The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-09-22
FOR GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPHv.


IF the international convention of a
great organization can commit its mem
bers to any policy the International
Typographical Union is committed to
the support of a government telegraph
system. And judging by the following
from the Sept. 1 issue of The Typo
graphical Journal, there will be some
earnest work done in the direction
! pointed out by the convention:
SIN obedience to an instruction of
the late convention, President Pres
colt has appointed Messrs. A. L. Ran
dali, A. H. Bell, William McCabe, j. w.
Usilton and George A. Tracey of Wash
ingtOn, D. c., a committee to forward
with energy everything that will tend
to secure the passage of bill having
| for its object the governmental owner
| ship and operation of our peoples tele-
graphic system. The committee has
not as yet decided upon plan of cam
paign, and, Notwithstanding this is a
new departure in international policy,
we confidently bespeak for it the
OO-ODOIdO1On VI OUE l10HOSIS.
Some few of strong individualistic ten
denotes may reprobate the information
ais action, but we feel assured it will
be heartily commended by the vast
majority.
SIT seems to us that all enterprises
which are in their nature monopolistic
should be owned and operated by the
people for the people, and not by soul
less corporations for the aggrandize-
ment of few men chiefly notable for
their disregard of the public's rights
and human and divine laws in their
mad race for the riches that perisheth.
1t is only necessary to remember that
he who controls our telegraph system
convinced that government ownership
of this particular function is especially
desirable 1t is generally accepted
that under our present system irres-
ponsible parties exercise a news CEN
sorship and color all important items
to suit their purpose. This affects no
class so injuriously as the wage earn
ers, who are continually subjected to
the grossest and most malignant mis-
representations.
"But this question is of peculiar in
terest to printers, ETC., as such. The
system of franchises in vogue by rea-
son of an agreement between the press
associations and telegraph companies
practically limits the number of news
papers, thereby depriving capital and
labor of profitable employment at that
industry in which we RE so vitality in
terested. Under government supervi-
sion there would not be discrimina-
ton in rates, and all who desire to en-
gage in the publication of newspapers
would have fair field and no favor
Every member of the international
union should assist the committee
with the work it has on hand, and
those who believe that the aim of true
government is to obtain the greatest
good for the greatest number are ex-
pected and particularly urged to exert
themselves N bringing this service to
the front On reflection, thousand
ways of doing so viii suggest them
selves. The timid and ultra-conaerva-
tive, who may foolishIy entertain an
aversion to being designated socialists
or anarchists, either of which will GER
tainly be hurled at US by the defenders
of vested interests, can find consoIati-
on in the thought that though the
measure we have in view is socialistic
in principle, it is feasible, and support
ed by many boards of trade, newspap-
ers nd other respectable institution.
throughout the country. They are re-
minded, also, that the awful faint of
Socialism attaches to our postofices
and schools. By working for a govern
ment telegraph system we are serving
the people of all classes, and opening
up avenues of employment for idle
printers. In the last analysis, this bat
tie must be fought at the only place
where antique laws and unique judici-
al decisions have not yet placed the
mudsills of society at disadvantage
at the ballot box
LET every member take off his coat
and; help IN the good work. There is.
lots to do"
THE NATIONALP