The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-02-22

| ceeo very we'll until the SpO1ls system Is
abandoned. Am opposed to alien own
ership OF land, or holding it for specu-
lative purpose; to court-made laws; am
opposed to trusts, and believe in the in
l.iative and referendum, with imperative
mandate Government ownership re-
quires such taxation laws as now prevail
in New Zealand
The phrase, opposed to court made
laws, cannot entirely be carried out, be-
cause by the nature of the case courts
must to some extent interpret law What
can be done is to limit this interpreta-
ton as far as possible, and see to it that
judges of more liberal economical views
are chosen. You cannot oppose trusts
until the government ownership of rail-
roads has been worked out in practice
and until the people are ready to select
and literally remunerate officials of suf-
ficient ability and honesty to cope with
high-salaried attorneys and managers of
these trusts. Political parties should
deal with things attainable within the
lifetime of a generation. Now, all the
most scientific of modern socialists con-
slider that, while 1t is, from their stand
point, wise to preach the full platform
Of socialism, the world is not likely to be
ready for it's realization for more than
century. The name socialism, also, is so
much misunderstood because of the
vagaries of many calling themselves So
cialists, that party stands very little
chance of success in any Anglo-Saxon
country at present which takes the name
socialist
There is need in this country, however,
of party which shall advocate munich
pal ownership Of electric lighting, street
railways, gas telephone plants, and all
conduits, and such other enterprises as
are found practicable, such, possibly as
| coal yards or elevators and markets.
! Also national ownership of the telephone
and express business, postal savings
banks, and trunk line railroad from
the Atlantic to the Pacific. This last
would be wiser than government owner
ship Immediately Of all roads, as it
would be the easiest and safest begin
Ously demand civil service reform as an
essential condition of sucn undertakings
and could point to the excellent treat
ment of labor in undertakings now un-
der public management as indicative of
what might follow broader extension
of the principle. The initiative and
referendum and proportional representa-
ton ought to be included and better
| system of conducting primaries. Such
a program could be accepted by large
! portion of thinking Americans, who are
not at all certain as to the practicability
of complete socialism, or VINO feel at
least, that no further steps than those
indicated, with the possible addition of
one or two others, such as public man
agement of anthracite coal mines, sugar
and oil reineries, etc, can be taken for
the next 20 years.
Tell the socialists, therefore, to go on
agitating all they please, but not to ex
pect political parties to undertake more
than what is reasonably attainable with
in 20 years. In the above l have not in
cluded many reforms which might well
be taken at once, such as reforms of tax
alton, both national and local, direct leg
islation, development of state universi-
| ties and the economic departments
therein, etc.
EDWARD w. BEMIS.
We wish Mr.. Eltweed Pomeroy, "busi-
! ness drummer" Pres. National Direct
Legislation League, and special agent
for Bryan and the Democratic party,
| success in his latest fusion freak. Per-
haps it will teach him a thing or two.
But let him answer how he can, in his
| tremendous effort to annihilate our
party the only one practicing the ref
erendum, fuse" up new party, with
| such men as Zeubin, opposing the ref
erendum, and still retain the presidency
of the Direct Legislation League?
! PROF. ZEUBLIN QUESTIONS THE REF
ERENDUM.
Editor Organization Column:
l must decline to answer your questions
| regarding money, as 1 have never had time
to do that subject justice. Regarding the
| government ownership of railroads. etc,
am in favor of it. See Municipal Affairs ="
| quarterly. and Public Ownership Review"
a mortky. 1 am opposed to the absentee
| ownership of land for speculative purposes.
| See Wallace, Land Naturalization" New
! Zealan. Annual Reports" l am opposed to
! the present consequences of trusts, and
think they may ia cilitate economic conelu
sions. But in regard to the initiative and
| referendum with imperative mandate,
| MUST ADMIT THAT l AM DOUBTFUL
| ABOUT 1T. See new book by Sidney &
| Beatney, industrial Democracy.
l do not think there is any answer to
the Socialist when he says the public own
| ership of the instruments of production dis
| placing human labor are essential to the
| right scheme of politico- eco omic nature.
PROVIDED he recognizes that this must be
done only as these instruments become Or
ganized inventive industry, and the members
such democratic management. Even then
that need not interfere with private industry
| in newer fields of discovery, invention and
! organization. The possibilities and limta
| tons of public ownership are we'll presented
in j. A. Hobsons Evolution of Capitalism
| (the last two chapters), and in his articles
| in the Ethical World published by STAN
ton Gait, London), this last year on The
Social Question" In Sidney & Beatnie Web
| Der, industrial Democracy 1.-TWO volumes,
| Longn.ans) they show what working men
| have done to secure justice in the handling