The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-10-02
A Sh0rtsighted. Policy.

It is a very common thing to damn
the corporations. We hear it every
day, but little thought should soon
convince one how foolish this is.
Without capital and corporations no
laborer could have employment. The
corporation or combination OF lndlvld-
uals makes it possible to build saw
mills, operate logging camps and do
all things that single individual
could not do. Some times these cor
porations make money; occasionally
the individual does,-but it is usually
the result of striving. worry, ability,
"luck" or a great deal of hard work,
in most of which the employe does not
share. Often the corporation is grasp
ing, grinding; occasionally it is soul
less and it steals,-sometimes the IN
dividual does that, too. Frequently
the corporation fails, so does the lndl-
vidual; they have ventured their capt.
al in an unsuccessful business, have
given employment to labor, have lost
it all and these men are then back In
the ranks of the laborers themselves.
We might cite an instance of a
Shelton man who a dozen years ago
came to Mason County and went to
work in a logging camp. He soon
started a logging camp of his own,
with his savings. He logged for sever
al years, employing labor, paying labor
we'll, and wound up with less money
IL 1o CT q
benefited from this, and the employer
gave his time, labor and worry and
ventured his hard earned means, and
received no benefits. He forms COM
pany with others, and tries it again.
They employ $50 men, pay them
the usual wages; often the employees
loan them money to tide over the hard
places. Sometimes the employers
have not a cent they can call their
own; again they make profit after
the years work. Whether the men
who have ventured their capital have
made anything or not the laborer must
be paid. Labor has been given en-
ployment, and has practically received
the greatest benefit. And this is the
history of every employing logger and
corporation in Mason county; and it
is also true of nearly every corporation
or firm in the whole country. With
exception of few trusts, every corpor-
alton is a great public benefactor
they employ etenths of the labor
of the United States; they make it
,oocc;b1o 1oLnr -, fb;c co,ptryy IN
hold up its head; to be the equal OF
any set; to live well, have every luxury
and to establish comfortable homes
to rear their children and give them
every advantage.
How senseless the general cry against
corporations; if the people elect honest
officials the corporations will receive
no improper or unjust favors. Let any
candid man Of 40 or so years ask him
self the question: How does the con-
diton of my children today compare
with my own as child? And then
honestly answer it. Compare the con-
ditons of labor, taking into account
the millions of foreign immigration,
much of which is undesirable, and ask
yourself if the condition OF the labor,
ing classes, the great mass of people
of the country, has not improved won
derfully. And this despite the "crime
of 49," that is the great campaign cry
of today. The socialistic tendency OIL
this campaign is the greatest crime
ever perpetrated upon labor, and labor
must be the greatest sufferer.