The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-01-24

at present the great powers OF
industry, but even as regards
these great companies, public
opinion exists that the state shall
more and more exercise it's con-
troll over them. Our millionaireS
are being constantly reminded
that they are not the owners but
the mere stewards of the wealth
they control. The Trusts are no
longer actually conducted by the
owners of capital, as much as by
d paid staff of officials, and it is
the opinion Of Socialists that
these organization could, with
out shock, be transferred to the
direct services of the community.
The postofice, for instant, is a
thoroughly SOcialistic enterprise.
Mr.. Rockefeller himself admit
ted that he had not been near his
Office for years, and actually
knew nothing Of what the Stan
dard Oil was doing. When a
great accident happens to one of
our big railroads the SC called
managing directors plead ignor-
ance Of the roads manipulation,
and as d matter of fact, the big
financierS have little to do with
the actual running of the roads,
and if they were all to die to
morrow, those properties would
be run just as efficiently without
as with them. The contention,
then, of the Socialists, that the
State could control and run the
great producing and transport
ing industries is ir the main
probably correct. Whether the
State would run them as efficient
ly remains to be seen, but that
the public would receive greater
benefits from a national Oil com
pany run by the state than one
run by Nh. Rockefeller, no one
would be likely to question, but
whether the same results would
accrue in all industries. no one,
of course. can tell.
The whole matter is of vast in
terest. 1t is the great problem
that the coming generation will
have to solve. If the matter is
studied and discussed nationally,
and left to time and evolution,
the change in our social and eco
conditions (the change
which the Bishop Of Stepney and
many others think will be for the
better) will come about peace
sanely and quietly. If,
however, this subject is misrep-
resented and tabooed, the results
for society are liable to be very
disastrous.
We must not forget that the
Socialists are represented in the
imperial Parliament of Germany
by nearly one hundred members,
and are the dominant power in
that country today. In England
there are over fifty working men
in Parliament. and nearly all are
committed to socialistic theories.
In this country, owing to our
free institutions, and the greater
opportunities for the working
man, the movement has made
less Roadway; but the mere fact
that nearly half a million votes
we're polled at the last presiden-
tial election by the advocates OF
socialism, and that several prom
inent men and milliOnaires are
their fortunes and lives
to advocating this economic the
Dry, shows that the matter can
not be ignored or poohpoohed,
and for that matter neither
should it be, for any theory. or
any movement that seeks to bet
Ter the condition of mankind
should at least be given an intel
discussion.
Whether socialism will be the
or damnatiOn of society
we cannot say, and shall not ex-
press an opinion for or against it,
but the subject is of tremendous
import, and it is criminal to ig-
nore it or misrepresent it. So
cial science and sociology
ire fascinating studies, and will
become a part of every