Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-21
A WICKED PERvERSION.

A contemporary that is somewhat
noted as n champion of trusts. speaking
OF the South Carolina D1spensary Sys-
tenn. says:
cit is a wicked perversion of the
functions OF government for the State
to engage in any sort of traffic, and
when the State undertakes to mono
police any branch OF trade it commits
q public outrage. If the State may
monopoliZc the liquor traffic why not
any and every other branch OF trade?
Democracy does not countenance any
such usurpatlon."
Tho Virginan-P Pilot has often pro-
claimed it's belief in the free and fair
competition among the people in all
things, and 1t is. therefore, primarily,
opposed to monopolies. whether by
trusts or individuals, or by the State,
except in certain cases where the State
may be forced to intervene for the com
mon safety or benefit. We concur with
our contemporary very earnestly that
"it is a wicked pervcrsion of the func-
tons Of government for the State to
engage in any sort OF traffic." except
in the cases mentioned; and 1t Is for
this reason that it strongly disapproves
of the policy OF the State in going into
the farming business, or any other
business. not of public kind. with its
penftentiary convicts as laborers: or
into n competition with our honest in
dustry in any of it's customary and
,,-;,.,,
such such convicts: and this, all the
same. whether the State be the en-
p1oycr, or hire them to other employers.
But. rs we have already said, there
may be cases where. in self defence and
In defence of the public. the State may
be forced into business trade, or traffic;
and in all such cases 1t should take the
monopoly for the good of ALL In fact,
there is no other recourse for State and
people. if the trusts cannot be other
wise stopped in their engrossing and
grasping career. II it Is necessity Of
progress that competition shall. cease
and be superseded by monopoly, then
arises the necessity that the State shall
hold and operate all nonopollcs for the
general welfare, for the good of all.
This, of course, is communism, or So
cialism. with inevitable restraints on
personal freedom and independence,
and probably the destruction of in
dividualism. But that cannot be helped
If the stern necessity be imposed upon
us by private combinations that pre-
vent free competition, and that will
surely fix the prices of labor MATER
fals and products, II not met by the
great combination OF the people In the
sovereign State.
South Carolina IS not a live issue in
Virginia, and requires no discussion,
while local option and temperance seem
to be steadily making good progress
throughout the State. But the rever-
sion Of the State to the hire and en-
ployment OF her criminals in competi-
ton with her own citizens is n distinct
and most lamentable retrogression.
Better bear the expense Of maintaining
them as mere prisoners; or, better still,
put them to improving the public high
ways. 1t is bad political economy, as
we'll rs "a wicked perversion of the
functions of government for the State
to engage In any sort of traffic." and
especially so when it is done by bring
ing her convicts in direct contact with
good citizens in their ordinary indus
tries. If laborcrs and mechanics have
no codes of ethics" as the professions
have. the State should at least protect
them against criminal competition.