The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-02-12

@O-OPERATIVE schemes and
colonies, altruistic in their
4 tendencies, are started often
enough to make us realize
that large number of people, and
brainy people too, believe that such pro-
jects are practical. They assert their con-
fdence that community can succeed,
wherein each member is on the same
footing as each of the others and all
property is held for the benefit Of all.
But such ideas will never be success
full as their very principle removes
ambition, mans chief incentive to
labor. And under the best of these
cooperative IDEAS, if universally adopt
ed, man will soon degenerate and sink
to barbarism. The watchword Equal
ity' is Impractical, imp ossible and not
for the best interests OF civilization.
Jefferson said, -"All men are created
equal" but the great democrat did not
mean that all men are equal. The
poor we will have with us always, like
wise rulers, for both are necessity.
A community cannot exist without
rulers, and where will we find the
ruler who will live on equal terms
with the ruled? The only condition of
society where men are equal is where
barbarism exists. They who talk of
altruism and of cooperative govern
ments are preaching a doctrine which
is the first step down the ladder to
barbarism. Equality means barbarism.
With cooperative schemes should be
classed trade unionism as it exists to-
day. 1t tends to restrict individual
effort and hamper industry. Unions,
keep many good man down to the
level of incompetents, by their efforts
to establish scale Of wages which
does not allow for superior ability pos
sessed by some of the individuals.
1t is a fitting time for the govern
ment to start little Utopia for NAL
contents and give them all the equality
they desire. 10 this place should be
banished for term of years all labor
agitators, all strikers, cooperative
schemers, altruistic writers, socialists
and anarchists, and thus give the man
who works chance to work unihter.
rupted by strikes into which he is
forced by unlawful intimidation.
This Utopia should be along the lines
approved by some of our modern writ
ers; all should work an equal number
of hours each day and receive the same
remuneration, were he bootblack OF
banker. Every one should enjoy tht
same privileges and the same educa.
tional advantages, and every man anC
woman should have an equal voice il
the affairs of government in this non
competitive Utopia.
The precaution should be taken t.
maintain an armed guard about tn
place to prevent escapes while admis
sion should be allowed to all who ap
piled. No one should be permitted t
enter the competitive world again I'M
til he had served at least three years
and them, only under promise of goo'
behavior and the agreement that n
would work for what he earned, and
guarantee that he would not distur
economic arrangements by going on
strike.
The establishment of such place a
above described would soon adjust a
labor troubles. Wages are not fxe
by the employer, but by the worke
himself. The man who is satisfie
with his ability to earn living woul
stay in the competitive world and fl
his own wages. The incompetent
who allow an employer or union
fix their wages would join Utopi
where wages and everything els
would be fixed for them, where the
would be the equal of every one els
by law if not by nature. In this NAL
ner all the competents would
drawn from the competitive worl
and the workers who are willing
work and get ahead would have an III
obstructed opportunity.
Some few years ago some millions I
acres of land in Minnesota and Il
Dakotas were offered free to all WI
were willing to work, and the san
opportunity exists today farther We
and in Canada. Why will men stril