LAND MONOPOLY. 68 1 



had title in land. Then her legions were heroes uncon- 

 querable, and Rome was founded on the rock of equality 

 and justice. 



But she followed the road of all nations that preceded 

 her. She contracted her currency; she fostered monop- 

 olies; she burdened her people with heavy taxes; she 

 encouraged usury and demanded extortion; she traveled 

 the same road to death that Egypt, Babylon, Persia and 

 Greece had traveled before. It took her a long time to die. 

 But the decree had gone forth : 



u Behold, therefore, I have smitten mine hand at thy 

 dishonest gain." li Therefore have I poured out mine 

 indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the 

 fire of my wrath ; their own way have I recompensed upon 

 their heads, saith the Lord God. ' * 



The land owners had been reduced Irom eighty-five 

 to less than one per cent. Rome could not live because 

 she had violated the laws of God. 



Kind reader, history is repeating itself in our own fair 

 land. Monopoly is eating out the very vitals of our exist- 

 ence. Usury and extortion have fastened their iron jaws 

 upon every industry of the land. Labor is burdened beyond 

 endurance. Trusts, syndicates and combinations demand 

 extortion on everything we buy; and transportation com- 

 panies, pools and middlemen levy tribute on everything we 

 sell. We are traveling the same road to death that the 

 nations gone before have traveled. We are told by the 

 politicians that they will save us. So we have always been 

 told. Our task becomes harder and life more burdensome. 

 Reform never begins with the leaders. It comes from the 

 people. 



Will you follow in the same tracks that we have been 

 treading for the past twenty years ? Will you follow in the 



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