Workmen's advocate., 1890-11-22

now pay to individual producers, for national farms, mines, and factories could be conducted more economically than private enterprises of the kind. The nation, or the people which constl- ute the nation, would labor as a whole for the good of each and every indivi- dual, making 1t the duty of society to see that no want existed within its limits, and no crime and suffering re. suited from poverty. The great burden of rent which now Crushes the poor would be lifted when the nation be came landlord and required only sutfi cient rent to keep buildings in good re pair.
 We see at the present time our rail roads becoming vast monopolies In stead of competing with each other, that the public may derive the benefit of cheaper travel, they find it to their interest to consolidate, leaving the people at their mercy. While it was expected that the roads would be built and conducted for the interest of socie ty, they are made to exact inordinate tribute, and become instruments of oppression. Actuated by mercenary motives, their owners disregard the public convenience and safety. Rival companies block the trains and detain the passengers, while the daily records of fatal accidents for which no one is responsible attest the insecurity of life. By the union of the mining and railroad interests, millions of people depend for their supply of coal upon the option of few soulless corporations, who by banding together have the power to defraud the consumers, by creating artificial scarcitIes and charg ing eXorbltant rates. A few railroad kings grasp the public lands, buy our legislatures, and rule the nation.
 Were the railroads, telegraphs, canals, expresses, gas works, etc., to become the property of the people, and under their supervision, they would be con ducted as the pOst-otfice is (except by direct employment instead of by con tract), for their mutual interests, The fares collected would only be sufficient to keep the institutions i'll good running order.
 Man will not be a fixture in the one locality, as he now necessarily IS by virtue of possessing a homestead or a business which is the growth of years of steady nursing, and which he cannot abandon even temporarily, perhaps, without pecuniary detriment; but he can round out his being by travel, always sure of employment wherever he goes.
 In considering the many evils of the present competitive system of trade we cannot blind ourselves to the enormous frauds to which society is at present exposed, and which yearly increase as science and skill are developed. Hardly an article of food, drink, medicine, or wear, but what is fraught with deleteri- ous adulterations, often injurious to the health of consumers, that their vendors may either be able to undersell their rival competitors, or increase their al- ready excessive profits. From poisoned liquids alone we can hardly compute the extent of disease and crime resulting from their perniciOus effects. Armies in all countries suffer from the inferior quality of food and clothing furnished by contractors. Not alone are the people defrauded by adulterated foods, but of ten by scant weights and measures. Coal dealers buy 2,240 pounds of coal for d ton, and sell (nominally) 5000 pounds for ton.
 Under the present system there can be no remedy but these evils will con tinue to increase. Gas companies will continue to furnish inferior gas at eXor bitant rates. Will there not be a culmi. nation some time that will necessitate a different commercial system? Were con- petitive labor to cease there would be no incentive to adulteration. The people would produce and manufacture for themselves so that everything made and sold would be good and substantial.
 (7O be cOntinued.)