The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-11-09
PROMISE OF THE TWENTIETH
CENTURY FOR THE ARTISANS


LDditer Foss in the Rrena.
dismissed within two weeks, as the
combination had no need for this great
army Of travelling men after the vari-
GUS warning houses had been merged
into one great concern. And this ia but
one way out of many through which the
monopolies have demonstrated that
they can save millions upon millions Of
dollars through intelligent cooperation
and combination. Do you think that
these lessons were necessary before
the natural conservatism of the masses
could be overcome or the people forced
to realize the trend, drift, and demand
Of the incoming age for the great revo-
luton which Is to establish corporation
for all in the place of the old cut-
throat and hate-inspiring system of
competition? :.
A. Everything is impossible to the
ultra conservative until somebody does
It, There Is a class of minds that be-
neve that nothing can be done that
hasn't been done. II this class of minds
mad always predominated we should be
cave men and .troglodytes today, bur
row like wood-chueks, and eat one an
other, The formation, of the. gigantic
combines and monopolies of the pre-
sent day Is only an immense object
lesson that shows that men can work
together on large scale. When every
BODY pulls one way they go faster than
when they all pull in opposite direc-
tons. This fact ought to be sufficient
~ obvious without demonstration, but
an axiom Is harder TO prove than any
thing else. The trusts and monopolies
are proving the axiom that two are
stronger than one and a thousand are
stronger than two; and they are going
to prove that the whole government
will be able to conduct many enter
priSes better than any combination Of
individuals can do II. am not yet
ready to believe that all labor will be
nattonalized. But we have made q
good beginning with the post-office;
we have good working socialistic insti-
tutions In our public schools and public
libraries: we can make an easy grada-
tion to the naturalization of our rail-
roads and telegraphs; and then, If the
scheme works well. we can extend it.
If it does not work we'll we can stop.
There is nothing extreme, impractical.
or visionary In all this. Let us take a
step at time; but let us step quick to
keep In tune with the music this far
sweeping century is playing for us.
@. 1t is often argued that the trusts
and monopolies, though they have man
aged to save millions of dollars through
combination. have increased the SUI
fering OF the people by throwing out Of
employment vast armies no longer
necessary for the effective operation Of
the various nonopolies; while thew
have made the people pay for far more
than q reasonable profit, In order that
the monopolies might earn large divi-
dends on watered stock-and this /.
doubtless true. But who is responsible
for continuance OF this ineuuitable.i
condition. The very people who thus
complains q union OF these persons
at the polls could quickly change the
industrial despotism. by which the few
are acquiring fabulous fortunes and
debastng government, into q co-opera-
tive commonwealth, in which each
should receive what he earns and all
workers would have ample time to de-
Velop the best In themselves and to en-
JOY lie, as well as to create g. great
abundance of LIES necessities and the
beautiful things that feed the magma
ton and refine and enrich the life of
man. Therefore, should we not seek
to turn the attention of the people to
the way out. and frankly recognize the
valuable lessons which the combina-
lions have emphasized, instead of seek
ing to accomplish the impossible task
of bringing back the age of competition?
A. Why. yes; the best way to use the
trusts Is to make them our schoolmast-
ers. Let them teach US the immense
gain that is effected by combination.
Perhaps the larger half of the work
done by the world today Is wasted work
work which If the industries of the
world were scientifically organized
would not need to be done at all.
What is the need of drummer? The
post-office department employs no
drummers. The Postmaster General
does not find it necessary to send out
an. army Of travelling men to eulogize
and glorify the government postage
stamp. Everybody knows the postage
stamp will do the work whereunto it
is sent. Bookkeepers are useful work.
ers; but If the trade and Industry of
the world were organized and concen-
trated it is probable that ninety per
cent of the present bookkeepers of the
world would not be needed. The same
can be said Of clerks, middlemen, mer-
chants. In this way large share Of
the work now done by the world might
be eliminated, and the world be none
the worse for it; consequently the
world would have a great deal of spare
time for better. things than mere brute
labor. II the world is ready for it
this Is a contamination devoutly to be
wished. The multiplication of trusts.
the development of monopolies, the or
ganization of combines-all are indica-
lions to me that the world is actually
getting ready fol. it. ..
@. Is there not, however, a real
danger that we may become too optt-
mistic and fail to estimate at it's full
meaning the grave peril Of an Industrial