The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-07-16


to its logical consummation-public OF
collective ownership of all the means o.
production and distribution. 1t is only
thus that the outcome of economic
evolution will prove beneficial to So
ciety as whole.
The question is often discussed as to
the immediate effect of these great
combinations on society. Some claim
that they are necessarily injurious,
while others contend that they are ben
elicial Undoubtedly there are instances
Of both results. Some combinations
have shared with the community, to IA
limited extent, the economics which
resulted from the better organization
and improved methods, while others
have forced prices up and "gouged"
the public to pay dividends on abnormal
capitalization. The latter is the usual
method, and even those industries that
have, as whole, lowered prices, make
use of the periods of industrial activity
to arbitrarily raise prices and reap
enormous profits. The Standard Oil
Company, the American Sugar Refining
Company, the Cotton Seed Oh Trust,
the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, and the great railroad systems,
have shared with society, although
,paringly, the economies resulting from
their improved methods, but, as already
pointed out, some of them are unable
to resist the universal impulse to make
larger profits, and so take advantage Of
improved industrial conditions to ad-
vance prices and fleece the public more
than usual. Almost all industries re-
Gently organized have followed this
speculative, monopolistic method. 1t
is the piracy of these combinations,
with their corners" aau trade agree
mepts," ETC., that has rightlp aroused
popular Indigestion. This selfish greed
does not initiate against the principle
of combination economy and ELI
cheney of the principle is beyond con-
troversy- but it clearly shows the dam
ger of leaving the principle in private
or corporate control Neither does the
fact that certain combinations have
shared any portion Of the gain with so
ciety. justify private o. c, +, ,Olate owner
ships. For even where this is said to
have occurred, prices have been arbit-
rarilv advanced and the public robbed
of millions. But it is sometimes argued
that even with the increased price the
the community gains over the old com
petitive method-prices not arising to
competition if this be true it only
shows, at the most the benefit of trust
production over competition it does
not touch the question of public owner
ship.
1t must he evident to all that as long
as these combinations remain in private
hands only fraction of the benefits of
improved methods will ever accrue to
the community. Thus while the Stan
dard Oil Company has greatly reduced
the price OF oil, it has not reduced its
profits one cent, but just the reverse.
In fact, the reduction in price was only
for the purpose of increasing consulnp-
ton and so adding to the profits. The
fact that the Standard Oil Company is
reported TO have made $1,000 200 last
year, and the American Sugar Refining
Company is now said to be making So,
900 Il day. shows that in these industries
the community does not reap the full
benefits of the improved methods 1t
is only by pubic ownership that the
full benefits of modern machinery and
methods can be reaped by all the peo-
pie. In every instance where the com
Dinations have reduced prices, the re
duction has not been anywhere near in
proportion to the decreased cost of pro-
duction. To hope that capitalists will
ever voluntarily share their gain with
the public by reinquishing any pert o.
their tleecings is truly Utopian. When
ever prices are voluntarily lowered,
whether by an individual or corpora
lion, it is not for the sake of the public,
but Tor The sake OF larger profits.
The power Of capital is too great to
be trusted in the hands of individuals,
and this power is ever increasing with
the concentration of capital. There
are apologists of the present order who
pretend to see no danger in this cundl-
tion of things. They tell us that the
economic rulers would never take ad-
V ,ntaye of the people, but cXperien, e
d )es not bear out this contention They
philosophize that the masters would
not put up prices abnormally high for
fear of inviting competi ton. There
may have been instances in the past
when this fear might have had salL-
tary effect. but it has evidently lost its
terror, Judging from the tremendous
rise OF prices that has taken place in
the last few years Every line of indus
try has WED with each other to :, e
which could excel in fleeing the pub
lie This fear of inviting competition
by raising prices is removed as indus
trial organization is perfected. Who n
great industry is once established its
laborers organized and markets de-
veloped. 1t can bid defiance to competi-
\ finn t..ll i1t- 10