The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1901-09-26
THE COUNTRY PRESS.

THE COUNTRY PRESS.
Some supposedly intelligent ed
itors in denouncing anarchism,
include socialism also. They are
evidently not posted. Socialism
is as much opposed to anarchy
as republicanism is to monarch
ism. Socialism is upheld by
some of the most patriotic, loyal
and estimable people of this
country. In truth, our system
of government is in many re-
spects socialistic. The postal
service, the military academies,
the soldiers homes, the state
universities, the normal and
public schools and many other
institutions and undertakings of
the government and of the states
are examples of socialism and
they are staunchly endorsed by
the people. The extension of
socialism, it's further application
to the affairs of government, is
advocated by a steadily increas-
ing number of the most thoughts
full people. Others, equally sim
cere, oppose it and everything
else that tends to government
ownership or supervision of bus
mess or educational concerns.
Thus it is an important ques-
ton, and a Socialist may be as
good an American citizen as a
Populist. a Republican or a Dem
ocrat It is not yet really par
ty question. Socialism embrac-
es among it's advocates thousands
of voters of all political parties,
Anarchy is an altogether contra.
ry doctrine. and is opposed by
every political party that has
ever existed in this country, al
bert Lea Standard.
It is utterances like the above
in the local county papers of the
nation that cause the American
voter to think. These appers
have the confidence of their
readers because the readers are
personally acquainted with the
editor and publisher. Little by
little the idea of public owner
ship is extended.
AS it proves a good thing in a
few instances people begin to in
quire why it would not be a good
thing in other instances. If it is a
good thing for the public to own
the postal system, why not also
the telegraph system, then the
telephone system?
If the postal system can han
die small packages of merchan-
disc more cheaply and satisfacto-
rily than the private express
companies then why not let the
postal department handle more
and larger packages?,
If the government can run the
business of carrying letters and
small packages, why not larger
packages called freight? why
nat let the government own the
railroads and do all the work of
common carriers? The answer
is plain. The common carriers
maintain a Lobby at washington
that prevents public ownership.
These common carriers and
other monopolists will fight pub
lie ownership to the last ditch
when it finally comes as it must,
they will do all in their power
to annul it's benefits to the mass
es by first making the public pay
enormous prices for franchises
already belonging to the people,
and second, by installing them
selves and friends in all the posi-
tions controlling the management
of such public utilities where
they can turn the benefits into
private pockets and wreck if pos
sible every public undertaking.
Public ownership is a great and
important undertakings If in
augurated at once and all along
the line on the Socialist theory
of 1.-The whole or nothing" two
or three men like Morgan, Rock
efeller and Schwab would get in
their work and turn the whole
1,n1orfo1inr into q faroo on1 q