The record-union., 1893-10-07
WESTERN UNREST AND SOCIAL
ISM

Charles S. Gleed, a well-known writer,
business man and publicist, in the Forum,
considers Western unrest and concludes
that the real paternalists are not the peo-
pie who draw platforms. His idea is that
the people are not pursuing socialism,
but trying to escape hard times, without
comprehending that they are subscribing
very often in supporting demagogue
platforms to paternalism that in actual
practice they would not endure for a
single season.
Mr.. Gleed's is sound statement. 1t is
nearer to the truth than any expression
upon the subject which we have seen in
print from the essayists. The idea ad-
vanced is that the Western demagogues
who wanted places have not dared to
preach the old-fashioned truth; have not
dared to advocate economy, reduction
OF debts by the payment of them, a di-
versification of industries, and similar
''time-honored remedies for a sick body
polite"
1t was because of this cowardice that
we witnessed the surrender of the Demo
cratic party IN portions of the West, and
the merging fits individuality into that
OF the Populist movement. Another inn
portant factis dwelt upon by the essayist
that forms in large part a reason for the
present stringency.
For years the West and Southwest were
the fields of great development and
greater speculation. Confidence in these
sections was so great that it engendered
recklessness. When the time for realiza-
tion came the East saw that there had
been overriding and could not be speedy
reward. Thereupon, with equal reckless
ness, it suddenly withdrew its money
from the West, so far as possible, and
lack of confidence became more pro-
nounced than was the former confidence.
There was already stringency in the
West and local hardships, all which COM
bined to bring on distressing condition
that was not bettered by radical, almost
frantic legislation. The East having
withdrawn its money, put it into
other securities and speculations with al
most equal haste. When these new
ventures began TO languish or fail, as was
inevitable. the East felt the grip of strin-
gency also, and alarm set in, which i'm
mediately frightened manufacturers and
caused the shutting down of many of the
mills of industry. The mercantile world
at once entered upon "limitation of
orders'' policy, and on top of it all came
what the business world all along knew
must come, and for which, under normal
conditions, it would have been prepared
the settlement of our outstanding obli-
cations to the commercial world at large.
This increased distrust and dollars in
all forms took to hiding places, or set
themselves up for hire at exorbitant
rates, and so the panic was fully on.
But in all these activities and fears the
essayist finds no socialistic current or
color. On bAS NOuhAoAJ ~ las bOSA
notably absent from groups in which it
was expected to have its chief footing
the labor unions became more careful in
their demands, and turned the cold
shoulder to radical socialistic movers.
The unions have demonstrated that they
clearly see the line beyond which the
co.oneration of industries cannot go, and
bevond which competition must prevail
Tins as Mr.. Gleed puts an instance by
wav of illustration, the type settlers and
nressmen can cooperate, but they two
ON one side cannot cooperate with the
nanermaker, because the more money
the latter get. the less money there is for
those who do the printing.
The whole of all the movements in the
West he concludes, have been not in
socialistic directions. but for the assist
anca of limited classes; the people as
nonch as ever hold to the right and wis
dom of private ownership of property,
and that each man shall be, as far as
nossible. himself private owner. In
short. the Western unrest has made all OF
..s n,anifestations along the line of the