Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-08-17

II might dHSW6 questions YET IL seluOH
does. You must crush your doubts,
and swallow what is offered. A long
list Of questions will haunt Liberty in
its last hours the same list will be
handed out Of the pearly gate by ST.
Peter with the mandate Answer
these first" A
| used to ash questions of L'berty in :
two labor papers and thought he sighted
me especially; but others were sighted;
hence it is the kind Of question that he
lodges, not the nqulrers. have asked
other individualists the same questions.
They answer for awhile, then cease !
notice that they all stall in the same hole.
| Why should the State lie unwilling to
compete and Twin supremacy by a
| display of greater skill and capacity
! 1t is "a fair question, Many socialists
would like to see the State compete with |
CORPORATIONS. and the latter are always !
filled with fear if the plan Is even men
toned | think the State should simply .
assume its duties and ignore competition.
| think the platform should not be so .
construed as to demand that corpora /
tons be forbidden TO continue when the |
State takes up one Of its proper func-
| tiOns. When bill in Congress, about
a year ago, proposed that few govern
mrnt telegraph lines be built, DIR. NOrvln
Green. president of the W estern Union
Company, rushed into print telling what
poor scheme it was, and how superior
private control is, then cOnfessing that
If the bill passed the private companies
must sell out Wps this a sign OF
| uuparior kill and Cabaclty y'
The fact is, that while philosophers of
heavy calibre are longing for the reign
of competition in certain fields, the
corporations now operating in those
fields are trying to avoid competition,
dreading it, and endeavoring to destroy
, it. Competition among corporations
, raises wages and lowers prices. When
? railroads are at war, people ride at cost,
or less sometimes. This increases traffic,
f demanding more train hands, and de
: mand for labor increases wages. When
( the American Union Telegraph Com
t pany was organized, it drew away the
p best talent of the Western Union, and
G paid much better salaries, The Mutual
r Union did the same. Talk of consolida-
t ton made the operator shiver. lie
!, knew it meant lower wages. He learned
+ that there is no relation between high
rates and wages. Consolidation caused
l., high rates and low wages. Competition
n caused low rates and high wages. Com
Y petition was IA fine thing, but how pre-
l. serve competition? Three or more
l. companies can combine us easily as two.
,. Now, plan that will keep telegraph
N tolls down to cost and thereby enlarge
/, the volume of business, SO that all the
al operators possible can be employed,
il must raise wages and sustain them, OF
re else figures lie. \ control that is not al
rs war with both the operators and the
~ patrons Of the telegraph, Is the remedy
Socialism or NAtlOnahSm has Offered
e. the only plan Of that sort.
IN If LibeifY understood its own publiCa
h. tons it might see a few DID, gray-headeC
II falacies. PrOndhon, in his " EconomlCa
| Contradictions issued by Liberty
Ir. proves that competition invariably end
b. in monopoly The facts prove The same
Ir. If it must be monopoly, let 1t be on
og pledged to promote the interests o
en- laborer and patron, instead of one tina
nd boldly avows its purpose to fleece both
en- according to business principles"
on The individualist should tell how me
Is can be induced to compete and neve
N combine. Does the State make ther
on combine? Does it forbid competition
DIS The taitT certainly does prevent compt
of tition. But if all the concerns /
.ill America car form a trust, what WI
I'll. prevent their combining with Euro
all pean t,ust? The tariff will not accoul
for a good many trusts; for instance
SITS the Standard Oil. How does the Stat
i've cause factories to shut down. the
wv, owners being paid for not producing
ne. How can we tell which concern in
Tvs. trust possesses the greatest "skill al
hid capacity 1t may be the one shut dow
ed. for aught We know.
ial Here are several questions, but Liber
gle will not answer them. 1t may refer
The to natural law. Remove all barriers,
of Nature act, and all will be well
,ep refuse to believe it. Nature created t
Mr.. spider, the adder, and the weeds. Natu
lsly works evil along with good. Natu
lon gives us a wild herb, and we subdue
,eti- and produce garden vegetable. \
ion; ture helps? Certainly. So if '
attempt to engraft the collective cory
Wis ration on society, III place of the natu
airy weed Nature will not oppose; for it /
: a, not i'll many instances that have $,
ON Cecded. We are not experimenting.
ture assists the City of Chicago to for
Ma water into every house. Socialists ha
ue.,- faith in the collective principle Lei
adj be proclaimed that the State may co
1 of pete with all private concerns. I
mat State will serve us at cost.
tent After all, | fear Liberys silent C,
,era- tempt Is meant for me particularly;
, see after suffering its blight for some tim
allied tried u simple device. and 10. ft
gain columns were given to answer Ri
luon tum." ION the whole, l rather |
beat, Rinctum," said the teacher, But hon,
line and perhaps valid, objections to