Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-10-17

ss"HAT was a strange assertion
Of Andrew Carnegie's" said
Judge Sawyer, looking up
from his paper. l
''What does he say nowr asked Colo
mel Monroe. = .:.:>>
"'You can say for me- said Mr.. Car.
negie in an interview, that am thorE
oughly in favor Of the suggestion that
Ill railroads be nationalized. It would
be an excellent thing for the people If.
that were done. Look at the economy
that would be effected If all of the rail-
roads were under state control. Fares
would be lowered, and the comfort Of
the passengers would be better looked
after
'"That is surprising statement for
Mr.. Carnegie to make" declared the
Judge when he had finished reading.
II never suspected that he entertained
such radical views"
II see nothing wildly radical In the
suggestion that the government own
the railroads." returned Colonel Mon
roe. Neither do regard it strange
that such men as Morgan and Carnegie
look with. favor on the naturalization
Of railroads"
"But it's nothing more or less than
another step toward socialism,"
Suppose that it is; what Of it7' ask
I'd Colonel Monroe calmly. I'VE have
been taking steps toward socialism, as
you call it. ever since the pilgrims
landed on Plymouth rock, and it is the
consensus, Of opinion that we have
been stepping up and not down. The
consolidation of the thirteen monar-
chical and anarchistical colonies into
trust. called the United States Of
America was the most prodfg1ous step
toward socialism the world has ever
witnessed Step by step we have in
creased the powers and added to the
functions of our government. and az
every intelligent man now knows these
are moves toward socialism. II the
government acquires and operates the
railroads. it will. as you say, take an
other step toward socialism. Whatev-
or 4 state or government does which
private capital or enterprise can by any
possibility accomplish is. in essence, So
cialistic. The government conducts the
post Office system and absolutely mo-
nopoliEes it. Private capital could and
would be glad Of chance to engage
in the transportation and distribution
Of the mails. 1t would. of course. speed
lily create private monopoly and reap
corresponding profits. In other words,
governmental monopoly conducted
without profit is q socialistic admins
trat1ve feature. We have scores of such
institutions. The more conspicuous
ones are the postal service, the public
school system. the life saving and light
house systems, the superb work of the
agricultural and fisheries departments,
and locally such services as fire depart
ments, park and boulevard mainte-
nance, public libraries, recreation and
bathing places and other similar fea-
lures. Private enterprise could operate
all Of these institutions at profit and
would do SO were it not for the fact
that our socialistically inclined people
prefer to have the government, state or
municipality, as the case may be, con-
duct them at cost for the benefit of all. -
THAT isn't socialism," declared Post
master Jenkins. who had been listening
intently. socialists want to divide ev-
erything up and begin all over again.
That's what socialism isl
"There is no such definition Of the
word, and there is no record that any
one ever advocated so insane a propo-
ton," said Colonel Monroe. "No one
demands that the railroads be divided,
but there is an intelligent and growing
faction of our people which favors one
railroad system owned and operated
by the government. There are reasons
| to be advanced in favor of this propo-
sition and logical arguments against it.
When the American people get ready to
render decision they will spend
mighty little time figuring whether or
not it is socialistic. That word has lost
its power as scarecrow in the fields
Of special privilege. Why are you sur
prised, Judge Sawyer, that Mr. Carne-
gle should be in favor Of the national
ownership of railroads?"
because he is the first man of great
wealth who has taken such position, {"
replied the Judge. "More than that,
have always supposed that Mr.. Carne.
gle was opposed to the extension of the
powers of the government His speech.
es and writings had led me to believe
that he was a pronounced individual
ist-in other words, an old line Demo
GRAFT" \. !
Permit me to correct you, judge
Sawyer" said Colonel Monroe. ''Mr.
Carnegie is only one Of a large humble.
Of men Of wealth and influence who
have made similar declarations. ],
Pierpont Morgan in an authorized in.
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