Evening star., 1900-10-18


ganzation and that the unionist members
oe the legislature should vote for two
United States senators. each to be the un-
trammeled choice of the members OF each
faction. This last clause, Of course, meant
the election Of j. Edward Addicks. This
whole hog or none" proposal brought mat
ters to a finish. And, therefore, the Sussex
democrat complacently smiles and goes his
way.
IT is unlikely that the conditions in Sus-
sex will have any perceptible effect on Mr..
Hunns vote for governor, as he Will be
supported by both factions.
The sudden departure Of Senator back
burn to Washington has sadly disconnected
the plans of the democrats. as they have
no one to take the appointments he was
billed for. and good speakers are much In
demand.
A Consumer DEFENDS the Retailer.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Allow me, as a consumer. to say word
in defense of the coal dealers Of Washing
ton and elsewhere. In contingencies like
that which is upon us at present 1t Is most
natural to feel that there is an injustice
somewhere through which we are compelled
to pay more for commodity than it is
worth; and 1t Is equally natural to place
the blame upon the most immediate cause
just as ancient monarchs slew the bearers
of evil tidings-the immediate causes of
their discomfort. But the action of the
dealers in raising the price to take advan-
tage Of present stringency or forestall
future loss is not reprehensfbIe, but Is
merely ordinary business caution, that has
it's parallels in every other class OF trade,
and which, under present conditions, is
necessary to a successful continuance Of
trade. To illustrate with common trans
action: II one of those who complain were
to buy a house for 5000, which in due
course of time became worth $4,000, he
would not feel compelled to forego the 100
per cent profit for fear of being extortion-
ate. Yet his right to the increase would be
no greater than that of the dealer to the
increase in the price of coal. Monopoly,
not cost Of production would be the regu-
lating factor in each case. and monopolistic
principles are not confined to great indus
tries, they govern the values Of many
things, even postage stamp album
To many who perceive the injustice of fix
ing responsibility for the evil of an ad-
vanced price upon retailers, the wholesalers
appear to be the culpable ones. Others
charge the mine operators or the mine
owners, while some even anathematize the
poor strikers for not quietly yielding to any
degree of oppression rather than cause such
inconvenience to the public by demanding
consideration. Single takers find the entire
cause in private ownership of land. social
lists in private ownership of capital anar-
chsts in governmental interference with
natural laws, communists in the failure to
abolish all prices, while certain turbulent
spirits that masquerade under various OF
these names would crafty q thirst for re-
venge for these and other evils by over
throwing all social order and trampiing un-
der foot all traditional rights. Theorists
and 1 use the word with respect, for cor
rect theory is the basis for all practical
resultS-in so far as they ascribe the evil
to the fault Of our present system of pro-
duction and distribution, instead of en-
deavorfng to fix personal responsibility,
are right. There Is no question that this
system is by far the most important, If not
the only. cause Of such evils. With produc-
ton increased hundredfold and with facil-
tiles for yet multiplying by many times this
enormous result of invention and social or
ganization, and yet with a keener, sharper
closer struggle than ever before for the
means OF subsistence; with immense for
tunes rolled up in certain caiings with
comparative ease while to the great mass
of humble workers there Is less assurance
or attaining or retaining comfort; with
farmers. mechanics, even the lowest la
borers. producing singly wealth that was
formerly the work Of fifty or one hundred
and yet receiving little. IL any. more of 1t
than In former days. there is very plainly
material. II not radical defect in our
scheme of distribution. And 1t is most as
tonishing not that the people of the coun-
try should not choose among the suggested
remedies, for the abstruse questions in
volved make choice difficult, but that they
should not perceive that there is anything
wrong. That men should not cast their
votes for change until somewhat certain
that the change would be beneficial is but
natural; but that the great majority of the
victims of the inequalities that greed. ig-
norance and desire for power have grated
upon our Industrial system should not per-
ceive that the fault is other than personal
Is most amazing. 1t would seem that some
glarfng instances must shake their faith
For example. the Secretary of the Interior
has duties far more extensive, responsible
and difficult than those of the president of
the New York Life Insurance Company:
yet the one receives 5000 q year and the
fnr fhA IoI~
involved. The President of the United
States has far yaster interests to direct and
guard than the president of the Standard
Oh Company. yet for the performance Of
their respective duties the former receives
$4,000 year. while the latter receives
$lOO,OOO day. or 730 times as much Is
there not reason to suspect-to speak with
moderation-that the second mentioned cit
fzen in each case Is oyerpaid for the sery-
Ices he renders to his fellow citizens? He
may be very honest. earnest hard work.
ing and thoroughly worthy man, but he
certainly does not earn the wages we al
low him to take for his share In the work
of production And every dollar of excess
of what is his due. measured by fair
scale. reduces by that much the share In
the wealth we produce Of all other workers,
except as 1t Is voluntarily redistributed by
him. 1t Is well within the bounds of mod.
Grafton to say that IL every one received
year fair comparative compensation for
his contribution. either direct or indirect
to its production. there would be neither
millionaire nor pauper nor anything ap-
preaching either.
But do not wish to be regarded as a
radical reformer-one who would change all
this In the twinkling of an eye Such a
course would be ungenerous. unjust and
unwise. There must precede any change a
clear and certain perception on the part Of
the people-rich and poor alike-of the fol-
~. Injustice and unnaturalness of a sys-
paratively slight differences in the capacity
of the different workers. yet levies heavy
toll upon the great majority to vastly over
pay a few, and causes entirely Unnecessary
disturbances in the work OF supplying hu-
manity with the munifcent bounty 1t de-
rives from nature. HENRY OIDYS
Branch OMce. 14th and welliux Place.
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branch ONCE. Epply.s Pharmacy. corner
14th street and Welling place. at regular
rates. No charge for messenger.