The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-10-11
The Equivalent Return.

To the Editor of THE DAWN.
ir,-Industrial justice is attained
when all workers secure an equivalent
return for their labor. This is possible
only when monopoly is open to none, or
is free to all.
The philosophy of the competitive
industrial system is, that under it, the
law of supply and demand will allot the
equivalent return to all, because if one
industry secured more profitable re-
turns than another, effort would be
attracted to it, causing surplus and
cheapening: also depletion with greater
cost, until the equilibrium was re-
stored. This system would have approx
mated industrial justice had all
thought OF monopoly been utterly re-
jected by ALL for monopoly renders the
law of supply and demand imperative,
hence establishes unequal returns, for
some industries are more easily and
quickly monopolized than others, and
some are not susceptible to monopoly
at all. The unequal returns are now
shown forth in the billions accruing to
monopoly, and the bread and water
standard of living, forced upon the
workers, because they were compelled
to keep the bond of the competiti We
system. Monopoly of land or the ma
terial forces, that admitted no rights of
the unborn. Monopoly of the public
Offices open only to those fresh from
college, and under 40 years of age.
Tariff monopolies, fostered at enormous
expense, now grown big enough to defy
the nation, and "hold up" its necessi-
ties. Monopoly of the means of produc-
ton and distribution, whereby they
control employment, and dictate the
wage and vote. Thus monopoly has
destroyed the competitive industrial
system, plundered the people, deprived
them of liberty, and betrayed the
country.
When a few industrial units broke
the national bond binding upon all,
.hot Dcouho + uiit. vi liiuuSll idi u ott'oi
and it is proper for the people in their
united and governmental capacity to
make war upon and compete with
them, by the reduction and sale of com
modities, and smash them, just as they
do all public enemies.
1t is in the constitution of things that
only tho 1ou nf cun,,lr and ,laoop1 will
determine the just and equivalent re-
turn to all. There are two ways to
establish it; retain the competitive
system and totally eliminate monopoly
This is now an utter impossibility.
Second, make monopoly public, that it
may be equally open to all; substitute
cooperation for competition, and thus
restore the law of supply and demand,
which works as follows, Who wants to
be Judge at 81 1000, 3 hours daily labor
and 10 weeks holiday, with pay? The
enormous supply" would quickly make
the terms less engaging. Who wants
to drop dead from an electric light pole
at SO week? The limited ''supply"
would make the terms more engaging.
And thus the equivalent return"
would be accurately determined for all.
We prate of our advanced civiliza-
ton, and pretend to study the genesis
of crime, with employment (Which in
cludes morals, liberty and life) in
privnte control bah,
Organized labor is now strong enough
to win as the plundered peoples
champion. Let them capture the law
making power, with the soft political
snaps. Let all editors with a conscience
open their columns to the people for
the consideration of these vital ques-
tions, and "supply and demand" will
be made permanent, the promise of
God become visible and "a made more
precious than fine gold"
Lace curtains at Mrs. COnant's. |
Beauties and bargains.