The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-09-21
Ole Nebraska Independent
Letters From The People
. = = = 900

sire for revenge and other evil passions produce
the greatest amount of unhappiness. No social
list can convince me that these passions would
be absent under socialism, and they would do
more to disturb the equilibrium of socialistic
state than they do now to disturb our present
system.
Now for some of Mr.. Obenchan's economics
He declares that Tabor today Is dispossessed OF
the power to consume to the extent machinery
has usurped production in all lines of industry.
That is only a half truth. 1t loses sight OF the
fact that demand constantly increases and also
that new occupations supplied by new inven-
lions. Think of the new occupations afforded by
such industries as the telephone, telegraph cleo
trio lighting railway and other new industries.
They have increased production but they have also
supplied new demand.
Mr.. Obenchain writes: Labor, receiving a
reward of but One-ifth of what with the aid or
machinery it produces, buy back but one
fifth, leaving the other four-fifths surplus
Such an argument fails to take into consideration
the fact that much wealth is consumed and much
is wasted. Is the portion that goes to capital,
viz, such wealth is neither wasted nor con-
sumed, stored UP and never used by any save
capitalists? To argue thus would be to argue
that wealth is never redistributed by vast ex-
penditures, by mischance, failures and the con-
sequent dissolution of large fortunes. Much OF
that wealth is re-employed to produce new wealth
and wears out just tools wear out.
After developing his argument Mr.. Obenchain
declares that wealth is constantly accommodating
FEWER
but it is not because of the process which he has
described 1t is the inevitable tendency of the
profit system, if not controlled by restrictive laws
to concentrate wealth. but the law is not stated
broadly by Mr.. Obenchain nor by the most radical
socialists. Much of the concentration in this
country is due to special privileges such as the
tariff, rebates and exemptions from just taxation
Wealth is concentrating in this country more
rapidly than in most of the European countries
because of these special privileges which have
built up the trusts These special privileges can
be taken away from them by the law. Some think
that regulation by law is the right corrective.
Others pin their faith to the state ownership of
land and all instruments of production and dis
tribution Still others contend that regulation by
law and measure of state socialism will do much
to remedy present industrial ills. Your paper
seems to occupy the ground last named. You
favor government ownership of railways Of tee-
graph and telephone systems and OF parcels post.
You favor the municipal ownership of public utili-
ties. You oppose robber tariff, free passes re-
bates and all unjust determinations and you adj
vocate laws that will remove these injustices and
demand public officials who will enforce these
laws after they are made. am with you in this
program because believe it to be right and
practical. If socialism Is to come and is to prove
a universal remedy it must be by slow process,
and I cannot understand why Mr.. Obenchain
should indulge in such heated criticism of an
editorial that contained much truth.
H. B. MAXWELL.
Ca L. &c., - nn~~