The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-07-09

cutlery against concentrated capital
1t does not mean betterment of Labor
conditions, but rather the reverse
The tools of production today are socia
in character and can only be operated
by cooperative labor. This fact pre-
cludes the possibility of the labOrcrS as
individuals ever owning the tools neceS-
sary to their toll. 70 destroy these
great combinations of capital would
only mean the return to inferior meth
DDS of production-suc methods and
tools as could be owned by smaller or
CARNATIONS of capitalists. But the
Instruments of smaller corporations
and even those furnished by the indi-
vidual capitalist are social in char
acter. consequently unless we return
to the days of hand labor-the workers
would still be absolutely DEPENDENT as
today. upon the owning class. The
only difference would be that under
the decentralized program the number
of labor exploiters would be larger, but
this would be of no benefit to the lobor-
/ ing class. Laborers are not benefited
by increasing the number of their
| eecers.
The plea of the middle class for its
retention is futile. The lnboring class
is not interested in its preservation
with its absurd principle of industrial
competition. That competition is in
furious is evident from the fact that it
ha. been well nigh supplanted by the
principle of combination. Surely no
one with economic sense wishes to re-
turn to tho era Of competitive suprem-
acy. A more waste full and absurd
system could not be devised-a system
which takes several dozen firms to do
the work of one. 70 be sure we SYM
pathizc with those displaced, but the
displacement is inevitable the neces-
,ary result of economic evolution.
They are sacrificed for the perrectin%
Of society There awaits them, how
ever, an ample compensation, if they
are wise enough to accept it, which we
will consider presently.
The socialist party represents the in
forests Of the poletariat class--the class
Of ware and salary workers. 1t repre-
sent, their interests because their class
interests are in accord with sOciaI
progress. The class interests Of both
the proprietary classes depend upon
maintaining present conditions, but not
so with the working class. While
.ocia ism represents the class interests
of the laborers, it also represents the
jhe true interests of every member of
society. 1t does not repres MT the class
interests Of either division of the pro-
prirtary class. for their class interests
signify such policies as make for the
pcrpetuiiy OF their class. Socialism
would abolish all classes-l step nnces
sarN to realize true civilization. But
Is the class interests of the laborer,
are in accord with economic progress,
we call upon them to unite for their
wv II tlllilltllldllbll. W lIltII NONId dlSV
mean the salvation of society, for they
cannot save themselves without ahol-
lohing the cause Of all economic serv-
tude and oppression-the private and
corporate ownership OF the inStru-
mcnts of production and distribution
y nile socialism represent, the personal
iltn,,..f al H. ffr il lnanpS hi u lpruul
truer civilization-th members of the
proprietary elias, are so blinded by their
own pre- udice and class interests that
they are unable to see what would make
Ton IA n0bler manhood and IA higher or
der of society. We cannot hope then
that the capitalist class, as class, will
Join the forward movement, but indi
viduul members of the class will Join
and are joining by the thousands, e5-
pecially from the perishing middle
class.
Socialism is in the line of progress
and certain Of attainment. The socialist
concentration Is inevitable, and the
gradual development of competing
Industries into trusts is destined to re-
alize the ideal for which the, labor
the cooperative commonwealth. One
who understands the cavses which have
led to the substitution of combinat ion
for competition well knows the impO,-
oibility of ever returning to the latter.
Associated capital and machinery are
necessary to effective and economical
production. The passing Of industry
from the hand of mechanical basis
meant the death of the old competitive
order. y return to the day, OF free
competion and small Things would con
-tilule reversal of all progress. 10
restore this era it would be necessary
to destroy all modern machinery, all
new and improved methods, all large
factories and stores, and punish ali
prOgressivene-s with instant death. We
cannot return to the pa,t--in economic
/ evolution there Is no retrOg re-siOn. Inc
whole history of industrial develop
mtnt evidences The tendency in pro-
-re-oive society toward a greater cen
ira .izaliUn of capital, and organization
Oi industry. which the most highly de-
,riUped machinery and improved meth