Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-06-08
BRIEF COMMENT ON CURRENT
TOPICS.
Some Pronouncements Which Are Correct
Others May Rest on Debatsble Ground.
By BYRON MILLETT.


Wonders never cease. Now comes
Prof. Veblen of the Chicago Univer-
sity, largely endowed by Rockefeller,
who takes the position in q recent
work of which he is the author, that
socialism is right and will prevail;
that our present economic system is
undergoing radical changes. The pro-
fessor agrees with Karl Marx in the
main, but he argues that the large
capitalist, as claimed by Mark, is not
the real obstacle to social and econ.
omic growth, but that the chief him
drance arises through the small bust
ness men who as a class are too con-
sentative to take notice OF present con-
ditions and study into their cause.
The learned gentleman might have
added that the large capitalists, like
Rockefeller, will not give the small
dealers any chance or time for study,
while the big fellows are engaged in
pumping the middle-class dry. | have
thought that sometimes this class il
too severe on labor unions; that they
fail to realize the oppression comes
from above rather than from below.
Frederick the Great remarked that
revolutions are provoked by the privi-
legged class and not by the common
people.
There are some parties who read my
recent article, published in the col
umns OF the STANDARD, on the subject
of "Ancient Labor Unions" who seem
to think that meant to convey the
idea the members of those organiza-
tons practiced socialism. / made no
such contention. Neither were such
brotherhoods similar to modern trades.
unionism, in any marked degree. Take
for instance the labor organizations
that existed at the time of Christ, and
among the early Christians up to the
time Of Constantine, they practiced
communism in the manner of living.
There is no evidence from what have
been able to learn that the members
quarreled with their employers and
masters, over the matters of wages
and shorter hours, though they some
times rebelled on account of harsh
conditions imposed upon them; occa-
sionally, they disagreed among them.
selves as to the division of the com.
mon provender.
Modern socialism is q growth Of the
past seventy-five years. caused by the
monopolization OF land, the tools and
instruments OF production together
with the means of distribution by the
favored classes to the detriment OF the
laborers, who produce the wealth.
Though at certain periods in the an.
nails of Greece and Rome. there was
great suffering and poverty among the
proletarians, real socialism could have
found no abiding place; in fact, was
an impossibility.
The Haddock divorce case, recently
decided by the United States Supreme
Court, has excited considerable interest
in certain circles throughout the coun.
try. Haddock was married to his wife
in the State OF New York, whom he
deserted and obtained . residence in
Conn ecticut. His wife was granted a
decree OF separation by q New York
court, which did not amount to an
absolute divorce. Thereafter Haddock
obtained on absolute divorce, granted
to him in Connecticut, on service by
publication. the wife not appearing in
the proceeding. The United States
Supreme Court held that this decree
was not valid outside of the territorial
boundaries Of the State of Connect.
cut; that il WAS Intellectual for the
purposes OF determining any property
rights between Haddock and his wife
in New York. The question of the
LEGITIMACY Of children by . second
marriage was not in issue. Though il
would seem to follow from the deci.
sion that the issue OF the second mar
riage would have no legal status, out
side Of the State in which the abso-
lutte divorce was granted. The major.
ity opinion OF the court shows plainly
that a contrary holding would be
fraught with injustice. in that a hus-
band might willfully desert his wife in
the resident State, 60 to another State,
bring his suit for divorce, obtain SER
vice by publication and get his decree
of divorce, then return and deprive his
injured wife OF her just rights. which
would amount in effect in allowing
a man to take advantage OF his own
wrong, contrary to the first priuciples