The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-10-10

GoERRsEEsT or1FRsH1P or ruE
ANTHRACITE 1IISEz
Rocky Mountain News
The New York state democratic con
vention adopted one plank that Is sig
nifcant. Inasmuch as it relates TO a
subject which Is attracting national
attention It IS here reprinted IN full:
I've advocate the national owner
ship and operation Of the anthracite
coal mines by the exercise Of the right
Of eminent domain with Just compen-
satiOn to owners Ninety per cent Of
the anthracite coal deposits of the
world being IN the state Of Pennsyl-
vania, national ownership can but be
in the interest Of the whole people.
''Fuel, like water. being a public ne
cessity we advocate national owner
ship and control Of the mines as a So
luton Of the problem which will re-
ieve the country from the sufferings
/ which follow differences between labor
and capital in the anthracite mines.
This course viii insure peace in the
mining regions and remove the cause
| for differences leadingnot only to suf-
fering but oftentimes to bloodshed and
/ instruction.
at viii relieve the consumers Of
coal, not only in this state, but
throughout the whole country; insure
steady employment and adequate
/ compensation TO labor, transfer child
rem from the mines to the schools, in
! sure, strengthen and preserve the sta
bility Of the business interests and
| popular institutions Of our country.
/ Whatever differences Of opinions may
| exist over other propositions Of public
ownership the propriety Of that policy
/ as applied to anthracite coal mines
must be apparent to every citizen"
This declaration IS all the more not
able in that 1t is made by one Of the
great parties in the largest, wealthiest
and most conservative state in the
Union.
The world moves. What a few years
ago would have been regarded IS a
radical, western idea now appears the
only logical thing to do.
/ This sentiment for government OF
state ownership of the coal mines is
not confined to any one party. A few
weeks ago Governor Stone, Of Penn
! sylvania, threatened to call together
the legislature and at that time it was
! generally talked of in the press
I throughout the nation that some plan
for state ownership Of the anthracite
mines would be adopted by the extra
session. There can be little doubt
that much OF this talked was inspired
/ by Governor Stone himself and other
/ republican leaders. In fact it was gen
orally stated at the time that the gov
ernOr had this very plan In view.
1t is a principle everywhere recog-
nized that society itself has an inner
ent right of ownership in all the
sources and tools Of production. Pri
vate ownership is a privilege granted
by society through government. The
truth Of this statement Is shown by
/ the fact that franchises must be grant
ed to corporations seeking to do this
| sort Of business. The principle Is
further recognized in the right Of en-
inent domain. When a company or in
dividual is given the right to own and
| operate these quasi-public utilities il
is only as a trustee or agent of society
at large
The moment this private owner Op-
crates his property in such a way as to
| be injurious To the general welfare
| that moment society has a right to
step in and assume control This is a
primary fundamental principle that
| should be everywhere recognized
When it IS 50 recognized conditions
like those in Pennsylvania, with result
ant suffering all over the east, will be
| impossible