The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-09-02


repellant forces are at work among the
molecules there is a weakness that may
in case of strain produce break. Unity
of interest is the cement, the cohesive
force, that binds the molecules of society
together, and makes the whole compact
and strong. If there is place in the
iron where cohesion is weak, we call it
flaw. The antagonism of interest be-
tween the public and giant corporation
constitutes a similar weakness-a dan
gerous flaw in the structure of society.
The antagonism between the corporation
and its employees is another flaw. Every
great combination of capital or labor
that exists for selfish purpose is like a
big knot on board-it may be very solid
and strong in itself, but it weakens the
board. The lines between itself and the
rest of the structure are lines of cleavage.
The case is even worse than these an
alogies would indicate. The areas of an
tagonism above referred to are not mere
ly flaws. They are areas of corrOsion as
we'll. They constitute not only weak
ness, but a scene of destructive warfare
among the molecules and groups of MOLE
cules. For SO years the line between the
Western Union and the public has been
a line of battle. Investigation after in
vestigation has been made, clouds of wit
nesses have been called, enormous ex-
pense has been entailed. In congress
after congress war has been waged. Miles
of petitions have been circulated, tons Of
matter printed, years of speeches deliv-
ered hundreds of thousands of dollars
and incalculable energies wasted. Capt.
tai, too, has fought the great monopoly
to conquer the right to share it's enor-
nous gains. Millions of dollars have
been spent to build entirely useless COM
peting lines for the sole purpose of wor-
rying the monopolies into buying up the
said lines and admitting the projectors
to membership in the Western Union.
Labor has also added the wastes of its
own rebellions to all the rest. Twice
the joint between the company and its
employees has been broken open clear
across the continent, and 1t has cost a
deal of money to pay the damages and
get the breaks patched up. All the physf-
cal wastes and the spiritual neglects, re-
tardatiOns and debasements that have
resulted from these various antagonisms
would have been avoided had the federal
government followed Henry Clay's ad-
vice and established nationel telegraph
in 1874. Weakness, waste and demoral-
ization result from antagonism of inter-
est. Strength, economy, development,
come from unity Of interest, partnership,
cooperation and public ownership.
The root of nearly all of our difficult
ties with the telegraph is the simple fact
that the business is owned by great sell
fish monopoly in private control. Unity
the interests OF. men In such way that
they can know and feel the unity, and
they will work together in common in
terest. Through unity of interest last
ing conference and harmonious co-opera-
tion is gained. Society is built on such
unities and corporations, and civiliza-
tion Is measured by the proportion they
bear to the total of human interests and
activities. Unity of interest in respect to
a property or business requires common
ownership, for If one owns and another
does not the interests of the two will be
diverse, the former desiring income
from the property, the latter desiring
good service at as low cost as possible.
In the case of property or business af-
fecting city, state or nation, the COM
mon ownership requisite to unity of in
terest is ownership by the city, state or
nation affected. e., public ownership.
1t would probably be enough to say, "a
great monopoly in private control" In
the present state of civilization the
chance that private monopoly of the
telegraph would be managed in an unset
fish and philanthropic spirit, is hardly
one in q billion. Men who think first Of
the service they can render their fellow
men and second of personal profit do not
accumulate sufficient wealth to buy con-
troll Of the telegraph. Men who do ac-
quire vast property do not regard 1t as a
public trust. We have not got that far
yet Our youth are not trained that
way. They are taught that Is is right to
get all they can out Of private property.
CONTINUED on THIRD PAGNl