Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-07-24
PROBLEMS OF THE DAY.
FREEDOM OF THE PEOPLE DEMAND
THEIR SOLUTION.

Necessities of Life Prevail In Abundance,
But the Question of Equitable Dis
tribution Confronts Amoricans-A Task
for the Statesmen of Our Country.
From the Philadelphia Record.
For novelty and Importance the prob
lens now before the people of the
United States have rarely, IL ever, been
equaled Upon correct solution Of
them may depend even the continued
freedom of this people; and to this cor
rect solution there is no past experience
OF mankind to guide us. The whole po-
litical economy OF the world has been
founded upon conditions apparently
permanent, which have apparently as
permanently passed away. Want and
the spectres which have ever atfrighted
mankind. A fear OF starvation has
ever been before mems eyes; and with
just cause, for famine has again and
again recurred. AS a consequence any
hampering OF the fullest, most unre-
strained competition and production
has in times past been made illegal
even criminal.
A slight relaxation OF the efforts and
competition of but part Of the people
formerly might have meant starvation
for thousands. Through mans ingenuity
and industry, however, this is no longer
the case. The country teens with more
than
SUFFICIENT OF EVERYTHING
for every body; and yet there are often
periods Of widespread depression, and
at all times there are many who fail to
grasp, even by faithful toll, the neces-
stiles OF life. And yet the old political
economy persists-is even intensified.
We do not pretend that we have found
solution OF the novel problems con-
| fronting us; but we do feel that the lines
| upon which statesmen should seek that
solution may easily be discovered. In
the first place, the danger OF deficiency
Of production having passed away, the
sufficient to meet the new situation and
difficulties. Merely to shout against the
trusts and the combinations and the Grip
pling of competition, and all that, does
not meet the requirements OF the case;
whether right or wrong, 1t is inadequate.
We repeat, there are enough land may
hap, more than enough Of the necessi-
ties of life, and there is
EVERY PROMISE OF AN INCREASE
OF productive power and OF surplus;
and yet many are not prosperous even
in prosperous times. 1t inevitably fol-
lows that the question has ceased to be
one OF deficiencies, and has become more
largely one OF equitable distribution.
With enough for all industrious people.
how are all to obtain fair portion?
Certainly not by merely prescribing
remedy for deficiency which has ceased
to trouble the patient!
Legislation on the subject OF trusts
is sadly needed-is imperative-if We
are to survive as a free people; and yet
| it is plain that it alone will not do, and
that we could better do without it than
have any more of the foolish and wicked
kind already enacted by many Of the
III sbult vi butSf SldttS
it has been provided that the people
may legally
| BECOME MORAL THIEVES,
and need not pay for what they have
honestly received IL it have merely been
secured from very big concern or com
bination. Such legislation will accomp-
lish nothing but the rotting out OF the
moral sense OF the people.
1t is also far from plain whether the
formation OF great oncerns-industries
combinations, what you will-shoud be
prohibited, or whether the best course
Of the community would not be their
proper regulation. Cooperation be-
tween men is not merely civilizatIon-it
is Christianity; and he is bold man
who feels that he can safely check 1t
even though it become wholesale. The
present marvellous prosperity Of the
United States certainly largely comes
from their increasing exports OF mer-
chandise; and these are as largely made
possible by the fact that in cooperation
we have so far
SURPASSED TIE WORLD
that in many lines we can pay better
wages and yet undersell all competitors.
1t must be, therefore, apparent that Il
political party which should carelessly
undertake solution Of this intricate
and novel situation might bring about a
degree Of suffering which would hurl it
from power for years.
Iflegislation should be enacted which
would reduce corporations to such a
point that our exports OF manufactures
alone should be suddenly checked hun
dredS OF thousands of prosperous men
might suddenly find themselves out of
work and in want. 1t even may be
possible that the real argument against
cooperation on large scale and great
combinations is not at all that they are
in themselves