The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-01-27
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

L It is entirely proper for working
men to keep themselves ;. thoroughly
posted on what is going on in all
parts of the world, particularly in re-
gard to what directly concerns their
material and moral welfare. In this:
connection it may be we'll to state
that "ths signs of the times indicate
that we are passing through one OF
those tran history stages In which not
only the outward forms, but the in
ner workings Of governmental affairs
are gradually, and in some cases rapid
ly, changing, taking on new ideas, and,
it is to be hoped, better ways of do
ing certain things, that have not. been
done any too we'll in times. gone by.
It is apparent, to any observing MIND,
that there Is strong and growing
sentiment in favor of what is known
as public ownership of public utili'
ties" such as light, heat, power, trans
portation, water, and the transmission
of intelligence. The fraud disclosed
by recent Investigations show that IN
surance would also be better in the
hands of competent government. Off
Gals than under the control of the
princes of graft. The only question
which seems to arise, or that can
arise is, where can the system of
public ownership properly stop? The
followers Of Karl Marx contend that
it cannot consistently. stop short of
the full and complete "Co-operative
Commonwealth, which we under
stand to mean that the community
must own and operate all the means
OF production and distribution Of
wealth. This is a large problem, and
it is receiving the attention and sup
port Of some very distinguished and
able minds, and for some time TO
come will probably be a debatable
question.
There Is another school Of philoso-
piers, that also believes in the pub
lie ownership of public utilities, but
they assert that public ownership of
public utilities alone will not suffice,
as that would simply make the coun-
try in which it was put in operation
moro desirable in which to live, and
the only thing which would really be
increased in value would be land, on
which, and from which, all human be-
ings must derive their sustenance, and
without which existence would be i'm
possible. They embrace in the term
land" all of the material resources
of the earth, including mining, city and
farm land, as well as the franchise
value which attaches to the private
ownership of any special privilege
They contend that land has value only
tbecause of the presence of popula ton
and that that value increases in di
rect proportion as population increases
and only then. Land value Is clearly
then, a community made value and il
Is palpable that the community has :
moral and should be given a lega
right to take that which 1t creates.
One man might have settled in thu
most fertile valley on the face Of thu
globe, but if no other person ever
came to settle near him, his ~lan(
would never have gained in value sc
long as he only claimed that which
he could use, as plenty of other lant
adjacent could be had for nothing. Blu
the moment he was allowed, with one
; sweep Of the hand, tosclaim as abso
1utely his own, all that he could sur.
yey by that primitive method, jus
ii that moment he was given our pres:
D ents syst en-, which gives the iland-g grab
3 her tho power to exact tribute from
all present ana 4 future rssidents d "a