davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-09-05
SOCialiStiC Tendencies.

such laws are revolutionary com
pared with any regulation Of
; charges heretofore attempted BY
the state. IF the price of the
services of railroad company il
: to be fixed by law, why not the
price of labor or the price of wheat
But wait. Does not such an
net really affect the price of labor
The writer does not know what
proportion of a railroads income
is spent for labor, but it is con-
siderable, and by creating a flat
passenger rate of two cents per
mile and the regulation of freig ht
charges, does not the government
practically say tos theA railroad
company: "You have just so
much income to divide among
your fixed charges, just SO much
for your pay roll?" Does not this
law practically fix the wages of
railroad employees and act as
bar to any considerable increase
| thereof? 1t is a we'll. known fact
that prices have been steadily ad-
vancing for several years; wages
have also advanced, and the end is
not in sight. The continued
enormous production of gold tends
to lessen the purchasing power of
every dollar, and we will have still
higher prices and higher wages.
No provision is made for this in
the two-cent fare laws, SO what
will the railroad company do whose
income is limited by law? They
will not be able to compete with
other large industries for labor
and as a result the government
must step in and regulate other
prices by law.
With this law as precedent
does it not seem likely that the
government will attempt to fix the
price of other commodities? Does
ittake much Imagination to gee
the day when some state seeing
monopoly and injustice in the
Oil Co., will fix legal
maximum rate upon the price of
oil?
The writer can point to many
cases whore monopoly Is enjoyed
and exorbitant prices charged.
Should they not by the same token
be compelled to regulate their
prices? Some of these monopolies .
we're created by the very source
which threatens their destruction .
the law. The government has q
created and endorsed monopoly by
ssuing patents, with the sole y
light to manufacture invested in 9
he patentee; by issuing trade Il
marks and protecting the same and
~ allowing the manufacturers L
he exclusive use of certain style U
packages, names, and labels, all of Z
which is perfectly just and right. o
But is it far cry from the regu- II
alton by law of railroad rates to 81
he regulation by law of the prices II
f patented and trade marked ar e
icles? A
Turning to the labor unions we
md another tendency toward so. p'
ialisln. The strike on the Iron So
tango in this state is not for higher e1
,ages or shorter hours, but it is al
Or uniform wage-one of the pl
principles of socialism. At present m
lie miners work on the contract b,
ystem by which good men make CT
rom $500 to SIS. SO per day, while es
theirs run as low as $1.5O per day. tie
he strike is for uniform rate of ht
ESQ per day regardless of a mans al
bility as a miner. The strike is to
or the abolition of competition tn
nd the adoption of a principle of of
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-09-05
Paper Read Before the Unautauqua C.rcle.

I is the purpose Of this pape
to point out in general way
without going deeply into tn
subject, a few tendencies of tn
present time which point towar
socialism. The first tendenc
which comesj.to our notice is til
gradual combination of our grea
industries into pools or trusts AM
the consequent crushing out o
the smaller manufacturers ant
capitalists. The significance o
this movement, when viewed from
the socialists standpoint, lies il
the fact that 1t will ultimately
prove easier to do away with ,
limited number of huge concerns
than it would to deal with enumer
able smaller ones. The injustice
that socialists find in present con
ditions, can be more readily point.
ed out in the case of large con-
Germ, and the public is consequently
more willing sto lend it's aid in re-
adjusting such evils when found,
as witness the present activity in
prosecuting the Standard Oil Co.,
the Tobacco Trust, and others.
Now, we see, and all are perhaps
willing to admit, that in the face
of the evidence brought against
these great corporations. that a
readjustment of some kind is neces-
sary. One thing that stands out
as pIeeminent fact is that these
large trusts will never be dissolved
back to what they were-a hundred
warning fractions with the conse-
quent waste necessary to intense
competition. Such step would
be a backward one and not in the
interest of economy. Socialism
seems to be the only alternative.
We have all read something
about the constitution which was
proposed for the new state of Okla
homa. Nearly every writer CON-
mented upon some sections which
were socialistic in the extreme. CON-
pared with the constitution of the
older states. Now, there are no more
professed socialists in Oklahoma |
than elsewhere; that country is
blessed with population nearly
all Americans, wide awake sons of
Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and other
states with a foreign element in the
minority. The fact is Oklahoma
is progressive and the socialistic
sections in her constitution is but
a sign of the times. We will pass
over by merely mentioning the
radical laws recently passed in
Texas in regard to the investments
of life insurance companies, and
see if other states are doing any,
thing that savors of socialism in
their latest laws.
Perhaps it was Spencer who
said: can individual is bound up
in network of laws and statutes;
they surround him during life |
and encompass him before his {
birth and after his DEATH" He I
was speaking not of natures laws,
but of the laws made by man. At
the present time he would substi- {
tute corporation" for individual"
and add, "and they multiply day ,
by day. #
What students and thinkers may I
see in the increase of legal enact t
nents touching on corporations, the g
writer does not know, but in his
own opinion the trend is toward {
socialism,. q
Some regard socialism as the s
'bsence of law, equality by statute. a
The recent laws passed In several f
states providing for a two-cent or q
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-09-05
10 c0yectuye-To guess.


We guess about the fact; we
conjecture on the possibility of
the fact. A conjecture is more
vague than guess. We may
have a reason for guessing, but
conjecture is pure hazard. We
guess a persons age from his ap-
pearance. When we are utterly
at loss to comprehend sentence.
all we can do is to conjecture its
meaning A guess is an approach
to the truth. In guessing, we
arrive at a probable conclusion
from imperfect premises; in con-
occurring, we arrive at possible
conclusion from uncertain prem
ises.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-09-05

uIdotlO d6 ti0 I0m6uy, ~ Wd6 maOe
necessary by the action of the
tobacco trust which forced jobbers
to handle their product at gross
profit of seven per cent, by telling
the jobber just how many pounds
of each brand he must buy during
the year, and by forcing the job
Der to load up on undesirable
brands by clever combinations and
discounts which the jobber must
obtain in order to make even the
seven per cent graciously allowed
them. The effort to fix prices has
been successful on the part OF the
trust, but now the government has
stepped in and it will be interest
ing to see the outcome. That the
warning factions that once made
up the tobacco trust will again re-
sumo competition seems unlikely.
Will the government fix the price
on tobacco? If so, another step
toward socialism.
Years ago when competition was
''the life of trade" rival shop
keepers we're not on speaking
terms, and each individual made
every effort to keep his business
methods from his rival. Now we
see friendly associations organized
in every line of business, and ''get
meetings are held as
often as possible, at which free
discussion is held as to the merit |
Of different articles, methods Of
winning trade, means of lowering
credit risks and the like. Nova
lays it is not unusual for one mer-
chant to call up another in the
same line of trade and ask: "Where
10 you buy SO and so; how much
Ices it cost?' Such doings in the
'etail world have cooperative if
lot socialistic tendency.
If the states are going to sane
ion laws like the one regulating
abroad charges; the unions per-
ist in fighting for uniform wages
instead of a competitive scale &C. !
ording to the workers ability;i
he trusts continue to destroy CON-
'etition and fix prices; and the !
BUSINESS men are eager to cooper !
te with each other, the socialists +
ave cause indeed to claim that !
he dawn of their era is at hand. +
he writer is not in sympathy G
18th socialism as a whole, but must
onfess that the doctrine has some q
dmirable points. That competi- n
on is wasteful must be acknowl- r
dyed, but that it is necessary to n
rouse endeavor and bring out the O
est there is in a man, cannot be fl
To cut down cost by q
and combination is Is
| the interest of the people as a Il
hole, but to control such organ al
ations before they have the power Il
fix prices is the grave question v
solve. Government ownership 3,
large industries would create too o.
any public servants with the VI
me self-interest and would end {,
bureaucracy, style of govern et
emit which hardly appeals to al
mericans. Lila
To save waste by keeping CON- al
.tition at the minimum, at the pl
me time allowing sufficient to NJ
ist to cause supply and demand
ID not law or individuals 10 fix
ices, is the happy medium we
ust find to avoid socialism or
Unhappily it is diff
1t to arouse genuine public inter-
t in the settlement of such mat.
RS. We are loud to cry, long to
wi, but slow to act over public is
uses, and are too prone to turn &C
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-09-05
Dacant-Enlbty.

That which has nothing in it is
empty. That which requires some
thing in it is Oacant. Empty is a
natural; vacant, circumstantial
quality. A space is purposely
left vacant which is intended to be
filled up; space is empty which
is merely not filled up. IF We
rise from our chair, the seat is
empty; if we do not intend to re-
turn to it, the seat is vacant. A
seat III Parliament becomes vacant
by the death of member. A
hour wants filling up; an
empty title has nothing solid in it.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-09-05
EaiA-BslseE

BeAs1 exists; faith acts. Belief
is passive faith, and faith is an
active belief. It has been said
that "faith will remove mountains. =
We could not here substitute the
word belief for faith, because
belief is merely the passive quality.
Faith impels US to action, and i
grounded on our belief
New-York tribune., 1907-01-12
"HELLO, CENTRAL" N PARIS.

The notion that they order this matter bet
ter in France is not. after all, universally and
eternally infallibie. Neither Is state ownership
and operation of public utilities invariably Il
panacea for human Ills Far be it from us to
pretend that our own New York telephone SER
vice is perfect. Too often have we ourselves
been compelled to supplicate, apOstrophize and
all but objurgate Central in vain while the
slow hours dragged their weary length along
without getting the "call" we wanted. or with
the final result of getting % Hohokus when
we had asked for 4-11-44 Canarsie. Yet we
cannot concede that even in these things we
are sufferers beyond all other communities
Observe, for example, the present experience
Of Paris, that City of Light. which some fondly
suppose TO be just right in every detail and
particular. There the telephone system IS
owned and operated by the state and not by
some grinding. sordid, soulless, monopolistic
corporation. But is 1t therefore free from the
evils which make the hello life here a burden
scarcely TO be borne? Alas no. We are In
formed by lie Figaro" itself that the whole
concern Is ''ptiable and intoerable" Subscrb-
ers and all patrons and would be patrons COM
plain that TO almost every call for n number
Central returns the parrot- reply pas
Hbre'-AI AIanhattanese, Busy" When it is pro-
tested that as a matter of fact that partlcu-
lar number was not busy, "Central's" reply is
AoDOut SSbiu IL was Dul ludI 1t WIS ten
trail" that was busy-in brief the hello girls"
are so overworked that they are physically
unable TO give attention to calls. Hence big
popular protests and appeals are being made
data are being collected and the case bids fair
TO surpass the abrogation OF the Concordat and
the rehabilitation of Dreyfus as a nine DAYS
wonder.
This Is not, OF course, TO argue Frances in
lerlorlty TO America or any such thing. Neither
lG int Nflll+
iniquity of public ownership and operation Of
public utilities. But il NAV serve as q reminder
that such public ownership and operation do
not always avoid the very evils which make
the private or corporate system SO odlous In
The sight of some enthusiastic reformers. and
as demonstration that the state or the mu-
nlclpality does not always do all things well.
New-York tribune., 1907-01-12
THE STATES AND THEIR PROBLEMS

The messages of various Governors Indicate
that their states are wrestling with much the
same problems with which New York Is con-
cerned, and considering measures similar 10
those proposed by Governor Hughes There
seems TO be among them q growing sense OF
new duties arising from modern economic con-
ditions. Secretary Roots recent speech raised
the question whether the states were going to
do their part toward the governing OF the coun-
try The answer of the Governors messages
is that in many parts of the Union, at least
people are as keenly alive to the state aspect
Of modern problems as TO their national aspect
The policing Of the economic world is the duty
WHICH, according 10 the Governors. confronts
most OF the states. and there Is pretty general
suggestion that the powers OF commissions reg
ulating public service corporations be strength
ened. Insurance legislation in the interest Of
policyholders, a subject in which New York
was a pioneer, is perhaps the topic most gen
orally discussed. Railroad regulation, in which
many states have heretofore gone much fur
ther than our own, also engages the considera-
ton of the Governors Election laws are an
ever fresh topic, and primary laws, especially
providing for the direct primary seem TO In
terest them.
Remedial insurance laws are urged by Gov
ernors Deneen of Illinois, Hanly OF Indiana
Johnson of Minnesota, Giett of California.
of Massachusetts. The last named suggests that
some cheap form of industrial insurance should
be devised.
The Governor of Indiana would enlarge the
authority of the State Railroad Commission
and asks for 2-cent fare law. The Gov
ernor of Illinois wants also TO increase the
powers OF the similar body in that state Gov
ernor Folk suggests anti-rebate law and
prison penalties for violations OF the maximum
freight law and the antitrust laws. Massa-
chusetts has rather effective State Railroad
Commission, and Governor Guild calls atten-
ton TO the fact that corporations have the same
right TO fair play as individuals. Governor
Cumnins OF Iowa asks for more effective rail
road regulation, while Governor Sheldon Of
Nebraska promises to fulfil his pledges made
in the campaign regarding the regulation of rail-
road and other corporations. The Governor Of
Colorado desires an antitrust law similar to
Ohio's. Michigans executive asks for an in
vestigation of freight car shortage and the plac-
ing of electric railroads under the supervision
of the State Railroad Commissioner. Governor
Glenn of North Carolina suggests that the Cor
poration Commission of his state receive power
10 fix freight and passenger rates and compel
the railroads TO run trains according to their
schedules He would have the same commits
sion fix telephone rates. Governor Cox of Ten
nessee wants a railroad law like the national
New-York tribune., 1907-01-12
IN WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
from Tho 1,r,npne pureap

IFrom The Tribune BuTeau-l
Washington. Jan. n.-Senator and Mrs. Depew
were hosts dinner tonight in honor of Vice
President ard Mrs. Fairbanks. Invited TO meet
them Were Senator and Mrs Hale, Senator FRYE
Senator and Mrs Elkins. Senator and Mrs Fora
ker. Senator and Mrs Bulkeley. Senator Brande-
gee, Senator Du Pont Mrs. James w. Pinchot. Mrs
Sheridan MIS- Benedict, Mr.. and Mrs. Ridgely Mr..
and Mrs. Glover Mr. and Mrs. Gaff, Miss Patten,
Miss Pauldng and Representative Gillett.
The Secretary Of War and Mrs. Taft were enter
tanned at dinner tonight by SIR. and Mrs. Hugh C.
Fuller. who have house here for the winter In
vited to meet them were Justice Moody. Senator
kean. Miss Kean. the counsellor of the French
Embassy and Mime. des Portes de Ia Fosse. the AS
sistant Secretary OF State and Mrs. Bacon. Mr..
and Mrs. Arnold Hague Mr.. and Mrs Thomas F.
Walsh. Captain and Mrs Glover and Mrs Nicholas
Fish.
dinner in honor of the Italian Ambassador.
Baron Mayor des Planches. given by Rear Ad-
miral and Mrs. Converse Other guests the
Attorney General and Mrs. BOnaparte. the chair
man of tho Panama Canal Commission and Mrs.
Shonts Mr.. and Mrs. Fannestock. Rear Admiral
snd Mrs. Hutchinson. Captaic aud Mrs W. H II.
Switzerland. Rear Admiral Capps and Miss Con-
verse.
Miss Jean Reid. daughter OF the Ambassador to
Great Britain and Mrs Wltelaw Reid. arrived IN
Washington to-day ard is the guest of Repre-
sentative ami Mrs. Nicholas Longwortl.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Mrs. New
berry were hosts at cnner tonight for Scores
tary of the Navy and Mrs. Metcalt
New-York tribune., 1907-01-12
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau-l


Washington Jan. 1.-THE President had con-
ference to-day with Milton d. Purdy. assistant to
the Attorney General, who made visit to Brownss
VILE Tex. for the purpose OF collecting additional
evidence bearing upon the riot which resulted In
the dismissal of the Negro troops of the 18th IN
fartry It was announced. after Mr.. Purdy left
the White House, that the Presidents additionai
message. based upon Mr.. Purdy's discoveries. would
be sent to Congress Monday.
Callers at the White House to-day included SEN
ators Lodge. Spooner. C1app and Teller; Repre-
sentatives Miller, Humphrey. Grosvenor, Calder
Pollard and Driscoll. and Corporal Tanner. Reg
lister of Deeds of the District of Columbia
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt were again
hosts tonight. opening the White House. first ror
a dinner party and then musical. when a hundred
additional guests were entertained the
table in the State dining room was decorated with
orchids, while Mrs. Roosevelt. who is particularly
fond of the delicate cooring of these flowers wore
a gown of lavender brocade.
The guests at dinner were:
The Secretary Commerce Mr. and Raymond Pat
and Labor and Mrs. Strauss
The Assistant Secretary of Mrs Wocott.
War and Mrs. Oliver Miss Root.
The Assistant Secretary of Miss Mildred Carter.
the Navy and Mrs. New Miss l. Margaret Roosevelt
berry Miss Reid.
General and Mrs ]. Frank Miss Theodore shontE-
lin Bell. Mics Barry.
Mr.. and Mrs Nicholas Long Captain Gilmore.
worth. lC. NJ L. Higgins
Judge Robert Grant John Fox jr
Mr.. and Mrs. William E. Edward B. Mclean
Curtis. Lieutenant Russell Train
Mr.. and Mrs. R r. Rogers. Lieutenant Sheridan
The Kneisel Quartet furnished the programme
for the musical in the East Room
New-York tribune., 1907-01-12
Aenalork DAILY Gribn,1e
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1907.
THE NEWS THIS lIORNING.

CONGRESS.-Senate: The Senate passed the
General Service Pension bill. which provides age
pensions for veterans; Senator Hopkins In a
long speech defended Senator Reed Smoot. =-
House: Representative Lttlefield and the House
Judiciary Committee at odds over the Anti
Injunction bill; Representative Watson created
amusement in the Senate by asking ii to re-
store the clause in the Appropriation bill rails
ing members salaries from $1,000 to $500
FOREIGN.-The overdue steamer Ponce was
fowed into Hamilton, Bermuda, by the German
steamer Elizabeth RicKnlers; there was no suf-
fering among the passengers, who will sail on
The Bermudian for New York January il.
- Great Britain and Russia said to be
nearing an agreement in regard to spheres Of
influence in Persia, the former controlling the
southern and the latter the northern region.
DOMESTIC-The President saw Milton D.
Purdy, of the Department Of Justice. who was
sent TO investigate the brownsville riot -
Secretary StT2uS issued order doing away
with customs examination for representatives Of
foreign governments. == john Smith, In
dicted in the Cox murder case in Breathitt
County, KY, confessed that he aided in the as
sassindtion of Dr. Cox. = Assemblyman
Moreland, Albany, said that he did not favor
ahe income tax idea. and doubted if the special
5aX commission Will recommend one. -"
Travis II. Whitney. the representative at Al
ibany of the Citizens Union. criticised the prac-
tice Of delay in publishing The Senate Journal
CITY-Stocks rallied at the close. - Ger
tain directors of the New York Life were seek
ing to induce Alexander z. Orr to reconsider his
oe. elected. == There was a lively tilt between
Borough President Coler and Controller Metz
over the selection of q school site. == An
nOunceu1ent was made that the American Tee-
phone and Telegraph Company would pay about
IL per cent year on its three-year per cent
notes in the amount of S25 600 600. -- a let
ter signed by Duncan Campbell Lee. showing
that the editors of Democratic weekiies up state
boosted w. r. Hearst with the expectation that
they would receive payment in return. made
public: they complaining that Hearst
has not fulfilled his end of the bargain.
THE WEATHER Indications for to-day:
Partly cloudy. The temperature yesterday:
Highest, IL degrees; lowest 81.