tit " A
Vol. XIV.
LINCOLN, NEB., FEB. 19, 1903.
No. 39.-
TIME TO EDUGATE
The Tint Step In tho Contest for Snprem
. mcjr In 1904 Begin the "Work Mow
Americans have boasted that the
United States is the most progressive,
enlightened, and best , governed na
tion in the world. Too frequently th3
boast is made without properly" stating-
with any.deflniteness the partic
ulars in which the United States ex
cels. It is the greatest nation on
earth , in many respects. . It has the
.largest area of good tillable soil, the
greatest diversity in all the products
that can be produced, and on account
of .its peculiar isolation from the rest
of. the world perhaps it would bethe
most powerful in a military contest
But there are - other lines in which
the United States does not excel it
trails along behind. Australasia has.,a
system of land ownership and taxa
tion that is far more just and equit
able than any in practice in this coun
try. It is so conceded by all econ
omists. Many European countries
have better control of the great cor-
porations than this government has.
In England the government owns and
operates the telegraph system and
parcels post exactly as the mail of
that country and this is handled. In
many of the European countries the
governments either own already or are
rapidly acquiring the ownership and
control of the railroads and transpor
tation facilities of the country. In
' Sweden and Others the. telephone sys
tem is owned by the government and
telephones are furnished at so -small
an expense that almost every farm
house is equipped with a telephone
that enables him to talk to almost
any resident in the kingdom. Iumany
lines, of government the United States
was long ago distanced in the race.
Why is it? ; Because our people have
been, so busy "going west" and devel-
niinir tVio pmiTitrv that thov ha'vA eiv-
en but. little . time and attention to
nroblems of government. The money
' oower of the country has not gone to
-the front "to the west." They have
lingered behind and by organization
and combination have become so pow
' erf ul that they are almost beyond the
reach of congress,' . The trust on kero
sene oil. the trust on sugar, the coal
trust, the steel trust, the farm ma
chinery trust, all collect their tribute
from the farmers and laborers of the
country upon every article sold or
consumed. It is only by education
and organization of the people that the
rule of sreed can be destroyed. Why
should the plain people of America
suffer the money sharks of the world
to get this country as firmly in their
grasp and control as they have had
- in India, Egypt, Ireland, Italy, Tur
key, and other nations of the old
1 world? In the language of a poem
' -written by Mr. J. A. Edgerton, for
: irierly a resident of Nebraska, now, of
Denver, Colo., and well known to
many Independent readers "it is time"
time to educate and organize:
It Is Time
In this age when pold is Ising,
Seated on a brazen throne;
When 'tis thought the proper thing,
To rate men by what they own;
W! en the brute is more and more
And the spirit, less ami less;
When the world s lorded o'er
By corruption and exress;
It is time that men of worth
Baldly step into the van.
With this message to the errth:
Down with Mammon, up with Man.
We have seen the idler feast,
While the toiler lacked fr bread.
We have seen the king and priest
, r . Rob the living and the dead.
' ' We have seen the thief ar ayed
; In the purple robes of tate,
While the honest man was made
To beg succor at his gate.
It has ever been the same
incf tlvs reign f wealth began.
I,et us stop the sickening game.
. Down with Mammon, up with mail.
1 ' Earth is far too wise and old
For a lordlitig or s ave;
' To resp-' ct a band of gold
On the forehead of a knave;
Far too old for war and hate;
O d enough for brotherhood;
Wise enough to found a state, x
Where men seek each others good.
We have worked for se'f too long.
I,tt us try ft better plan:
I,et us labor for the throng.
Down with Mammon, up wth Man.
Many of the br'ghtest, best,
' ' Of the earth wrre counted poor.
Some possessed "not where to rest;"
Others toiled and hardship hope.
Homer, at the dawn of Greece,
Sung and begged from day to day,
Buddha, born with palaces,
Flung the oaubles all away.
Wealth i by the devil prized. .
God has cursed it with a ban.
I,et u hear the pauper, Christ.
Down with raammon, up-with Man.
0, my people, will you heed?
- Be no more like beasts of prey, w
Turn from selfishness and greed.
I,et us find a nobler way.
From the worn-out lies of old,
- I,et us make the whole woild free.
-Down with kings snd priests and gold.
Up with God, humanity.
1, ust for gain breeds hate and crime.
JLet us crush it while we can.
I,et us bring the better time. -Down
with Mammon, up with Man.
You have read The Independent and
know of the work it is doing in edu
cating the people as to existing con
ditions and the principles ana uw
trines it teaches for the remedy of ex-
istine wroncs and injustice. You have
read The Independent and know of its
loyalty to the cause of good govern
ment. Will you do your part in help
ing: to overthrow the rule ot Mammon
and substitute Abraham Lincoln's gov
ernment of the people, by the people,
and for the people?
The IndeDendent has announced a
special rate, only $1.00 for NEW sub
scriptions to run until after the pres
idential election in ishw. icecrumng
coupon books containing five coupons
in each book have been prepared.
Each coupon is good fo a subscription
to The Independent to be sent to any
address in tho United States until
November 17, 1904, twenty-fine months
from this time. Every reader inter
ested in the cause of good government
should send for a -recruiting coupon
book. No charge is made for tho
book or coupons in advance. We'll
send you the book and when you have
sold the coupons send $1 to The Inde
pendent for each coupon sold." Any
unsold coupons may be returned. It
costs you nothing to try. Send for
a book today. Here are those who
have already ordered coupon books.
Why not have your Dame added to
the list"
O. S. Williamson, Beaver City, Neb.
J. M. Knox, Cambridge, . Neb.
A. W. Gingery, Lamir, Colo.
A. It. Cross, Lewis, Kas.
A. F. Parsons,. North Platte, Neb.
J. T. Sims. Simsville,- Ala.
W. U Essickr North Benton, O.
J. M. Babb, Clayton. III., ,
James Mcllduff, O'Connor. Neb. '
Raloh Ashton, Emmett, Neb. .
J. B. Vaughan, Clifton. S. C.
Neb. Mut. Ins. Journal. ,
Wm. Bpiley, Eldorado. Kas.
August Uhde, Curtis Bay, Md.
William Hancock, Loup City, Neb.
Wm. Snrman. Carlinville. 111.
David Marshall, Milltona. Minn.
H. J. Mason, Pullerton Neb.
Jerry Johnston, Miola, Pa.
H. J. Ma?on, Fullerton. Neb.
S. B. Bin field, Prosser, Neb.
A. Carr. Gilbert, Miss.
J. P. Bridrer, Mt. Airy, Ga.
W. T. McCnlloch, Jps"ie, N. D.
Daniel loitt, l a Hroe, 111.
A. S. McKee, Basetville. KasT
Oeorge Bliss. Dorchester. Mass.
TT. L. Shelton, Wanneta, Neb.
P. T. Fovrns, Witeonville. Neb.
J. H. Wright. R'isMn. Neb.
Alexander Ritrhev, Strattnn, Neb.
Oha. P. Footle. Boone. Neb.
J. Wildes. TTillsboro. Ore.
E. . E. Fancher, Yorktown, Kas.
THE SERPENT'S COIL
Not a Vote Maker.
The socialist labor party has
always contended that the Appeal
to Reason is of no value to the
propagation of socialism, as it i3v
not a socialist paper. The social- (
ist of Seattle, Wash., prints a
statement on this point that
clinches our contention. Says it:
"We point out that income por
tions of this state where the Ap-,
peal circulates very widely, and
where no other socialist paper is
taken, we got the lowest vote, as
in Walla Walla and Lewis coun
ties." The Socialist believes that
the Appeal has been making con
verts for W. R. Hearst's radical
democratic party. When friends
speak that way, who will deny
that Jthe socialist labor party is
righfin denouncing the Appeal?
Weekly People, N. Y.
Yet the Appeal talks of absorbing
the populist party! Not yet, Mr. .Way
land; not until your own factional
fights are settled and doubtless hot
then.
The Wilber Republican deserves
commendation for the reallv excellent
souvenir edition, "Wilber Illustrated,"
published for the "purpose of cele
brating the : 25th anniversary of the
location of the county seat at Wilber
and the 17th anniversary of the Republican."
Treasury Department Withdrawing Rotes
of f mall Denominations and Re
placing With Gold
Certificates Editor Independent: To those who
wish to know what the financial in
terests (that ar.e as much in control
of the treasury as they are of their
own banksrare doing, a brief analy
sis of the "Circulation Statement" Is
sued February 1, 1903, may be inter
esting. -
Under the head of "General Stock
of Money in the United States" it is
reported that, on February 1, there
was in gold coin (including bullion in
the treasury) $1,252,842,475. This was
an increase over what was reported
January 1, 1903, of $5,965,760.
Notwithstanding this increase, tho
statement shows that the amount
"held in the treasury as assets of the
government" was 8247,783,746. This is
less' than the amount held January 1
by 822,993,518. The actual amount of
gold in circulation is stated to be
$629,023,915. This is les3 than the
amount said to have been in circula
tion on January 1 by $656,717.. The
amount held as assets of the govern
ment, and the amount said to havo
been in circulation, was $376,418,819
less than the stock in existence. This
amount Is also held in the treasury
and is represented by gold certifi
cates in circulation. It should al
ways be remembered that the amount
of gold actually in circulation as
stated is 'only an estimate; an esti
mate that, in the opinion of competent
judges, -is considerably in excess of
the actual amount.
The particular point that w.ill at
tract the . attention of competent ob
servers is, that on February 1, the
gold certificates had been Increased
during January, $29,615,995. The whole
increase of "general stock,'' thewhole
decrease of gold held - as "assets of
the government,' and the decrease of
gold in circulation were represented
by an increase in "gold' certificates."
This increase of gold certificates would
mean an increase of $2&,959,278 to the
amount of money in circulation If
there was no decrease of any of the
other kinds of money.
There are nine different kinds of
United States money in existence as
reported by this statement, the total
amount of the general stock of which
was said to be, on February 1, $2,
656,559,109. This is an increase during
January of $5,150,551, or an increase
that is $815,209 less than the increase
of gold alone. During January there
was an increase Xby coinage of course)
of standard silver dollars amounting
to $1,482,385. By a little calculation
it' appears that there must have been
a decrease of other kinds of money
amounting to $2,297,594 made up as
follows:
Subsidiary silver ...$--241,356
Treasury notes of 1890 1,100.000
Nat'l-bank notes -. 956,238
While it is shown, under the head
of "General Stock,' that there was a
decrease of ; treasury notes and - na
tional bank notes, the decrease is not
alone sufficiently large to be signifi
cant It becomes more significant
when changes in "Money in Circula
tion" are examined.
The whole amount of the nine dif
ferent kinds of money in circulation
on February 1 is stated to have been
$2,355,8,834. .This is an increase dur
ing January of the stated amount in
circulation of $7,037,933. I have al
ready stated that the total increase by
gold certificates was $28,959,278. There
must, therefore, have been a decrease
in other kinds of money in circulation
of $21,921,345. This decrease is made
up as follows:
Standard silver dollars $2,471,886
Subsidiary silver 1,842,85
Total decrease of silcer cir
culation $4,314,741
Treasury notes of 1890 $1,054,948
United States notes 3 563 35
Silver certificates 6,714.033
National bank notes... 6,274,278
Total decrease of paper cur
rency. ..$17,606,604
$21,921,343
Under the head of "Assets of Gov
ernment," there was a decrease of the
holding of gold, and treasury notes
amounting to $23,03S,570, while the
aggregate decrease of the holding of
all kinds of money as assets is only
$1,887,382 during January. It Is ap
parent therefore, that the large de
crease of gold, etc., was replaced by
$21,151,188, which is made up as fol
lows: '
Standard silver dollars. . . .$10,668,301
Subsidiary silver ..' 1,601,49.3
? Total Increase of silver as-
sets ....$12,269,803
U. S. notes ( greenbacks )..$ 3,563,345
National bank notes....... 5,318,040
Total paper currency held
as assets ..............$ 8,881,385
$21,151,188
What has occurred during January?
First The treasury department took
out of circulation silver coin. $5,797,126
and silver certificates....... 6,714,083
Total silver currency tak
en out of circulation... $12,511,209
Second The treasury department
has increased its holdings, thus tak
ing out of circulation in United State?
notes ..; ,' $3,563,345
Third The treasury department has
increased its holdings of national
bank notes . ......... $5,318,040
The banks decreased their
culation .................. 956,230
Total national bank notes
taken out of circulation. $6,274,270
' Total '.......$22,348,648
This whole amount must necessar
ily be money of small denominations
taken out of circulation and replaced
by gold certificates of large denomi
nations. I have a letter from Ellis II. Rob-
erts, treasurer, dated December 6, .
1902, from which I copy the answer
to the following question:
Question 3 "Will you explain to -me
why. the small denominations of
United States legal tender notes, Is, -2s
and 5s, and the larger denomina
tions above 10s are being diminished,
and the number of the denomination
of 10s so largely increased?" --
Answer "The demands of the peo
ple for notes of small denominations
have surprised the closest students of
the currency. Year by year estimates
of the maximum to be required have
been proved by experience inadequate,
and further provision was called for
to meet the growing needs of busi
ness. In compliance with the spirit
as well as the letter of the act of
March 14, 1890, the issue of silver cer
tificates is limited to smaller denom
inations, Is, 2s and 5s. As redemp
tion of United States notes., are made,
this class of paper is confined to de
nominations of $10. Geld certificates
of $20 and upwards are issued in
abundance against goU in the treas-
ury and furnish the larger denomina-.
tions required."
Compare this answer with the facts
as shown by the "Circulation State
ment" of February 1, and let any
candid man express his opinion as to
whether the treasury department is
trying to conserve the interests of
the people of this country, or the in
terests of the New York banking com
bine. If Mr. Roberts is right about the
requirements for small denominations
of money( and there is no doubt about
it), what inference must be drawn.,
from the action of the department
during January? The only inference
that can be drawn i3, that the wishes
of the eastern banking interests have "
more Influence over the treasury offi- .
cials and the administration than tho '
business requirements of the whole
country besides.
The coil of this eastern financial
monster tightens slowly but surely.
How long will the American people
submit to the dictation of these finan
cial pirates, who have been plunder-,
ing us on land and on sea ever since
the beginning of the civil war?
FLAVIUS J. VAN VORHIS.
Indianapolis, Feb. 10, 1903
Burning Corn
Coal has been 'raised another half
dollar per ton by the combine. Much
corn has been used for fuel in this
country this winter. The farmers
would be better off financially If they
could sell their corn for only 15c per
bushel and buy coal at the price of a
few years ago and also other things
at the prices thev used to pay for
them. It. S. Scofleld, in Loup Count
News, Taylor, Neb.
