The Labor enquirer., 1883-09-15
DYNAMITE is strong to-day at 45c.
WHAT'S HE DRIVING AT!

In an exchange notice lengthy eX-
tract from the Pittsburg Labor Trihane'
which for pointless, senseless stall beats
anything of recent date. u Is an argu-
ment (?) in opposition 70 the idea that
the government sAould own and control
the TELEGRAPH ines. The following ex-
tract is orth purusal: "If the news of
the country was in the hands of the dom
inant party would there ever be a tele-
gram published exposing its wrong do
ing? Would the party managers permit
aught to 60 over the wires except that
which would injure their opponents
Would not black be made white and
white be made black, to suit the views of
those managers The proposition for
the government to run the telegraph
service is worse than ridiculous, itimplieS
acute danger to freedom, growth of
centralizing power, an increase of cor
ruption, in short, everything that is bad,
nothing that is good"
In answer to the foregoing the question
might be asked, why don't the dominant
party do all the dreadful things men
toned in the management of the post
office? The only difference between the
mail and the telegraph is the dispatch
with which communications are handled.
If the postOffice can be managed so that
each individual is guaranteed the same
rights and privileges allowed each other
individual, why could not the telegraph
be 80 managed ? If other countries can
conduct their telegraph fairly and
squarelY in connection with their postal
services, what's the matter with the
United States doing it?
What the writer of the article quoted
from throws out as his strongest point
strikes me as being the weakest. The
news which goes over the wires now is
controlled by a monopoly associated
press, which doctors everything to suit
its own ends and those of its fellows.
A scheme under which the government
would con troll the telegraph wires would
be very imperfect, if it failed to break
up this same associated press and allow
any publisher to transmit or receive
news at uniform rates.
The Tribune objects to the centraliza
ton of power and thinks the govern
ment has too much control of our affairs
now? 1t is singular that there can be
question in the mind of any man as to
which is the most detrimental centrali-
zation-that which gives a few capital
lists, whom no one can control or say
word to the complete mastery of de-
partment, or the government officials
whom the people at least elect and can
intimidate occasionally, if nothing more.
1t is true that if the operators of the
United States would all come into the
fold of organization they could force the
monopolists who control the telegraph
system to pay them fair wages, but the
4IlUuLc LLdL SuOulu hIlOh ny lIIlo IllllG
that telegraph operator grows on every
twig along the line of American railroads,
and that the green crop rapidly fills up
the gaps made by old hands entering
organizations.
The government pays its employees
frst-rate wages-better than private in
stitutions- if it is for good wages
the Tribune is bowling, there would
seem to be an argument in favor of the
government owning the telegraph.
The Tribune's idea is so ridiculous
that it is useless to waste further time
upon it, but would like to know what
Armstrong is driving at Probably he
doesn't like to be in with a popular
movement, and share the honors with
so many. Probably there's another rea-
son for this crazy break,