The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-28
A SATURDAY SERMON.

SPREADING SOCIALISM.
he that is greedy Of gain troubleth his
own house.-Proverbs 1921.
Nothing frightens the rich monopo-
list who IS interested in public utilities
more than the spread of Socialism. In
cidentally 1t is a source of regret to 4
good many of us that private greed
ever makes 1t necessary for the gov
ernment-city. state or national-to
step in and take charge. either by own
ership or regulation, of Industries that
have been operated by private indi-
viduaIs
The monopolist and the average citi-
zen regrets the spread of Socialism
from different causes, however. The
former is frightened by it because it
win destroy his private monopoly. The
latter regrets it because it limits the
field Of individual enterprise.
But who is responsible for the
spread of Socialism?
1t isn't the alleged "cranks" who
have been going up and down the
earth preaching Socialistic doctrines as
a cure for all social ills. The people as
a whole have paid comparatively little
heed to these teachers, so long as the
social ills did not touch them. Who,
then, is spreading Socialism?
In Philadelphia there is strong agi-
tation in favor of a municipal ice plant
Although it is distinctly a SociaIistic
move It is favored by many conserva-
tive people. and there is little doubt
that as soon as the city can get the
authority to do so it will go into the
ice business. Why? Because the
greed of the ice trust has made it
necessary. Chicago is considering the
same sort of a proposition, and 1t is
not at all improbable that municipal
ice plants will be scattered all over
this country in another FIVE years. Yet
five years ago no one but an avowed
Socialist would have advocated such
thing.
This sort of Socialism Is invariably
brought about by private greed. While
fair rates are charged and reasonably
good service given the people will not
tolerate Socialistic ideas, and it is only
when greed and mfsmanagement drive
them to it that they adopt Socialism.
The state refinery movement in Kansas
was the result of the greed and unfair
ness of the Standard Oil company.
There is a splendid lesson in this for
those railroad magnates who are OPP
posing rate regulation. DIScr1m1na ton
and oppressive freight rates are wha.s
brought about the demand for railroad
regulation by the government. The
people are willing to pay a fair rate on
the capital actually invested in return
for the service given. and they are ex-
tremely liberal in their ideas Of what
the remuneration should be for the
men who run these great enterprises.
But when corporation magnates swim
die the public with watered stocks. ex-
cessive bond issues. unjust charges.
and uncalled for determinations, the
people rebel. A number of wise rail-
road men see the wisdom and justice
of the public demands. but others in
their blindness and in their stupid be-
lief in the power of unlimited wealth.
think they ought to be allowed to con
tinue their oppressive and unjust prac-
tees. And if they are successful in re-
sisting rate regulation by the govern
ment they may expect to see wave of
Socialism sweep over this country in
the shape of a demand for complete
government ownership of railroads,
brought on by their own greed.
Solomon knew what he was talking
about when he said that the man who
is greedy Of gain brings trouble upon
4 himself.