The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-05-02
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.

The idea OF the government ownership
Of the means of production and dstribu-
ton is growing rapidly in our country,
but still is much misunderstood and I'M
appreciated.
The advocates of that theory do not
ask that the wealth of the nation be di-
vlded up, nor that the property belong
ing to one man be forcibly taken from
him and given to another They do be-
lieve that the Government could give the
workers better division of the products
of their toll.
The workers or wealth producers. of
the nation produce billions of wea tn a
year, and the wealth producers
and non wealth producers-practica
consumes the same amount. The paw
the nation gets for all its work is the
goods produced by the nation.
But before the workers can use the
wealth they have created, they must di
vide up their product with various non
producers. And nowadays it's the
non-producers that get most of the
wealth produced.
Now, what the advocates of govern
ment ownership want. is to have the
Government furnish an opportunity for
the workers of the nation TO labor under
competent supervision and with the best
and most improved implements and
machinery, and after adding the neces-
sary percentages for maintaining the
various plants, paying for management
and distribution of goods let the pro-
ducers buy back their products at cost.
In other words they want chance to
put in days labor and then take the
product, or an equivalent in goods. or
other services, that they want. or
course, money will be used as now, but
the thing to keep in mind is that ones
real wages consists in the things he can
have TO use and enjoy Experts figure
each laborers share equivalent to from
$4,000 to $4,000 year. if sold at ratial
prices.
How about the non producers of today.
what is TO become OF them? We will
need more teachers and preachers and
authors and musicians and artists than
now. All that class of non producers
VIII be IN greater demand. Anyone who
can serve the nation with the wealth of a
talented and educated mind will find de-
mand for his services.
The class OF non-producers whose en-
ergles are spent engineering various bus
mess enterprises. will be called upon to
JOIN the ranks of those performing some
useful service to the nation unless thev
have means accumulated to live without
further work. The best brains in the
business world will be demanded to
manage the government shops etc. etc.
AS 1t is now, some of the best talent
IN the nation is employed to crowd some
.
is beginning at the wrong end of the
wedge We never hear of Uncle Sam
senolng drummers around to the post
oihces TO sell stamps, or offering pre-.
mlums with SO many postal cards. or
bankruptcy sale inducements on this or
that to coax people to buy. When
postofiice needs supplies, it sends in an
order Tor so much of this or that material
"a very simple act. Compare that oper-
atlon OF getting goods from the producer
10 the consumer. with all its gambling.
ying, cheating and wastefulness. | be. |
leve the nation has better use for lis
Drains Than TO let so much of it to be |
wasted rs at present
Don't let anyone worry about there not |
being work enough for all. If a man
gets an equivalent for the work he does.
and his work is intellgently directed,
mere is always the product of DAVIS
work waiting for him for every day he
wants to work We only have cond-
ion OF overproductlon when the workers
Ion I get pay enough 10 buy back what
hey have produced.
l believe the Government would have
lttIe trouble organizing and maintaining
ne industries of the nation, that are NOT
Ilready organized, and would use but
mall percentage of the great brain force
low employed ir business.
WISH to append table showing how
small profit of 10 per cent can multiply
ma compound to make a large item when
very. process in the marketing of an ar
icle is considered. The assumed costs