The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-03
A Few Questions.

To the Editor of the Journal and Courier: we are confronting one of the great is- sues of the twentieth century. Are we indeed on the eve Of the first battle in that "bloodless revolution" for indus trial freedom, of which Bellamy wrote, together with countless other reformers and agitators? The last century wit messed many skirmishes all over the country, in the way, of strikes and in- dustrial differences which have been variously estimated by the thinking and the minimizing. But the present diff culty which threatens to affect our en- tire national life and may be felt in ev- cry department of our civilization from our manufactories to our amusement halls and from our homes to our churches and our schools, making escape impossible, cannot but bring the labor problem to the attention of every one.
 To those who are accustomed to think about the question, and have long since formed opinions on the matter of gov ernment ownership, eight-hour days, etc, it is interesting to note how the present situation is presenting these questions in a new light to many who have thought but little about them, or who have dismissed them as mere att tempts to change an existing order of things which in their opinion is as good as can be had.
 But is the existing order of unre- strained competition as good an ar engagement as thinking and con- scientious men can devise? Is it true that large number of families are compelled to try to live on $200 or $500 year Is it true that workingmen have no interest in their business ex- cept to ''get fair wages for their labor" (according to the letter of one of their employers), and no interest in life ex- cept to slave at the dictation of others | for nearly all their waking hours? Are | a large proportion of human beings condemned to hard servitude in order l that their fellow mortals may enjoy the good gifts of bountiful Father who creates all His children free and equal?" Would the Government de- velop our natural resources and man. l age our industries in more liberal minded and equitable way than it is done by private control? Would there | be less or more individual freedom if workers were obliged to spend but six l hours instead of ten at tasks to pro- I vide for their daily bread? Would there not be an opportunity for private enter prise and individual development if the individual had larger leisure in which to pursue his individual tendencies? Six hours day spent for the commonweal
 (which is the required time computed
 by some writers to be devoted to pro- duction under municipal control ot
 industries, or even as little as four
 hours) would leave considerable leisure for the pursuit of individual tastes.
 The postoffice may always be cited
 as an instance of Governmental contro
 which no one would think could be bet ter managed by private enterprise. Il
 our railroads and mines were also un'
 der Government control, would tht
 public be worse served than it is to. day?
 If the good brains and good judgmen of a University town can settle 8 street
 car strike in four days, why cannot tho
 best brains and the best judgment O.
 the whole nation settle in a short space
 of time, a matter which bids fair to in
 terest every individual in the entire
 ation?
 | COLUMBIA,