn other
met miller single lax or any other
system, and it would have to- be
ment or Ihe rate, one or both, and
as far as it would affect the
amount each tax payer would pay
either way would be the same if
each assessment was raised pro-!
portionally . If the first assess-1
ment they had at Edmunton at 1
15 an acre was sufficient for1
their needs and they have found'
CASTOR I A
For Infants and Children.
The Kind You Have Always Bought
Bears the
Signature of
How's This?
We offrr One Hundred TWlura ram fe
case of c&tarru that cannot be cured by Hall's
Caurrh Cure. "
We. the undersigned, hare known t. J. Cheney
for the last 15 years, and believe him perfectly hon
orable In all business transactions and Ananelally
able to carry out any obligations made by his arm.
National Bank or Comiiiici.
T.i,.. . t Toledo. Ohio.
Hall's Cutjirrli tir fa .. i... n
directly upon the bloojl and mucous surfaces of Iho
j""" icBtiiiiuniaiH nein rree.
bottle. Sold bv all Drurcliu.
Take Ball's Family puis for constitution.
Price It oeou per
Cures baby's croup. Willie's
daily cuts .and bruises, mamma's
sore throat, (Irandma's lameness
Dr. Thomas' Eclectic Oil tho
great household remedy.
I
TO THE FARMERS OF
CLACKAMAS COUNTY
We want to sell you your seeds, and we will sell you if vou
Will rr i 1 1 4 K n I. . . i
e"1 11,1 I'laiice 10 smiw you and ipiole you
in constant stock
We carry
Vetch, Wheat, Oats, Rye, Barley,
Orchard Grass, Cheat, Clover
and Timothy.
The Celebrated Conkey Stock and poultry Food
and Remedies
We will sell you at Portland prices and under, and you
have a responsible linn to deal with. We are going (o make a
specialty of seeds. We buy from lb,, best 8mI ,, , he
country and will carry only the best selected lines.
We want you farmers to come in and see iw l..f,,. v
vonr cno.l - .., -"" uj
,u,i iMui patronage ami we have
ana prices to get it.
'e the stock
Oregon Commission Co'py
Ilth and Main Streets, Oregon City, Oregon