The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1899-03-04

country. lle government paper HILLS
will soon become as much of a fixed
fact as are the navy yards and armor-
les under government control in the
United States today.
The public printer at Washington
will have his sub-offices in many of
the state prisons of the country and
the criminals at Sing Sing will no
longer become insane from having
nothing to do. J
900
If it is for the Interest of farmers
to utilize prison inmates in the max
ing of twine it would certainly be to
their interest to use prison labor in the
making of boots and shoes. Many of
the prisons of the land are fitted with
modern appliances and the best of:
machinery for shoemaking, shoes hav-
ing always heretofore been made for
private parties. As surely as they
make twine for the farmer so certain
ly they will make boots and shoes
and they will make: books. Where
will this governmental ownership and
control stop? IL ..
We are close upou the time when
all the foods will be under the con-
troll of the trust. 1t WILL determine
the price which everybody shall pay
for food. 4 ,.,..,.
The purpose of the trust, ,beit under
stood, is to make money. It begins
by exercising the most rigid economy.
This consists in the putting: in of lab
or saving machinery and discharging
workmen. The next process consists
of raising the price Of what they have
to sell. The Federal. Steel company,
to illustrate, received Ut one time, un-
der competition STA ton for iron.
Under the trust they are now charging
$40 ton and expect to get $25 not
far off in the future. 5. ."r
The iron trust will try to conceal
its purpose by temporarily advancing
the wages of the men whom they re-
tain in employment, but human ma
ture is the same throughout the world,
The manufacturers of iron will run
their business for tlleaprofi.t there is.
in,.it.a iTofg sfefit they will pay as
little as possible and charge as high
as they can.
The business of the trust will be
conducted for the benefit of the few
stockholders in the corporation. The
officers of the trust will receive salar-
les in proportion to their value: to the
trust. The value will be in propor-s
ton to the per cent in profit, which
is paid on the stock.
10 pay large dividends and retain
their positions at large, salaries the
trust officers will make it rule TO-
buy low and sell high. This is exactly
opposed to the general interests of the
community. =. i,s..;-
The government, OH the contrary,
having no individual interest in the
dividends which the mandatory
pays, will be pleased to pay the opera
tive as much as possible, win be glad
to shorten the hours so that more EN-
ployes can find work and will be
happy to sell as low as possible In
the interest of all who buy.
The trust is very properly regarded
as menace to the welfare of the peo-
pie. 1t means the crushing out of the
small competitor, it means the whole
sale discharge of LABOR and the put
ting in of machinery for the sake OF
economy. It means higher prices for
the goods which are sold, it means
a greater tax on the consumers and
less money paid to labor. 1t means
the destruction of competition, enor-
nous profits to the stockholders and
the yet more rapid making of multo-
millionaires.
But let us be hopeful. All is not
lost vet. The trust is the means of
arousing the people to some plan of
escape from the great combinations
that are closing down upon us.
Relief is coming beyond in govern
ment ownership. The way may be
dark just now, but the dawn is break
ing. The first distinct ray Of light
comes from the direction of Kansas
in government manufacture to over
come the oppression of a trust. Watch
now for the rapid coming of general
manufacture by the government, bet
ter opportunities for everybody to get
work and greater prosperity for all
classes.
MAY FIGHT IN MONTANA.
|, NEW YORK, March 3.-Dave Holland,
who is receiving bids for the Fitzsmmons-
Jetfries fight today received the folio W
ing telegram: .---
Butte Mont March BOX law Dasse,l