The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-05-16


that the railways should be public high
ways, open, under proper restrictions, to
all citizens; that railway charters should
not allow the same parties to own the
tracks and to operate the cars which run
on them. In other words, that railways
should be like toll roads. The PROPOSE
tion Is an absurd one. 1t would be inn
possible to attain satisfactory results IL
all who were able and so desired were
permitted to run their own cars over the
rails belonging to other parties. The diff
hculties of such system are obvious.
There is butone way to solve the railroad
problem. President Blackstone sees it.
1t is to have the government assume the
ownership of all railways.
Should the demand of the carpenters
for an eight hour day result in pro-
longed strike, which is likely, an oppor-
tunity will be presented to test the
strength of the bond which is said to
bind together all organized workmen in
this country. The plan of the American
Federation of Labor calls for financial
support from all affiliated unions, and,
while the carpenters have comparative
ly good fund to start with, the 10000
men in that industry cannot remain idle
many weeks without feeling the need of
assistance. If organized labor stands
this test and the carpenters win, many
things which labor has on its programme
for the future will be conceded by CAPT.
tai without "A struggle.
1t is truth to state that, notwithstand-
ing the popularity of Looking Back
ward" the Nationalist clubs, which are
founded upon the lines it lays down, are
not being formed and recruited with the
rapidity it would seem reasonable to ex-
pect. Several causes for this slow growth
of the open advocacy of what apparently
meets with such extensive approval are
assigned. The leaders of the movement
say no effort has been made to rush
things; that, ON the contrary, care has
been exercised to prevent rapid growth,
for ostensible reasons. This is not ac-
copied by ali vino have expressed opin-
ions on the subject. There are those who
have been identified with socialistic move
ments in the past who say that the work
ingmen generally are holding aloof be-
cause the present movement is in the
hands of the kid gloved element, and
that, ON the other hand, the well-to-do
believers withhold their cooperation be-
cause they fear they will be damaged by
becoming identified with the rabid So
cialists who have an unenviable reputa-
ton. Thus the only elements from which
Nationalism can expect to draw any con-
siderable number of adherents stand out
side the movement, each distrusting and
fearing the other. This state Of affairs
is likely to continue until something of
pre-eminent Importance arises to make
the opposing factions forget, for the time
at least, their prejudices.
California, however, presents a nota-
BILE exception. In that state the cause of
Nationalism has already taken deep root,
and clubs are multiplying at a marvel
Gus rate. Every city and town of any
consequence has one or more clubs and
the membership i'm all of them is grow
ing rapidly. 1t is not at all unlikely that
the next elections in California will find
Nationalist candidates in the field for all
the offices. 1t is claimed that over 5000
copies of Looking Backward" have
been sold in and around Los Angeles,
and that San Francisco can almost dupli-
cate these figures.
BY the way, some of the Nationalist
are disposed to find fault with Mr.. Bel
lamy for copyrighting recent newspaper
articles. They say that if he is the earn
est advocate he claims to be he should
not give certain newspapers monopoly
of his writings, and thus prevent their
being copied and the doctrine propa-
gated.
The April installment of The Century's
present Day Papers" consists of re-
port to the sociological group by COM
mittee consisting of Seth Low and Rich
ard Z. Ely. The title is GA Programme
for Labor Reform" 1t was prepared by
Professor Ely, and gives additional evil
dence that he is clear land generally
sound) thinker on the social problem.
After carefully considering the present
imperfect system and reciting many of
its evils, the professor suggests "reme-
dies required for the diseased social
body" some of which are, publication
and elevation of the family, improved
educational facilities, better dwellings
for the poor, adequate factory laws,
more just administration of all laws, re-
spect for labor organizations, better pro-
lection of public property, prohibition
of imported contract labor and the as
sumption by the state of those activities
which exercise public functions.
JOS. r. BUCHANAN.