The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1901-10-10

there that landlords or masters do, or
get done, which the cities and towns
cannot do better and more cheaply for
themselves7
What sense is there in pretending
that the colliers could not get coal uil-
less they paid rent to a lord, or that
the railways could not carry coal unless
they paid freightage to a company, or
that the weaver could not make shirt
ings, nor the milliners bonnets, nor the
cutters blades, just as we'll for the nation
as for Mr.. Bounderby or my Lord
Tomnoddy?
"But," the "Impossibles' will say.
you have not got the capital"
Do not believe them. You have got
the capital. Where? In your brains
and in your arms, where all the capital
comes from.
Then the "Impossibles" tell us that
we want to Interfere with the sacred
right of free contract" They mean that
we want to stop men from doing what
they please, or from making or selling
what they please, or from working for
whom they please.
Not at all. We want the whole peo-
pie to use the sacred right to make
contracts. Suppose London decides to
make its own gas. Need that stop men
from forming private gas company
and selling gas to the London people?
Not at ALL
If the company can sell good gas, and
sell it cheaper than the County Council
can, there will be millions to buy it.
But don't you know, and don't all the
opponents of Socialism know, that no
private company could sell better or
cheaper gas than the London County
Council? And does it not strike you as
odd that if private enterprise is SC
much better than corporation control,
the private companies cannot stand
against the County Council?
Why, if what the "Impossibles" tell
us be true-if the people are not able
to do anything for themselves as we'll as
the private dealers or makers can do It
for them-the gas and water COM
panies ought to have no fear in being
cut out in price and quality by any
county council or corporation.
But the "Impossibles" know very
we'll that, directly the people set up on
their own account, the private trader or
maker, is beaten. Let one district of
London begin to make its own gas.
and see what will happen in the other
districts.
Well, practical Socialism will not in
terfere with the sacred right of the in
dividual-'' to be as great hog as he
may choose.
And now as to that reign of red tape
and those swarms of paid officials.
Socialism, we are told, would entail
an enormous army of officials That is
to say, that if the nation owned the
railways, the coal mines, the factories
and the shops, there would be more in
spectors, foremen, over-lookers and
"non-producers, or men who direct,
but do not make goods, than there are
now.
This is an impudent thing to say. But
happily, the proof is not far to seek.
Let us use our eyes and our brains.
In the cooperative shops and fac
tories, and in the city gas and water
works, and in the postoffices, are there
more inspectors and overseers than IN
any of the works under private owners!
Is it not clear that with one big gro
Gerry store in place Of twenty small ones,
more work can be done by fewer
hands?
Is it not clear that one big milk
farm will supply town with milk with
fewer men and fewer carts and fewer
horses than are needed by score OF
small dairies?
In the matter OF the Factory Acts, it
is necessary to have now a large
army OF inspectors because, when firms
make for profit, and are always trying
one to take another's trade, they are
apt to care less than they ought to care
about the safety and the health OF their
workers. But put all the factories IN
the hands OF the people, and due care
will be taken OF life and limb, and so
fewer inspectors will be needed.
1t is always pretended by non-Social-
lists that Socialism would cause great
deal of "red tape"-a lot of official form
and ceremony. But l think it would
work out the other way, and that there
would be less form and less red tape.
For instance, the railways, trans,
postoA6ces, telegraphs, telephones, and
MANY other services would be very like
ly made free-just as the roads and
(CoNr1NuxD ON FOURTH PAaE.)