Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17

being robbed by foreign manufacturers
and importers. I imported three ship.
| loads OF wire netting and sold IT TO o0
people at cost and allowed them to spresA
| all imported 1900 miles OF wire net.
ting. worth about $1.S5O.0o0.
I'VE are protectionists in South Austria
liza. but our protection is OF the kind tha&
benefits the workingmen as well AZ the
manufacturer. It takes the form Of
government bonus. which is only paid to
the home manufacturer when he has
proved that he has paid fair wages In
making the article on which he claims
the bonus. We know the result OF grant
ing protection to the manufacturer and
leaving the question Of wages TO his gen
crosby, and We determined that we would
put an end TO that system. The work
man and the employer share equally II
the benefit of our protection.
We think we have solved the problem
OF settling trade disputes. We do not
believe in the kind of compulsory arbi-
tration that has been adopted by some OF
the Australian states. We do not like the
lawyer and the Judge to interfere in mat
ters that ought TO be talked out and set
tied between masters and men. Our pan
is 10 have the ma sters and men In every
trade organized. and in each trade there
Is permanent arbitration board. consist
ing Of five elected representatives of the
men and five of the masters. with chair
man appointed by the government.
Settling Labor Troubles.
"All disputes are brought before this
board. which is compelled to take into
account the cost OF living. the labor sup
ply and other factors in fixing a minimum
wage. while. on the other hand. 1t must
allow the master a fair interest on his
capital and a fair wage for his work OF
superintendent. II either party refuses
to agree to the arbitrator's award the
court steps In and comes down on thu
| funds of the offending organization.
I'VE give old-age pensions to every one
over sixty-five years old. and / can tell
| you they live a long time in South Aus.
| tralia.''
Plain Tom Price" described all these
| astonishing advances toward socialism AZ
| if they were the most rnatter-of-fact
things in the world. and. indeed. they are
| to him. His conception OF the function Of
government is that II exists primarily for
| the purpose OF promoting the happiness
and comfort OF Its citizens. and. to him,
the idea of government not doing any.
thing which seemed necessary to this end
because of some doctrinaire principle 10
| Uncomfortable.
The transparent honesty OF the man.
combined with his shrewd common sense
and business ability. seasoned with q dash
of the Celtic fire which he inherits from
his Welsh ancestry. make him striking
character. No one can talk to Mr.. Price
! for half an hour without realizing that
he is one Of the worlds great men.
True Functions Of Government.
I'VE are not afraid OF the word social.
ISM he said. You can call 1t any.
thing you please. We are not concerned
about labels and titles. Some OF our enc.
mics in South Australia tried 70 inJufe US
by calling US socialists, but 1t did not 90
down with our people We are simply
democrats and we are trying to apply the
principles of democracy as we understand
| them. If that is socialism, we'll and good.
| l am sure no one in South Australia cares
| a hang whether it is or not. | call IL the
true function of the government to DO for
the people all that they cannot do well for
themselves and to protect them against
robbery and exploitation in any form
| THE people who predicted that our
country would be bankrupt in wear
have been disappointed. We owe $li0.-
| OOO 900. but We have assets to show fer It.
| Nearly a third of that is invested In our
! railways and our people have over Sol..
100000 In the savings banks or an aver
age Of $lI5 head. Last year our reve-
nue. was over S15.Om.O0O and our expendi.
ture was only $14 ,OD.0O0
Another thing that I want to say y
that although we are what most people
call socialists. we are also imperialists. I
do not mean TO say that We are jngoes
for we have the greatest contempt for
jinSoism: but We are proud to be part
of the greatest empire in the world. and
we mean to remain so. We recognize the
strong ties of sentiment which bind US to
the mother country Sentiment Is the
greatest force in the world. II is far more
powerful than money. and we hope that if
will be indissoluble.''