The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-31


yards of cloth can be produced In one fac
tory at a lower price per yard than 100000
yards can be produced in the same fac
tory, II does not follow that cloth would
be produced at a still lower price per yard
If all the cloth consumed IN the United
States was produced in one factory or un-
der one management There Is a poiat be-
yond which the economic advantage of
large production ceases. The moment an
industry approaches the position of
monopoly, 1t begins to lose and economic
advantage of large production ceases. The
moment an industry approaches the posi-
tfpn Of a monopoly it begins to lose In
economic efficiency. for monopoly dis
eourages invention, invites deterioration
In quality and destroys a most potent fac
tor in production. viz. individual ambi-
ton
but the political objections to a trust
overcome any economic advantage which
It can possibly have. No economic nd
vantage can justify an Industrial deposit
Ism or compensate a nation for the loss
of independence among Its producers. Pc
lltical liberty could not long endure under
an Industrial system which permitted a
few powerful magnates to control the
means Of livelihood of the rest of the peo-
pie.
Innocent Compared With Trust.
"Landlordship the curse of Europe, is
an innocent institution in comparison with
the trust, when the trust is carried 10
Its logical conclusion. The man who ar
CUES that there is an economic advan-
tage In private monopoly is aiding social
ISM The socialist asserting the economic
superiority of the monopoly insists that
Its benefits shall accrue to the whole
people, and his conclusion cannot be de-
MED II the superiority of monopoly is adj
mitted. The democratic party, If / under
a.
as well as the political advantage of pri
vate monopoly, and promises to oppose
1t wherever 1t manifests itself. 1t Of
fers as an alternative competition where
competition is possible, and public mo-
nopoly wherever circumstances are such
as OF prevent competition.
Socialism presents a consistent theory,
but a theory which In my judgment does
not take human nature into account. It's
strength Is on Its attack upon evils, the
existence of which is confessed Its
weakness is that it would substitute
new disease-if not a worse one-for the
disease from which we suffer The socil-
LIST is honest in the belief that he has
found a remedy for human Ills. and he
must be answered with argument, not
with abuse. The best way to oppose So
callsm Is to remedy the abuses which
have grown up under individuallsm, but
which are not a necessary part of indi-
vldualism, and the sooner the remedy Is
applied the better. As l was leaving home
/ set forth my reasons for opposing the
socialist doctrine, that the government
should own and operate all the means
OF production and transportation: my OBJ
servations during the past year have
strengthened my convictions on that sub
ject. Because l am anxious to preserve
indlviduallsm, l am earnest In my desire
to see the trusts exterminated. root and
Itar, oh Int fhn Of
may be open to every American citizen.
Rapidly Growing Expenditures.
ION another occasion l shall call at
tention to the rapidly growing expendi-
lures of the federal government. IL Is
natural that those who look upon tax
alton as a blessing should view over
grown appropriations with eomplacency,
yet even the desire to find ways of spend
Ing the revenues brought into the treas
ury by a high tariff cannot wholly ac-
count for the reckless extravaganza of re-
cent congresses.
But at this time I desire to center
your thoughts upon the overshadowing
evil Of the day-the trust-wlth the pluto
cratic tendencies that result therefrom. IT
demans a remedy and the people are pre- e
pared to administer heroic treatment. The
democratic party offers a solution which
Is both reasonable and Adequate solu-
applied to new conditions.
1.-THE democratic party Is not the enemy
of property or of property rights: 1t is
on the contrary the best defender of both
because 1t defends human rights, and HUI
man rights are the only foundation upon
which property and property rights can
rest securely. The democratic party does
not menace a single dollar legitlmately ac-
cumulated; on the contrary 1t insists upon
the protection OF rich and 2oor alike In
the enjoyment of that which they have
honestly earned The democratic party
does not discourage thrift, but on the
contrary stimulates each individual to the
highest endeavor by assuring him that he
will not be deprived of the fruits of his
toll. If we can but repel the laws which
enable men to reap where they have not
sown, laws which enable them to garner
into their OVERLOOKING barns the harvests
that belong to others-no one viii be able
to accumulate enough to make his for
tune dangerous to the country. Special
privileges and the use of taxing power
for private gain, these are tho twin pill
lars upon which plutocracy rests. To take
away these supports and to elevate the
benefclaries Of special legislation to the
path of honest effort ought TO be the
purpose OF our party
Who Can Suffer Injury.
"And who can suffer injury by just tax
ation impartial laws and the application
of the Jeffersonian doctrine of equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none2 only those whose accumulations
are stained with dishonesty and whose
immoral methods have given them dis
torted view of business, society and gov
eminent Accommodating by conscious
fraud more money than they can profit
ably use upon themselves wisely dlstrib-
ute or safely leave TO their children, these
classes denounoe as public enemies all
who question their methods or throw
light upon their crimes.
"Plutocracy is abhorrent to a republic.
1t is more despotic than monarchy. more
heartless than aristocracy, more selfish
than bureaucracy. 1t preys upon the ma
ton in time OF peace and conspires
against 1t in the hour of Its calamity.
Conscienless compassionateless and de-
void of wisdom II enervates its votaries,
while it impoverishes its victims. 1t Is al
ready sapping the strength of the ma
ton, vulgarizing social life and making a