The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-11

taken from labor by capital. Now or
all reformers the most ardent IL ne VINO
has been deprived Of his share or an un-
falr advantage. lie says nothing "nhs
he In receiving the BENEFITS, Out "hei'
/ left out he is at once ready 10 expose
the swinde and cali Justify that Justice
may be done Therefore. the 1ght Is not
against the advantages that accrue from
aggregated capital either In lower cost
OF production or distribution Dut IL -
against the unequal and consequently
unfair division Of the profits, ana the'o
~ no way In which these prohts can DC
so equltably distributed as can De doue
by the general government Any lesis-
lation that looks to the destruction or
the trusts without at the same time SUD
shutting something as good or better Tor
them must do harm rather than Soou'
If the city Council OF Richmond was 70
drive insurance companies OUT or f.cu-
mond. the citizens would have jest
grounds TO complain. but II the 'ouu."
We're NJ the Same time. 20 tufnlsh tle
Insurance OF which it had deprived Us
citizens they would have no grOuhuS 10,
complaint but would owe the Ooun0n
thanks for inauguratlnS plan by when
the city OF Richmond would save an mo
proht that foreign insurance companies
take away from Richmond. These cor
porations are not benevolent ORGANIZE
tons, but are run for profit, ana II
Richmond did not pay more than she
received there would not be single IT.
surance company represented there.
expect 10 would be difficult TO show your
citizens tho advantage that they derive
from sending annually 20 New YORK LaF-
erpool, and London a. part or lheir
wealth, for which they never receive any
return. Competition Is and always mas
been destructive not on account OF any
lowering OF prices because that even
tually regulates itself. but the tendency
OF competition IS 10 raise the cost py lh-
creasing the cost OF distribution. lahe
the Insurance companies OF Mchmohu
az an example. All the insurance busl-
ness could be done IN one office. employ
ing. perhaps half the force that Is now
employed thus enecting a saving or per
haps half tho expense now necessary
Nor does q end here. These offices leit
vacant would lower rents, this Wouiu
lower property. this would allow those
OF moderate means better faccommoda-
tions. Going back 10 first principe
all business ls an exchange or proauci7'
and If the exchange is fair no one can
ever set rich, and capital being that part
OF the production which is necessary LOT
the benefit OF the whole people ought
IN justice 20 DE left i'm the hands or the
people a. n whole and the individuai
could then derive benefits commensurate
with his capacity and abilities 10 work
while the unearned product or Wealln
or the part that is given TO capital would
remain In the hands OF the general gov
eminent "a a means OF production not
for the benefit Of a particular person
but for the whole people Now for lhe
question OF the slavery Of socialism. Oh-
der your system you admit that Tue
weakest must fall and that no law can
be framed 10 protect him. nor give MN
chance to compete Under your system
the principles laid down by JEFFERSON
can only be applied TO those VINO neea
no help-to them who have wealth and
power 10 protect themselves. but under
the socialistio system every man Is iel'
free 70 apply for that which ne Is DeSl
fitted TO do, and no ono can outstrlp Nun
except him who has more brains. an"
as they ara nor always transmitted TO
posteritv the high man OF this genera
ton may have "a son who Will hll loWly
station i'm the next and vice versa. ] do
not think there is anything higher than
working for the upbuiiding OF my rel
low-men. nor do I think that even hos
heaven" would be undesirable II all my
TplIOM-NlfiErNr nave a. AfAAt '''''.t
enjoy fits benefits But my spirit rebels
against any scheme that places all the
liberty and advantages I'm the hands OF
one class and an the slavery and dcsra-
dalton on another class.
u IS no Justification 81 the present eco
monte condition 10 say that labor re-
ceives more than Il formerly did-this
may mean only that less injustice is done
now than formerly while the fact may
stll remain that considerable Injustice
il stul done. I believe that education
f. the thing 20 develop our people ana
"a surely as the free school is lott 10
do fits benedcent work. Just SO surely viii
the American people rise to the highest
ideal of government Education D.
great means Of breaking up class DIS
tinctions. and once let the public mind
he sufficiently cultivated 20 see that the
hest interest OF an demands that labor
shall no longer be downtrodden as u
has been for ages past. and they VIII
rise 10 the occasion. not as anarchists
and revolutionists. but as dignihed
American citizens who know what 10 do
and how 10 do It. A. i. THOMAS.
T,robhury Va MAY b. 1880.