Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-25

corporation secures a practical monopoly
in the production sale of any article
certain eyils appear which outweigh any
good that can come from large produc-
ton or control Wherever private mo-
nOpolies exist certain irresistible ten
denotes manifest themselves. First it
raises prices-this is the first thing
thought of for the increasing of profits.
only purchaser of the raw material it re-
duces the price of the raw material, and
the producer of that raw material. having
no other market, must accept the price
of1ered. In this way, too. the profits or
the corporation are increased. Third,
reduction in the quality of the product
aHords an opportunity for increasing
profits. Fourth. reduction in wages fol-
lows wherever conditions will permit.
The business men of the country have
felt the pressure of the trusts. The re-
taller has been compelled to enter into
contracts which restrict his management
of his own affairs. He has found the terms
of sale and payment changed to his dis
advantage and he has been forced to
carry more and more of the risks of
trade. He is convinced that there are no
good trusts and that his only safety is
in the democratic plan which lays the
AK at the root Of the tree.
THE democratic party is the defender
of competition and the only great party
which is seeking to restore competition.
Mr.. Taft has. in the discussion of this
question. employed harsh words instead
of argument. The word 'socialistic is
hurled at the democratic party and the
democratic platform. Now. matter
of fact. ii is Mr. Taft's party and not the
democratic party which has given en-
couragement to socialism. While profess
ing to abhOr socialism the republican
party has gone half way toward socialism
in indorsing its fundamental principle.
The socialist bases his contention the
theory that competition is bad and that
an economic advance is TO be found in
monopoly. The socialist however. wants
the public to have tile benefit of the mo-
nopoly, and therefore. favors government
ownership and operation of all the means !
of production and distribution
The republican party has gone almost |
as far as the socialist party in the eco |
nomic defense of the monopoly but it |
permits the benefits of monopoly to be en- |
joyed by comparatively few men who !
have secured a dominant influence in the |
government.
They Sheer at Socialism.
THE republican leaders have been in
the habit of sneering at the socialists, |
while blindly Indifferent to the causes |
that have contributed to the growth of |
socialism. The democrats recognize that |
socialists are honestly seeking a remedy |
rotary Taft. Democrats dissent from the
remedy proposed by the socialists believ- |
ing that socialists are mistaken and that |
the democratic remedy is better but it Is
time for thoughtful people to recognize
that individualism can only be retained |
and defended by remedial legislation
which will remove the abuses which have
been allowed to fasten themselves upon
the country. The democratic party, be-
lieving in individualism, addresses itself |
earnestly to these abuses, and instead of |
ridculing and maligning the socialists, in
vites them. as it does republicans, to eX-
anime the democratic platform and the
remedies proposed therein. 1t submits it's
plans to the honest citizenship of the
country without regard to section or
party.
Industrial independence is necessary to
political Independence. The free exercise
of the rights of citizenship is impossible
when few men control the industries in
which millions are employed God forbid
that we should compel the wage-earners
OF the nation to address their petitions to
trust magnates and ask for their daily
bread. Already We have seen how prone
the mOnopolist is to make employment
depend upon the willingness of the en-
pioye to prostitute his ballot to the serv-
Ice of his corporate master
Settle It Now!
This question should be settled now:
we cannot afford to bequeath it as leg
acy of Woe to a succeeding generation
The conscience of the people is already
awakened. and the conscience is the most
potent force of which man has knowl-
edge. Where law makes one righteous,
conscience controls an hundred; where
one is Kept from wrongdoing by fear of
prison doors a thousand are restrained
by those invisible walls which conscience
rears about us-barriers which are strong
er than walls of granite. 1t is upon the
conscience that human Institutions rest,
and without stirring of the conscience
no great reform is possible. To a ma
tlonal conscience already aroused we ap-
peal, with the pledge that a democratic
victory will mean the ringing out of in
dustrial despotism and the ringing i'm of
d new era in which business will be built
upon its merits, and in which men will
succeed. not in proportion to the coer-
cion they may be able to practice but i'm
proportion to their industry, their ability
and their fidelity