Not only that: The fifteen-center tells us of our _wrongs_, of how we were and are _wronged_ and of how we may right the _wrongs_. The fifty-center of thirty years ago told us largely of things which entertained us--things historically, geographically, geologically, astronomically, psychically or similarly informative and instructive. They told us little or nothing of how we were misgoverned--of how _misgovernment_ saps and loots and _degenerates_ a people. That function of periodical _education_ was left largely to the five, ten and fifteen-centers of the present day--periodicals _of price within reach of limited means and of a large, rapidly growing desire to know_. See the point? “No”? Well, then don’t go to arguing. If you do not see the point, just sit up and shake yourself loose a little. “A little wisdom is a dangerous thing”; “For much wisdom is much grief,” and similar old saws which truth-perverters glossed into sacred or classic texts. The people are gathering “wisdom” from these low-priced, carefully-written, independent periodicals--periodicals which tell the “raw” truth. It is dangerous. They will hurt themselves. We vested-interests people and “innocent holders” must set up some hurdles; must keep the dear, _earning_ people from learning too much--from learning what we _know_. Their chief source of enlightenment are the cheap, attractive, instructive, independent periodicals. Our first act should be to cut down--or cut out--this source of supply. Then the dear people will come back and read what we _hire_ written for them, and then-- Well, then the dear earners of dollars for us will not “learn wisdom” enough to hurt them or--_us_. But, getting back to Mr. Hitchcock’s reported suggestion, in effect, to advance the subscription or selling price of the magazines and others of the “few” periodicals that would be affected by his proposed “rider” legislation. I shall call attention to but one basic fact which his suggestion covers--intendedly or not, I know not. To me, it appears better to do this by a few direct statements. 1. An advance of two or five cents a pound on the people’s subsistence supplies--meats, vegetables, etc.--or on a yard of textile fabric they must have to cover or shelter their nakedness, _will_ be met by them as long as they can dig up, or dig out, the funds to buy. 2. A corresponding advance in the price of some desired, or even needed, article which is not _absolutely necessary to subsist, clothe or shelter them_ will induce them to hesitate before purchasing--will often lead to an exercise of self-denial which refuses to make the purchase--refuses, not because they do not _want_ the article, but because they cannot afford it by reason of pressing _subsistence needs_. That these rules of domestic economy apply to the sale and circulation of periodicals was quite conclusively shown to Mr. Hitchcock by the publishers. Senator Owens adverts to this point as follows: