The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-08-09

Some weeks ago an article appeared
in our evening paper contributed by
a we'll known Duluth citizen, wherein
he berated the Coal Trust as adversely
affecting our local interests; at the
same time he advocated sending a
petition to the President of the United
States asking en investigation.
Whether an investigation of this
nature would result in breaking up of
this Trust is a debatable question as
with the probing now going on in the
Merger case and the Meat combine
which is as likely TO result in a. White
washing, as of accomplishing any per-
manent relief. Why if these vital sub
jects are matters of Governmental con-
Germ should not the Government as
sumo absolute control and OWNER
SHIP of those means which go to the
foundation of Trusts and permit them
to exist, be the correct solution of the
whole question?
J. J. Hill of the Securities Trust in
a recent speech is quoted as saying, II
believe in the survival of the fittest
in the Railroad world, the same as
do in all nature and all affairs Of men,
it is the natural law, and it's operation
Is dS lu0V1LdU1G dO CAC oAI6AAoA Oil VI
man." If Mr.. Hill is correctly quoted,
he must certainly be in sympathy m1th
Genl Smith in the PHILIPPINES, who saw
fit to murder all boys over 10 years of
age, thereby srecognizing the Law (of
mans making) that the stronger is
justified in strangling all competitors.
Mr.. Hill further says, there is no
such thing as community of interests,
that is the merest rot and twaddle,
trem originated and employed by the
Press of the country; ***@* no, that
community of interest is not receiving
it's fullest exemplification, but it will
so soon as the law of the survival of
the fittest shall have had it's sway in
the Railroad world"
1t is evident from this gentleman's
view of railroading, that he, Hill, is
the fittest man to dictate to the Am
erican people, and that what is best
for him is surely the right thing for
the dear people at large. Again he
remarks, competition is ruinous war
ION his interests we presume).' Could
any statement go further to prove that
Mr.. Hill is a staunch advocate Of
trusts!
But Mr.. Hill as well as his confreres,
the Morganizing syndicate, ii may yet
prove to be angels in disglise, though
p1i It'll hropists, and may have soyvn'
1.-The fruitful seed which must ultimate
ly produce the government-ownership
tree, thereby restoring to- the people
that which has been rooted out by
special privileges, the rebate system
and kindred subterfuges.
The most of us still believe in the
old adage, that fair competition, bet
ter termed cooperation, is the life of
trade; on the other hand if any cor
poration is to control the necessities
of life such as air, light, water, coal
and other equal requirements of exist
ence, coupled with the means which
have been able to build up the first
and the last trusts,-the railroads
then let the people, the fittest of all to
regulate their wants, own them and
operate them at cost for the benefit
of all alike. Privileged transportation
facilities have been, and are today the
| bulwark of all trusts; 1t was special
rates to the Standard Oil co. that en-
abled that octopus of wealth to assume
any proportions at all, and in so do
ing practically ruined every small oil
producer in the country. Thomas JET
ferson wisely said that what the peo-
pie wanted was, "equal opportunity to
all; special privileges to NOME"
Many of the merchants in Duluth can
remember the time when Minneapolis
and St. Paul merchants had their goods
laid down there far cheaper than they
were in Duluth, though the same goods
were shipped by lake from Buffalo
and had to bear charges for transpor-
tation by rail a distance of 1855 miles
further, which is only one illustration
of what railroad discrimination can
effect.
Have not the people of Duluth, as
well as. every city in this country and
abroad, been benefited by municipal
ownership, as against private owner
ship, does any one dispute the fact?
Why then should not the government
operate the railroad highways as it
does the mail service and give to every
shipper, small and great, the same
advatages of marketing their products?
Would capital (outside of few who
want the earth) be injuriously affected
thereby?
No one should object to persons COM
bining their capital and forming large
business partnerships, since it re-
o,,;ros great canital from some source