The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-15
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DfHS - QUESTIONED.

letter has been addressed TO Eugene
ues,s by clAre.see &oeiisr. % Chicago, and
is published IN 81 Msanes polls paper. which
makes some very pertinent inquiries con-
corning the methods 20 ~ pursued II the
proposed colony in ogder n maintain
equality.
There is much in this letter that rather
tends TO weaken II ~ mixing up too many
subjects. but one OF the queries ne pro-
pounds will give 8 good tdea Of bis Enc
OF reasoning Let Us suppose. he says.
community OF 100 families ~ith two 10
eight in a family, and a total Of SO soals.
Al the time. let Is suppose they are fairly
launched and all the conditions favorable.
the earth yielding bounteously 10 their
labor. The community wants some fresh
beef. and their labor has produced fatted
cattle. They kill g steer. but {: is not all
tenderlo!a. Now. while there Il beef
enough 70 20 around. who will set the
teuderloiu. povterhouae ard sirloin? Which
families will get their portion Of the rump
or neck? For while there IL enough. still
they cannot afford 70 throw away any Of
che carcass. The writer reasons along this
sae. and then asks II the intention i 70
have supervisors with an army Of clerks
70 keep account Of AL the products each
family has had during the a65 days, so
that each may have only an equality. and
how are they going 10 make sure that al
those clerks will be honest enough, even
II they are capable. to keep the accounts
straight.
The apportlonment of labor is another
difficulty with which he sees they VIII
hayc 10 contend. Some OF the labor may
he difficult, some disagreeable: still other
labor Will require great skin and long
training. LaboreFs cannot be shifted
around like pawns on chess board Sup
pose there Is some particularly disagree
ahle task 10 perform, and the man allotted
20 do il declines because he has already
done his proportion OF Il. what is 10 be
Gone7 VIII Mg. Debs take away from his
bookkeeping Il clerk, or grocer from
handling sugar. and direct him TO take his
turn az cleaning up the back alleyr The
situation is 80 full OF ahsurdi;ies that one
questions the mental equilibrium OF a man
who can advocate such An undertaking.
Buckle is quoted as authority for the
doctrine that never In the history OF clylll-
cation has any SCI of men been given ar
l,ltrary power who did not abuse IL.
Moeller very wisely praises competition as
the power which bears onward peoples
and governments. regardless Of their the
cries. their schemes and prejudices. II is
power which huries cherished customs.
snelyes presidents. makes statesmen re-
cant. puts prophets 10 the blush, shrivels
gp state parcamengs as with il breath, and
before men sre yet conscious OF the fact
hss wrought a revolution in all things and
a.Ied the world with 4 higher ice.
Free competition would suck the life Of
monopoly. writes Moeuer. paEalyze the
rohber barous. and usher Ia the kingdom
Of "TAy viii he done or earth" This
serves to show how even one so tntelli-
gent may run his ideas 70 earth. Compe-
tl;lon IS powerful factor In stimulating
uaen 20 greater achievements. but IN prac-
l'ce We know that. II carried 20 It's logical
extreme. It would be most mtschlevous.
competition. Il unrestricted by oomhi-
nauon. would result iu lowering wages 20
size barcst necessities OF labocins man.
competition in business which cannot be
50 We'll regulated. Il unrestricted icy other
considerations. would crash OCT al men
O. moderate means. But even competition
III irs wors; IS FAR preferaole 20 the con-
dsrions whish would follow a scheme sach
as mat Of pebs provided that were pra>-
ucsble i could only he practicable by
crushing ou' aN emulation