The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-01-04
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES:
Maxwell Shows Where He Stands


Chicago Jan. ITO the Editor of The In
dependent: In his last letter Mr.. Obenchain
reteraes In different way his original con-
tentiOns, and IL will not be necessary for me,
therefore, to answer them in detail. We have
both stated our views adequately with reference
to socialism, and further debate would simply
be an unending controversy concerning the
iolts phases Of the socialistic philosophy. | wish
to compliment Mr.. Obenchain on the fair and in
structiye way In which he has presented his side
OF the Such discussions are enlightening
TO the general mass OF readers who have neither
the time nor the desire to enter into study
OF socialism. ~
II remains for me to state more definitely
my position. AT the start Mr. Obenchain was
puzzled TO know just where ! stood, and have
not yet explained. Because ! recognized the
grave Ills which beset our country and yet be-
cause | did not concede that socialism was the
remedy, Mr.. Obenchain wondered, especially as
took occasion 10 commend cooperation and com
petition at the same time. Are competition and
cooperation inconsistent? ! think not
In the great trusts we have examples of co
operation, but not of competition Why? Be-
cause special privileges have been utilized to
strike down competition and build up cooperation
OF a restricted nature. The system which Is de-
nounced as competitive Is not competitive at ALL
Cooperation and combination will more and more
pervade commerce and industry, but it need not
do away with competition unless we have coec-
tive ownership Of all the means of production and
distribution, which Is socialism.
] believe that II we should adopt the prin
ciples OF popnlism, which sometimes enron
eously styled socialstic, we would begin the So
luton of those problems which now dismay u.s.
Government ownership of railways, lower tariffs
an income tax, safeguarded by the direct primary
and the initiative and referendum would go far
to more equally distribute wealth. Take away
rebates and tariff privileges from the trusts and
you will restore competition. Restore competi-
ton, and you will end the trust regime. Great
corporations however, will continue to exist; de-
partment stores will flourish, and we shall have
production and distribution vast but econom-
ica scale, which will be no hardship. The great
objection to the trusts they now exist is the
power they have Of fixing the prices of both raw
materials and finished products. Competition
would take that power away from them
Mr. Obenchain objects to travelling men as
meconomic, but he loses sight of the fact that,
under socialism, army of statisticans foremen
and superintendent, examiners, adjusters etc.
would be necessary to properly distribute products
into the channels where they were most needed,
while estimating and controlling production so
MS not to have surplus at one place and a de-
fclency at another. Indeed, 1t taxes the imagin-
alton to conceive of all the "uneconomic' occu.
pations that would spring up in connection with
socialism.
Like most socialists, Mr.. obenchain looks
upon work as an evil. The fact that new avenues
OF employment are constantly opening up he con-
sders, not blessing, but a curse. And yet, these
new occupations give evidence of the kindly all
watchful providence that provides the human race
with all that is necessary TO subsistence. 1t is
OF course. not entirely blessing that we must
earn our bread in the sweat of our faces but
Christianity teaches us that man Is now in a
fallen state. working toward perfect goal So
calism is opposed to Christianity in that it
teaches the perfecability of man by the removal
Of purely economic obstacles. Ii takes little or
no account Of mans passions. which, as | early
remarked, produce most of the mhapplness in
this world
But shall not weary the readers of The In
dependent further The debate has already been
longdrawn out wish merely TO thank Mr. Oben.
chain for his uniform courtesy
III II. MAXWELL.