The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-10-16
3, temperance, brotherly

editor admits, it is certainly IN order
to preach repentance. 1t is vain to
expect to build men into a spiritual
brotherhood while we leave them en-
gagged in an industrial and CONNER
cial war. "A house divided against
itself cannot stand" eve cannot
serve God and MamnoOn."
The destruction of Individuality is
another sin of competition charged
to Socialism. Now men can be them
selves only as their living is secure,
and the very men, our lawmakers,
who make this objection seek gov
eminent employment-SOcialism, for
themselves. Is their individuality
destroyed? A member of the Su-
preme Court of the United States,
for instance. How is it with the
thousands of hirelings who work in
our large factories? They are not
even known by name, but only by
number. They are afraid to speak
or vote their sentiments. To do so
would cost them their jobs.
l will venture to say that there are
not a half dozen newspapers in the
State that would dare publish an
article on Socialism. Why? Afraid
of the loss of subscribers. l thank
you again, Mr.. Editor, for having
the independence to do what so few
would do. Even preachers dare not
declare the whole counsel of God to
their rich congregations unless they
are willing to be crUcifed as was the
Master, and for the same cause,
You seem to think, however, that
existing wrongs can be righted with
out a resort to Socialism. Let US
see. Present destructive conditions
are the natural and inevitable result
of the old competitive struggle deal
ing with a new and tremendous force
-labor-saving machinery. Can the
cause be good when the effect is
evil? THE tree is known by its
fruits" Often, through the long
past has the race been compelled to
abandon old methods for new and
better ones. There was a time when
the hunter had to make way for the
herdsman. The latter, in his turn,
was crowded out by the farmer. To
abandon his free nOmadic calling
may have caused him much sorrow,
but he had to adopt the Improved
methods.
Labor-saving machinery at last
brought Is to the parting of the
ways. The mani of small means
could not adopt the improved meth
DDS. Right here wise statesmen
would have introduced cooperation.
But the vision of the seers was
closed. The machine fell into the
hand Of the wealthy and rapidly in
creased their wealth. 1t was soon
found that the larger the plant the
cheaper and more effective was pro-
dUctiOn. Stock companies were
formed, the corporation came and
grew larger and stronger and the
battle Of the giants began. This
soon became so destructive that hos
tilities ceased. They began to CO.
Operate-tO practice Socialism under
the name of trust.
Here is system. The trust dis
penses with middlemen, can produce
at less cost, with larger profits, and
completely adjust supply to demand.
The trouble is that while the thou
sand cooperate to create all things
needful, a few hold the bag. All
that is needed is to remove the bag
holder nd give all the benefit of co
operation. The State would not own
the product because it e~nfOrces a
just distribution any more than it
owns the bonds you hold against
your neighbOr because it collects
them and hands them over to you.
Nor could the State Cypress us, for
the people would be the State, hay
ing supreme authority. making their
own laws, and could instantly dis
miss an unfaithful agent.
But suppose we take the back
track. We will destroy the trust.
What reason will we give for so do
ing? That they deprive others of an
equal chance to make a living? If
we make this a rule of action we
must be true to it. When the trust
is gone what will we do with the mil
lions who can't compete with ma
chinery? We must sweep away all