New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1898-11-12
Dire Results of Monopoly of Natural
Resources.

Let ns see how monopoly reduces tn,
rich vein of gold. The heat was intense
and there was no water. The gold the,
could not drink. Without drinking they
could not live. Their vein was worthless
until they discovered near by frat, o
nature. A creek sprang out oi he
ground, cool and sparkling, and after
running few yards suddenly disappear
ed. The miners We're rejoiced They
! tolled on. In the course of time o
stranger came into the valley. They were
glad OF company more they showed him
how fortunate they had been in discover
ing Minute Creek, as they called it, and
urged him to stake out claim, for there
was gold enough for all The stranger
did not like digging for his own gold.
IN no stead he staked out his claim around
Minute Creek. He put barbed wire
fence about it. He erected stockade
and supplied it with men armed with
Winchesters. Then he told the miners
that If they wanted water they must bring
him half of all the gold they dug They
were at his mercy, for he had monopoly
Of one of Natures resources. No mau
can get 81 900, 900 without a similar mo
nopoly.
The country is stirred by the tragedy at
Nirden. Fourteen men are dead and
more wounded. Gov. Tanners act was
clearly illegal. He admits it, The oper-
ators claim the right of free contract,
which the law grants them The Cover
nor justities himself on the ground that
the minors homes are more sacred than
the law. Whatever people may think of
it, they must not forget that the laws,
while granting the right of free contract
to the operators, have defined that right to
the miners. The miner cannot work
without mine ; therefore his very life |
depends upon his having access to mine. |
But the operators, like the man who |
fenced in Minute Creek, have monopoly |
of those resources of nature, without
which the miners cannot live.
If the mines were owned by the state,
and the railroads also, to prevent dis
rates, there would be work
enough and to spare for all miners,
Alabama negroes included and they
could leave the operators to starve in
ho1r Of oIn toE ,inl, 30, ]
work.
Whose fault is this tragedy at Virden?
rhe miners blame the operators. The
operators blame the miners. The news
,apers blame the Governor. l blame the
,reat mass of well-to-do people who live
n comfort, who have been blind par
isans, who have not thought, who have
lot known the meaning of the word
whose Indifference has fostere
uch unjust legislation that to-day the
ustfce7 7ovfhg people stand re1ny to -aps-
laud the act OF lawless Governor. On
hines and oil wells are fenced in G
cry streets are given away. Th- i,
MS are obscured by the wires of mon :
ly and the earth beneath is a network q 8
ipes through which flows the treasure
despoiled people.
''The existing industrial organization"
lid Prof. Matthews recently before the v
difference of Charities and Correction, ,
is one monstrous monopoly of natures
oundant provision the world over This
onopoly establishes between the great
ajority of the human race on the one
dc and the minority on the other the
lation of serf to MASTER and it leaves t,
e majority absolutely no legal right t,
We except in the almshouse.' The act
Governor Tanner is as justifable as tn
It of John Brown. The blood of Illinois
iners will be well spent if it shakes the
untry from It's indifference to the nature u
I'd the evils of commercial slavery. Bl
Q remedy is not in bloodshed. Let tn. .
ople regain the power to make their own III
VS. With this power let them legislate L
cry form of monopoly out of existence. IL
len will dawn a new day then will ap- 81
oach to earth the kingdom of righteous IL
ss, the reign of justice, liberty, equal III
: and fraternity.-Rev. Fl. s. BgelOn, 10
reported in the Cincinnati Enquirer eh
We