The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1910-08-06

To the Editor Of The Bee-Sir: In
vour issue of July 9th appears an ar.
acla by Hon. Theodore A. Bell. in
which the following reference is made
10 the fact that working men do moi
receive Just remuneration for their la.
Dor:
"It is impossible to point out all the
factors entering into this great wrong
In chief, the manipulation Of trusts and
unlawful combinations have not only
inset every natural law, but have
criminally and systematically robbed
both the farmland and the factory
worker of large part Of their earn
ipgs and to this extent the trusts have
enslaved both. This applies to the
masses Of producers.
"What can cooperation do to mini.
mize this sort of evil? In my judg
ment intelligent cooperation can be
made more fruitful than any law that
can be written in the statute books.
Thus far, it must be admitted. the
operation and enforcement of anti
trust laws have been little less than far
cical."
That Mr.. Bell is absolutely correct
In his estimate Of the fruitfulness OF
intelligent cooperation, none will
deny. The only question Is what is in.
tslligent cooperation, and how Is In
telligent cooperation to be brought
about? We have Trade Unions galore.
and Trade Unions have been aud are a
benefit to the worker. In fact, Union.
ism has saved him from peonage, pure
and simple; but Unionism as at pres
ent organized has no inherent strength
Its strength is superficial. depending
in every case upon supply and demand
mainly on demand. Should the
trusts combine for the general suppress
sion OF activities for one single year.
with the intent Of forcing down wages.
the weakness Of the unions would be
clearly and positively demonstrated.
Again. the weakness of Unionism Of
today is shown by the fact that one
Union or strike results. not only in loss
Of income to its own members, but in
enforced idleness to other classes of
labor.
With your permission, | will now
present in crude form for the consider
alton OF your readers the following plan
Of cooperation. and TO do so l shall
make no attempt TO enter into details ;
but merely TO outline the general plan.
In so doing a hypothetical condition
must be assumed in which the stages OF
seed time and propagation have passed
aud full fruition has been attained. Elk.
act figures. to avoid ambiguity must al
so be used, namely, the formation OF a
national organization Of. say. ten mil
lions Of workers, each member to pay.
say. 81 a month, the country to be di-
vided into labor districts corresponding
to States. Congressional districts. coun-
ties, townships. down to local lodges. A
Central Labor Bureau should be estab.
lished for the general supervision and
direction of its business.
AT the end OF the first month this
would establish fund OF $4,000. 600
at the end OF the first year it would be
increased to 1920, zoo. 900. and at the end
oil five years to the enormous sum Of six
hundred millions Of dollars. making the
organization impreguable against the
combined capital and Vaccinations OF
the interests, as this fund could be
directed to any point in the interest OF
the organization.
This capital could be applied to the
purchase Of bonds, stocks, real estate
aud other securities until the organiza
ton would eventually own every public
utility until. III fact. The People owned
the country.
The interest on the accumulated ant
eyer-increasing capital, together will
The young blood entering the organlza
ton, would furnish means TO pension
oil members of 25 to 80 years standing
whose long cards would show faithful
Industry and loyalty to the cause o
labor, the actual cause OF humanity.
Among the objections that may b
made to the feasibility and practicibili
W OF the plan outlined above may be;
First, the general belief in the in
ability OF the masses to work in harmon.
Tor their mutual benefit.
Second, the almost universal cynica
view that a position of public trus
SIMPLY means an opportunity to graz
aud that those in control would Sc
out to the trusts in some way. probabl
oy purchasing worthless stocks, sc
euritles, etc.. at fabulous prices, in tn