The independent. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, June 18, 1903, Page 11, Image 11
JUNE 18, 1903. THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT" f i It V" THE FUNDAMENTAL QUKSTION One thing more tLan any other, shows that the top of t :e boom which began with the law authorizing the coinage of the silver seignorage," the increased output of gold and the in " crease in the national bank circulation has been reached, is the sudden res olution of the managers of several of the large railroad systems to stop ell further extensions and betterments rntil the cost of labor and the price of material is largely reduced. Such orders will curtail purchases of iron and steel and many hundreds of var ious commodities and reduce the de mand for common and skilled labor to a very grea extent That will react upon the sales of a vast amount of manufactured goods and lessen the de mand for labor in those lines. When the downward movement begins after a boom, no man in the past has ever been able to predict where it wou! end.. The whole world has been sub.iec to these disasters ever since commerce became a factor in the life'e. man kind. The foundation of it all is the money question. The fact that panics occur with never-ending regularity no one denies. There is a rise in prices and everybody gets to work. Then one after another of the different lines - manufacturing finds that the cost of raw materials and labor has be come so great that it must suspen iroduction until there is a fall The suspension of work cuts off the means of living of those engaged in it, thev cease being purchasers of the products of other manufacturing plants, and so it goes until the bottom is reached and all the surplus saved up in better times has been consumed, and the old and bitter experience is all, gone through with again. Whatever injustice and wrong the common people suffer from trusts, pri vate ownership of railroads and tele graphs and exorbitant tariffs, the mon ey question is always the great funda iccntal question of all. Stable prices would prevent these ever recurring de pressions and booms. As prices rise and fall according to the increase and decrease in the volume of money in circulation, they never can become stable as long as a single set of mines . i relied upon to furnish that volume That ?s not to deny that from psychol ogical reasons affecting the conduct o men, that prices go .way above and fall far below what the volume of rroney would justify in times of boom? and in times of depression. If prices were kept stable for a considerable time, the want of confidence and the hepe of suddenly accumulating for tunes would not sweep over the coun try at stated intervals. - In a private letter to the editor of The- Independent, Senator Allen says "I have never lost faith in the pop ulist party and its ultimate triumph. I believe that the republican party as now organized will disintegrate and be destroyed and that a .people's party Will be ultimately enthroned in pov ei. The populist party should be speedily revived in every state and territory and prompt steps should be taken to have an organization well in hand for the national campaign next year." To all that, The Independent gives a hearty approval. A COMMODITY Dr. Edward Aveling in "The Stu dents' Marx," an introduction to the great socialist's monumental worl. "Das Kapital," thus defines a com jnodity: "A commodity (1) Is an external ob ject; (2) satisfies human wants; (3) has human labor embodied in it; (4) is not consumed, by the producer, but by some other person." (p. 1.) Now, the question arises, To whom is a commodity an "external object"- the producer thereof or the consumer? This because . "Still seeking the origin of surplus value, it Is not in the money itself. . . The change cannot be in the value of the commodity, since equivalents are exchanged. . .'. The change takes place in the use-value of the commodity, thai is, the consumption of the commodity. "A commodity has therefore to bo found, whose use-value has the prop erty of being a source of value, whose consumption creates value. The com irodity is labor-power. "The free laborer . . . must there fore be obliged to sell his only com moditylabor power." (p. 38, 39.) Is the laborer's labor-power an "ob ject" "external" to himself? If not, how can it be "his only commodity?" Aveling points out three kinds of value value, "the amount of abstract human labor embodied" in a commod ity; use-value, something "intrinsic to . . . commodities," forming "the basis of commerce, the substance of wealth' and "the material depositories of the third kind of value exchange-value;" and the latter he calls "the ratio in vfcich use-values exchange." - And sums up by saying that "a commodity contains use-value and value, even J. it stands alone. Its exchange-value can only appear when it is brought in relation with some other commodity." Now, if exchange-value is "the ratio lu which use-values exchange" and "since equivalents are exchanged," it must follow that the use-value of the wages paid the laborer for his labor power is exactly equal to the use value of that labor-power. If so, how could there be any "surplus value" tor the capitalist? Again; if every "commodity has hu man labor embodied in it" and has "use-value intrinsic" to it, which forms the . "basis . of commerce, ' the substance of wealth;" and if human energy or labor-power be "a commod ity," then labor-power must form part of the "basis of commerce" and "the substance of wealth." Is tfiis true? Will some socialist enlighten The Independent on these points in the Karl Marx Edition? Notwithstanding the innumerable strides and the vast efforts of the la- j bor leaders, the cold, hard fact is that the wage-earners receive less thai they did before. The increase in the cost of living has been greater than ; the increase in wages in the most fav- j ored trades. All this was foretold by! The Independent to men who carried torches and shouted for the full din-' ner pail. Will these men after a wnlle stop and think a little? As long as franchises wc-th millions are given away and after ownership is acquired by private parties are al lowed to escape taxation, as long as the means of transportation and com munication remain in private hanls and by this private ownership, con gresses and legislatures are controlled in the interest of the few, just that long will the producer of every sort contribute "all the traffic will bear" to rapacious cap.talism. WHO II1 IT? Of course it was the votes of the wage-earners ' and common people that turned the state of West Vir ginia over to Elkins and the rapacious greed of the republican party. What these people have received for their votes has been a few dollars in mon ey, many promises of office, govern ment by injunction, forced labor in isolated mountain camps, and now comes Judge Kellar with heavy fine3 or $100 each and six months imprison ment for a large number of these .ame men who nave ben whooi-ia it up for the monumental thief anl great republican, Elkins. The injunc tions issued in West Virginia were the most infamous in all history. The suffering among the women and chil dren of those fined and imprisoned by Judge Kellar, who is one of the mod ern Judge Jeffrys of America, cau only be understood by those who have for years been" allowed only enougti of the wealth that they have created to keep them from starvation. The Independent expresses its sorrow for the inhumanity that the?e ware workers suffer and the deepest sym pathy with the wrecked families and broken hearts that this infamous judge's orders have caused. It can only say that In the future as in the den; 9 acres in alfalfa; some forest past, it will continue to fight that I trees; 16 1-2 acres in pasture; frame !iil!i!i!!i!!!!!!!!!H!!!!!!in!!i!!!!!!S ro eerie Special June Combination 2 We Pay the Freight We will deliver the following 110.00 combustion to any town in the state-of Nebraska, freight prep id by us, ny time during the month of June, 1903. Reference: First National Hack or The In- EE dependent. . 50 lbs Rest Granulated Sugar ..'..$1.00 EES 20 lbs Choice Prune, New Crop .50 ." EE 25 Ear Good Laundry Soap 1.00 2 lbs Hijjh tirade Japan Tea.. .... 1.K) 5 10 ibGiit Edge Coffee. 2.00 g5 61b3 Fancy Bright Apricots...... .75 SS 4 lbs Fancy 4 Crown Large Raisins., . 50 ss 3 cans Beatrice Corn i 25 S3 lb cans cans Tomatoes.... .25 S 0 lbs Fancy Head Rice 50 SSL 1 Can 16 oz. Cream of Tartar Baking Powder .25 rs 3Pkgs. 10c Soda. .25 3 Pks 10 Corn Starch..... .25 -5' s 3 Pkg Uk: Gloss Starch 25 5 S 1 lb Pure Black Pepper 25 jj 1 Bottle Lemon Extract .10 zsz 1 Bottle Vanilla Extract .10 S 2 Doz. Clothes Pins , 05 3 cans early June Peas... i. .25 S 5- All the above for....... $10.00 -55. 5 Orders for customers outside of the state of Nebraska - 2 add 75c to pay part of freight .... SS j JtW Branch & Miller Co. are ontirely responsible and the good g are 5 rs first-class. We recommend the above combination to the favorable con- S 525 sideration of our readers. The Independent, pa 1 Branch & Miller Co. J Cor. iih and P Sts. Lincoln, Neb. ss What we Advertise we Do. ss, ill!iHil!ll!IIIH!IH which says; "The course of the oper ators is one of inconsequential quib bling," and "they are demonstrating their unfitness to be cnarged with the control of this invaluable store of na tional wealth." There is a very swift and sure way fcr force Baer and his confederates out of the control of this invaluable store of national wealth It is simply to enforce the law against illegal combinations to restrain com merce and trade, and the laws and constitution of the state of Pennsyl vania forbidding railroads to ownsjr operate coal mines. Why Pay Rent Why pay rent when you can buy a good farm, a farm that will make as much money per acre as the farm you are renting, and pay for it witn the money you pay out in one year for rent The folloiwng is a list of gooJ land bargains in Red Willow county. We are safe in saying that the crop this year on every acre of this cul tivated land will sell for as much as the land costs. No. 741. 371-2 acres joining the town of McCook; iu acres in orchard, 14 years old apple, cheery and plum trees with small fruit Splendid ga.- Iiberty and equal rights may be ac corded to all men. Russian cruelty is not confined to the persecution of the. Jews. The stor ies that come from Finland, show that the cruelty there is just as barbarous. It does not consist in wholesale mas sacres, but in the imprisonment of in nocent men while their wives and children are left to die of starvation. In Finland it is not the acts of mobs but of the government officials them selves. The base of these Inhuman persecutions in Finland is the same as that which resulted in the slaughter of the Jews. While the Fins are Christians, they do not belong to the Russian Greek church and that is a sufficient reason in the eyes of the Russian officials for their exteYmina tion. While the Jews are forbidden by law to follow most of the occupa tions by which men make a living, the situation in Finland is practically the same, although such laws are not in force against the Fins. If the rapac- ous Russian officials desire to op press a protestant or Catholic Fin, they simply demand his discharge by his employers and when such a de mand is made by the police, no em lloyer dare disobey. It is preposterous that the welfar? of millions of people should be in the control of a few law-breakers like the managers of the anthracite coal trust. Their recent contention with the miners about the selection of the members of the board of conciliation denounced by many papers, the Springfield Republican among them, house one story 22x22 with kitchen 12x14, stone foundation, cellar, chick en house 16x18, coal house, barn 20x 30, with basement, two wells with overshot irrigation ditch; one mile from the postoffice. Price, $3,750. No. 742. 360 acres, 110 acres in cul tivation, balance in pasture, 160 acres smooth, balance rolling; sod house 14x32 with shingle roof; outside cel lar; frame stable for 14 head of horses, granary, well and wind mill, chicken house, corn crib, etc.; seven miles from McCook and 2 miles from church. . Price $2,20v. No. 743. 240 acres, 120 under culti vation; 180 smooth land, balance roll ing; all fenced; one and half storv house, well and wind mill; 9 miles from McCook, three and half miles from railroad station. Price, $1,800. No. 744. 400 acres, 10 miles from McCook, 6 miles from railroad sta tion, 125 acres under cultivation, sod house, frame granary and stable, well and wind mill and two cisterns; this farm is rented for 1903. Will sell share of wheat if the farm is sold. frice, $2,200. No. 745. 160 acres, three and half miles from McCook, 70 acres in culti vation, CO acre3 first bottom, 80 acre3 second bottom, land all fenced. A splendid alfalfa and sugar beet farm. Price $2,250. No. 746. 221 acres, all bottom land. 100 acres under cultivation, nearly all fenced; frame house 24x24, one story, watered by well and river; 15 acres A hay, one mile from railroad station, 7 miles from McCook. Price $15 per acre. No. 747. 160 acres, 80 in cultiva tion, 145 tillable, 15 acres rough, 3 1-2 miles from McCook. Price $1,700. No. 748. 480 acres, 4 miles from Indianola, 200 acres cultivated, bal ance pasture, frame house 24x24, all necessary farm buildings, well, wind mill, etc A choice farm nicely lo cated. Price $4,000. No. 749. 1,720 acresall fenced with 4 wires, 200 acres cultivated, 21-2 miles of timber along the creek, tim ber enough if cut into cordwood and posts to sell and pay for the farm; good bouse and barn that cost $1,200, watered by wells and wind mills, 1, 080 acres deeded land and 640 acres school land leased with an annual rental of $57 per year; an assignment of the lease goes with the place. Price of the whole property $10,800; low interest and easy payments If one-half or more is paid in cash. No. 750. 320 acres nearly all smooth, 220 acres in cultivation, all fenced, 7-room house, well and wind mill, stable for 12 horses, corrall, 100 acres fenced in pasture, 2 miles from McCook. Price $7,000. : No. 751. 100 acres in cultivation, CO acres in. pasture; frame house 16x 24 with sod -vldition 1Gx:;:i, staivle sor 8 horses, corrall, granary, well, winl mill, etc; 9 miles' from McCook. Price $1,600. No. 753. 160 acres all ' level, all ferced, 100 acres cultivated, story and naif house 36x40, 7-rooms, brick foun dation, well and wind mill, storm cave, Stable for 10 horses, chicken hous?, double corn crib and granary, half mile to school, 3 miles to church. Price $2,100. No. 754. 160 acres, 93 in cultivation, 155 tillable, frame house 16x18, well and pump; 6 miles to McCook. Price $1,400. No. 755. 160 acres, 100 cultivated, 130 tillable, small house, well arid wind mill. 9 miles from McCook. Price $1,000. No. 756. 320 acres, all fenced, 230 acres cultivated, 90 acres in pasture, rough; frame stable for 8 horses, granary, crib3 and 5-acre hog pastur?! 5 miles to Danburv: churrh nn.l school house across the road from tha house. Price $3,200. There is heavy acreage of sugar beets in Red Willow county-and v good many thousands of acres of al falfa. Land is advancing rapidly In value, and every one of the abov3 pieces is an especially tempting bar gain, considering the prevailing prices and demand for land. These are all offered suject to prior sale the first man on the ground and prepared to close deal gets the land. For fur ther information write Weber & Far ris, Lincoln, Neb. FREE sFFoNRD BOOK ffw PROCESS OFCANNTNO FRUITS AND VEOFTARLES Mrt. W. T. Price, 1124 Penn. Ave. N Minneapo lis, Minn. The theory of "surplus value"-se Karl Marx Edition, July 23, 1903. i I