The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-05-19
copyright, 1904, by Frederick Upham Adams.l


failure as in Great Britain. l do not
mean a failure in a dividend paying
sense, but q failure to keep anywhere
near abreast Of the mechanical, inyen-
tive and engineering progress of the
age. The rapid development of ma
chinery and Of processes had the same
effect in England as elsewhere-viz, the
formation of large corporations, some
of which secured monopolistic control
in various fields. Gas plants, water
works and street railways were thus
constructed and operated. At the in
ception Of these enterprises there was
no demand for public ownership. 1t
was not until Travelled Englishmen de-
clared that such properties were far
below the standard Of efficiency and
economy established in other countries
that there was a clamOr for improved
service and reduced rates.
Then it was that the inertia Of the
ed itself. These placid men could see
no reason why they should change.
They smiled at the assertion that there
was anything to learn from what had
developed in the United States and in
other countries which had a mania for
tearing down old things and erecting
new ones in their. places. George Fran
els Train had landed in England and
performed the miracle of introducing
horse cars, or ''tramways," as they
term them. Was it not enough to
adopt one American device without at
tempting to follow the hazardous ex-
periments of cable cars and electrical
traction? They would not listen to any
demand for modern methods.
In taking this attitude they were In
exact accord with other property own
ers whose money was invested in enter
prises not so public in their nature. The
landlord whose buildings were devoted
to offices did not tear them down and
erect new one when reminded that
New York, Chicago and scores of
American cities had revolutionized
that type Of architecture. The dens
off Fleet street and the Strand were
good enough for Dombey & Son, and
the squalid quarters Of the Cheshire
Cheese served to meet the demands Of
Samuel Johnson and Oliver Goldsmith.
Why tear them down in imitation Of a
nation which was woefully lacking in
antiquities and traditions? Some of
the hotels yielded to a popular demand
for elevators, so they put them in and
called them "lifts,'' but absolutely re-
fused to consider any such wild eyed
scheme as a system Of plumbing which
would provide hot and cold water in
rooms occupied by their guests. Nor is
there a hotel in Great Britain which 1
have seen or heard of hat has adopted
this modern improvement"
With these and a thousand other ex-
amples to fortify his course, it is small
wonder that the English investor in
street railways, gas plants and similar
quasi public enterprises declined to
yield to the growing demand for bet
ter service. He was equally deaf to the
representatives Of private m%anufactur-
ers who urged that by the introduction
of electricity and other Innovations
an increased efficiency could be OBJ
tanned which would show in increased
dividends. He would not listen to a
word OF 1t. That which had beer good
enough for his father was good enough
for him.
J Such was the attitude of the private
capitalist in Great Britain when the
public ownership movement had its
birth, and such is his attitude at the
present moment. He does not believe
In any novelty not Of his W inven-
ton, and be has neither the taste nor
the talent for invention. He therefore
stood still, and the public ran over him,
am unable to find any record that the
English capitalist offered any decided
opposition to this tragedy. Certainly he
did not become excited over it. That
would not have been in good form. He
simply waited and watched the process.
sion pass. Public ownership became a
recognized institution without his san
ton, assent. dissent, comment or ex.
element.
England has adopted public owner.
ship for the simple reason that private
capitalists refused to properly manag
private m~onopolies. There was no sen.
dment about it. There was no appeal
to high economic ideals. There was No
academic discussion. 1t did not even
form a partisan issue and was rarely q
plank in a local platform.
And despite all this there has been
accomplished n Of the most tremen.
dous Industrial and economic revolu.
lions since the birth Of modern civil.
cation.