The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-02
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THE DIES MONIES BELLAMITEs.

1t is reported that number of people OF
Des Moines, Iowa, converts to Edward
Bellamy's Looking Backward" theories,
have formed colony and secured Local
ton in Louisiana upon which to put those
theories into practice, or so much of them
as is compatible with the existence of state
and federal governments, based upon no
tons that have been delusively recognized
as the outgrowth OF intelligent human ex-
perience and observation.
These people regard competition" as
the chief error and bane of civilized society.
the destruction OF which IS the central idea
of their organization. To this end they
propose to hold all things in common, and
TO establish parity of earning power
among ali members of the community, on
basis of time consumed in labor, without
reference to differences in value between
the products of our own and another's
labor. Whether shoveling dirt or execut-
ing fine piece OF sculpture; whether dig
ging potatoes or finishing an intricate piece
of machinery; whether pairing apples or
completing an invention of inestimabie adj
vantage to the human race, each is to re-
ceive time-card representing value of 80
cents for each hour employed.
il is readily understood that schemes of
this kind may fascinate those who have
realizing sense of inferiority. 1t is hard to
understand how they can present any
charms to men or women of more than
mediocre capacity. 1t is one thing to earn
ali you can, take all you earn. husband the
results of your industry, skill and self-de-
Mai, and out of your accumulations helm
those who have been less skillful or less
fortunate, and it is quite another thing to
shall be measured up to your superior eapa-
cities.
Competition is less a cause than an Incl
dent of the differences which these people
are banded TO obliterate. OF dozen me-
chanics enjoying from their birth equal
advantages and placed in like conditions.
taught their trades perhaps in the same
shop, one may be able to earn, honestly
and fairly, twice as much as another,
either by turning out more work or of bet
ter quality, and this, frequently. not so
much by striving 10 excel his fellows as by
inherent natural talent He excels with
GU eeling constrained to compete. If the
others strain 10 achieve like results, and
this hegets competition, who shall say that
the effect is evif And who will pretend
shgs such competition would be probable
except on the incentive to reach or approx
innate the earnings of the superior work
meng Would IL have been better that
there had been no superior workmen be-
cause his superiority led others to strive
for the attainment Of his excellence? Such
is the essense of the Bellamy notion that
competition is an evil.
Some men are born 10 lead and others 10
follow. some are born for adventure. others
to plod. and any system which aims to put
all of these on one level is All ahsardity
and must fail. The gold discoveries OF the
last half century have afforded conclusive
evidence on this point Into the gold fields
poured men from all quarters and sections
OF the earth, representing every grade OF
culture and all conditions of life. Ia those
fields at the outset all were equal. The
gold was scattered around in the CLUTCHES,
rayines and in the grass roots. Whose
would could search for. ind and take il.
And yet il was an unvaTying experience IN
every gold mining section that from the
very start there were those who immedi-