The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-24

Copyright. 1908. by Frederick Upham
Adams.
That was a strange assertion Of An
drew Carnegies." said Judge Sawyer.
looking up from his paper.
What does he say now?" asked Col.
Monroe.
He went to Europe in company with
j. Pierpont Morgan" explained Judge
Sawyer adjusting his glasses, land it
is fair to presume that he and Mr.. Nor
gan discussed the topic on which Mr..
Carnegie volunteered an interview. In
any event, here is what Mr.. Carnegie
said" And Judge Sawyer read the fol-
lowing:
"'You can say for me- said Mr.. Car
negie, that am thoroughly in favor of
the suggestion that all railroads be ma
tionalized. 1t would be an excellent
thing for the people if that were done.
Look at the economy that would be ef-
fected if all the railroads 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
such radical views"
II see nothing wildly radical in the
suggestion that the government own
the railroads." returned Col. Monroe.
Neither do 1 regard it strange that
such men as Morgan and Carnegie look
with favor on the naturalization of
railroads"
FBut it's nothing more or less than
another step toward socialism," declar-
ed Judge Sawyer.
Suppose that it is; what of it,"
asked Col. 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
consolidate of the thirteen mon
archical and anarchistical colonies into
a trust, called the United States of
America was the most prodigious
step toward socialism the world has
ever witnessed. Step by step we have
increased the powers and added to the
functions of our government, and as
every intelligent man now knows,
these are moves toward socialism. If
the government acquires and operates
the railroads, it will, as you say, take
another step toward socialism. What
ever a state or a government does
can by any possibility accomplish, is
in essence socialistic. The govern
ment conducts the postoffice system
and absolutely monopolizes it. Pri-
vate capital could and would be glad
of a chance to engage in the trans
portation and distribution of the mails.
1t would, of course, speedily create a
private monopoly, and reap CORE
spending profits. In other words, a
erOy al r07npOrNnIU nnr1dnNtod
without profit, is a socialistic admins
trative feature. We have scores of
such institutions. The more conspic-
uous ones are the postal service, the
public school system, the life SAVING
ana lighthouse systems, the superb
work of the agricultural and fisheries
departments, park and boulevard
maintenance, public libraries, recre-
alton and bathing places, and other
similar features. Private enterprise
could operate all of these institutions
at a profit, and would do so were it
not for the fact that our socialistically
inclined people prefer to have the gov
eminent, state or municipality, as the
case may be, conduct them at cost for
the benefit of ALL"
THAT isn't socialism," declared
Postmaster jenkins, who had been
listering intently. Socialists want to
ulNlue everything up anu DSSlH al
over again. That's what socialism is
There is no such definition of the
word, and there is no record that any
one ever advocated so insane PROPOSE
ton" said Col. Monroe. mo one de-
mands 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 PROPOSE
ton, and logical arguments against it,
When the American people get ready
to render a decision they will spend
mighty little time figuring whether or
not it is socialistic. That word has lost