The Advocate and news., 1898-02-09


fraction OF hyglenic law entails upon the
physical body, Thus, nature has provided
land rich In productive power; she has
stored light and heat In her secret recesses
for the blessing and comfort Of all the
people; and II is the right, nay, 1t Is the
supreme duty, Of the government TO- see
that society as whole enjoys the bless
ings Of these sources of comfort and essen
tials to life. II is a crime when few per-
sons are permitted to seize and hold for
their own profit these vast privileges, while
the humblest citizen, because OF these un-
equal advantages, Is made to suffer and
die for what otherwise would have made
life a joy.
To-day we find the vast oil fields of
America in the hands Of corporation
which has behind 1t a record Of lawless-
ness that may well amaze intelligent for
eigners; and this corporation, with its
hands on the tap which supplies the peo-
pies light, leVies revenue from millions or
people, which IL enjoyed by all instead or
by few score people would render 1t
possible to reduces taxes on the one hand,
and on the other, for the nation to carry
OH vast measures for internal Improvement
that would give employment and good
wages to the "out-of-works" on practical
and needed enterprises, such as the erec-
ton OF permanent leVeeS, the reclamation
Of arid land by irrigation, the building OF
great highways for the people, and similar
necessary improvements. The infinteslmal
fraction of the vast accumulation farmed
from the people by one man In the STAN
dard OIL trust, which has been given to
conservative sectarian educational institu-
ton, gives very fair hint Of the enormous
benefits which would accrue to all II this
wealth, which nature has stored up for
society," were operated for the benefit of
society, instead of being seized and ap-
propriated by few in such manner as
to render possible an oligarchy at once
lawess, corrupt, and cruel.
The great oil monopoly Is fair illustra-
tion Of one way In which associations or
oOrnnOgaH nf a faW
growing rich almost beyond the imagina-
tion of man, through the stored-up re-
sources of nature, which should be, nay,
| which are, the common heritage and in
alienable property Of all the people.
In the great coal corporations, with their
frightful system Of oppression, so sug-
gestive Of galley-slaVe methods, on the one
hand, and, on the other hand, their con-
troll of the output which places the nation
at the mercy of few persons, we have
another illustration Of the same vitality im-
portant fact which confronts the republic
to-day. Nor, when considering the tntus-
tice practised against the wretched miners,
and the extortlonate prices charged for
COAL must we lose sight of the very i'm"
portant point, that with government own
ership and fair profits vast revenue
would accrue to the State from this and
other sources Of natural wealth which by
right belong to all the people-unless 1t can
| be clearly established that might and craft
make right. These great reservoirs of
| WedlLU DEOVluGu ny d DGAlcllCCub GEONluCuCC
for humanity are being seized and held by
| an infinitesmal proportion of society, and
through this injustice, this wrong, this
moral crime, the sufferings Of the people
| are yearly increasing, while the normal
unfoldment Of civilization Is checked real
| progress is retarded, and the currents of
public life are being polluted by subtle
and deadly poison
| Passing from the treasure-house OF ma
! ture, where is found wealth which II en-
| ployed by the people for the good OK all
would soon change the front OF civilization,
we come to another source OF corporate
power, which, in the hands Of organized
| society, where it manifestly belongs, and
| operated as Is the postoff1ce for the good
OF all, would prove double blessing to the
| people, because O the enormous interest
| on fictitious valuation, or watered stock,
now being wrested from the people-which
| Is essentially dishonest-wOuld under pub
| lie ownership disappear; and (2) fair
profit or revenue above running expenses
on actual investments would, in the hands
Of the national State, or municipal govern
ment, yield an income sufficient to reduce
taxes to a minimum. Under existing con-
| ditiOns corporations control franchises OF
fabulous value to society and through the
possession Of these public or quasi-public
! utilities they are levytng tributes incom-
| parably greater than all the burden OF d.
rect taxation, tributes which go TO enrich
| few who are already enormously
wealthy, to increase the power OF corporate
| greed, to further enslave the millions, de-
| bauch and corrupt government, and shirt
| the basis of national life from justice, in
tegrity and freedom to might, cunning,
and oppression.
The history Of the great monopoIies
which so largely control the storehouses OF
natures wealth or govern their output ana
distribution, and the story Of the rise OF
the various other natural monopolies, such
as railroads, telegraphs, telephones, and
the public utilities In municipal life, would
each require a volumes The story Of one,
however, is practically the history OF all,
'The reader is urged to peruse Mr Henry ID. Loyd's
mastery works, wealth Against Commonwealth"
which gives startling picture OF the history OF the
Standard Oil monopoly, the history Of crime which
reads like romance; and The Strike Of the Million
aires Against the Miners y being chapter on the
crimes OF corporate power illustrated At Spring
Valley near Chicago; also Governor William LARA
bees scholarly work The Railroad Question"
which, though extremely temperate In spirit, proves
in startling manner how the people are being
Wr0nged out Of millions upon millions OF the wealth