The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-10-28

profits Of modern production aud distri
button than that TO which they are en-
titled.
Many Of these gentlemen are merely
fortunate accidents In the capitalization
Of a new era. They, too, often forget
that they are bound 70 give accounting
10 do justice 20 that great force which
makes industry posalble--the people-in
tneir two capacities. as producers and
consumers. X must be- remembered that
the trade union -ghile not tYust Il
Just as inevitable and logical develop.
ment as the trust itself. The trade
union finds rs greatest development un.
der the same economic conditions which
produce the trust; that IL, the introdnc-
tion Of machinery, the subdivision OF in
dustry. the adoption Of vast and compli.
Gated systems Of production which oblit.
crate the individuality I the worker
aud thus force him ip.D an association.
but not q trust, with b fellows in order
that collectively they nay protect their
rights as wage workers and as citizens
and also guard tho interests OF al work.
crs. The trade union is the voluntary
association Of the many for the benefit
Of all the community. The trust is the
voluntary association Of the few for their
own benefit.
The workers Of the country have
pretty thoroughly mastered the broad
economic truth that organization Is the
WATERFORD OF modern Industry. Labor
coneeas the right Of organization among
employers. II is perfectly willing 20
deal with such associations, provided it's
own rights are not denied or invaded.
To put Il more strongly, provided its
rights are recognized and conceded
When we take up the case Of the worker
az consumer, still speaking for the
masses, the situation Is more ccmplicat-
ed The worker has not yet developed
the same capacity to protect himself as
a consumer that he has as a producer.
or rather, 70 put 1t more accurately.
trust abuses are more pronounced In the
realm of distribution The control Of
vast distributing powers by eeftain |
trusts has been acquired through means
which are only beginning 70 be under.
stood by the people at large--the CON
sumers.
I'm the past two years so much pub
lieity hes been given to trust association |
with railroads in order to fleece the PEG.
Pile that is hardly necessary to refer to
that phase here, except TO say that hon
est investigation and truthful exposure
Of wrong conditions are as invig0ratingI
and healthfui to the growth of correct
public opinion as fresh air and sunlight
lei in upon the gloomy den OF the sweat
sr Of human labor. What ] have lust
said as to railroad manipulation applies
equally well TO exposures Of Illegal tran
factions in stocks and to political graft.
NO, high and low. Such information is
he first step toward the building up Of
/ healthy, powerful and honest public
opinion which win prove Nemesis to
hose trust manipulators who have abus-
d their true civic and economic. func.
ions What we want is more demo.
ratio spirit in the conduct of our af.
airs, industrial, commercial, executive,
legislative and judicial.
Our courts must indeed, adapt them.
elves to changing conditions, but they
must do this with teh welfare Of the
'eople as their ending star. If our
must be construed literally
d order to meet new conditions, let II
q construed To give the masses The
reater liberty and freedom and happi
ess to whihc they are entitled under
he most wonderful industrial develop
lent the world has ever known. We
eed not be afraid To trust the people
IN the contrary, we must trust them /,
lore and more. Let the aggregations
wealth which seek to control our in :
ustries remember that in the last anal.
sis they must depend upon the labor
nd the intelligence and the willingness
I the masses.
"Let the trusts remember that they :
i'll be required to give an account of Z
leir stewardship to the people. An as.
imption Of divine right and trusteeship I
not enough; the accounting must Z
Iuare with the assumption. The great
the scope Of trust enterprise, the heav-
r its weight Of responsibility to those
no produce and consume its products 8
his responsibility to the masses is y
Try real and vital thing Upon prop
appreciation of it rests our hope and 2
ational progress. Labor and industry I!
lnnot be halted or turned back to con u
,rm to old conceptions and old condi
ons. II deals with the present and
II the future. There must be the larg.
t liberty Of action, the freest possible W
,portamities for the highest develop
ent and greatest expansion Of labor,
dustry and commerce TO make for the
mmoon good, for the common progress e.
ID for civilization