Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-01-28
VoluDeary
State Socialism,

the evils, which he points out are
at all necessarily connected with state
Socialism. That many state socialists
do advocate such a system as he con-
dennis know too well, but that is be-
cause they have not studied all the
possibilities of their own theory.
believe with our brother that Vol
untary Association as in the Labor
Exchange is the correct method. too
believe that competition is the correct
solution. This being the case, will
give an explanation of Voluntary AS
ISOLATION through government action.
The post-offices compels no one to
mail letters. 1t simply says | will re-
ceive. | will serve you. The people vo-
unfairly do the rest No one is COM
PEELED to travel on public roads yet
they are open for the voluntary use
of ALL
Let us apply this principle to 60
vernment ownership. The methods
which shall propose, can be attacked
by Anarchists, but not by any who re-
cognize any right of government to
exist. The government of the United
States has lately opened a kind ofsav-
ing bank in connection with the post
Office. 1t compels no one to deposit,
but it offers to accept and account for
deposits of money.
There is nothing to prevent an I'M
limited extension of this principle. Let
the government open warehouses TAX
ing deposits of Labor and Labor's
products, issuing transferable certi-
ticates of deposits therefor. Let it say
to the oppressed and debt burdened
manufacturer, 81 will take your goods
and give you my certificate. with
which you can purchase anthing else
in my storehouse, and, moreover,
these certificates shall be a legal tender
for all debts, public and private. You
may pay your debts and keep your
factory, or you may deposit your fac
tory and will give you employment.
Let the government treat the farmer
likewise. Let the government enter in
to competition with the Armour Co.
and say to the farmer will take your
cattle and hogs, and my butchers shall
butcher them, my tanners, shall tan
the hides, and my shoemakers should
make them into shoes. l will receive
your wool and my workmen shall
make it into clothes, and with yonr
certificate you can purchase clothing ;
or if you prefer will receive your
farm deposite and give you employ
ment. Let the government say to the
unemployed Millions, "come l will re-
ceive your labor, and pay you certifi-
Gates good for any thing in my ware
house"
| would say to the holders of rail
roads, keep your roads if you choose,
but you must haulfor the government
of the United States, or my citizens
thereof just as cheaply as for Armor
or the Standard Oil Co." Let the gov
ernment, however, say II will receive
your road, if you wish and pay for it
in certificates of deposit and give you
employment with me- Or if that does
not suit you, l will build new rail
roads giving employment to my wOr-
kers and you may compete with me- :"
| will open the post-office to express
business, and the express companies
may transfer their business to govern
ment or compete with government as
they choose, but l will pay nothing
but certificates of deposite redeemable
in services for anything. Within ten
years all the business of the people
would gointo the hands ofthe govern
ment, and we should have big volun-
tary association. Would / ever use
force? Yes, would use the right of
government to declare what shall be
legal tender. This is force would
compelcorporations to work as cheap
ly for the people, and for the govern
ment, as they did for each other This
is force. would allow every one to
work or not as he might choose, but
if any should steal or beg, would put
MIN to work under guard, paying him
just the same wages as if his work
was voluntary, only deducting sufii-
cient to pay the wages of the guard.
This is force. A careful study of the
three places in which force is used, will,
/ think, convince any one that force is
to be used only to compel common
honesty.
Now through such system as this
could be instituted by a majority, it
does not compel the minority to do
one thing in its support. 1t calls for
for no taxes. 1t drafts no citizen. 1t
restraints no one but the vicious. and
even the vicious laboring under COM
pulsion because of his viciousness, re-
ceives the full produt of his labor
minus the extra cost he is to society;
and even those vicious ones. | would