The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-21

vldual responsibility rather thar
diminish it.
Undiscriminating attempt to pre-
vent evil often results in preventing
an even greater amout Of good. anC
that government agents are usually
chosen on other grounds than those
of industrial efficiency When the
field for investment of private capt..
al is thus restricted part of the re,
turns from rrivate enterprise in
other feds are usually appropriated
through taxation.
The Italian government refused to
60 into operation of railroads be-
cause railroad management would
corrupt each other. Mr.. Moon also
quoted Gov. Woodrow Wilson who
said that creation of the best and
fairest opportunities for the individ-
ual is not attained by government
undertaking administration of the
individual. by old time futile
methods of guardianship; that as
against state paternalism, the hope
of society lies in an infinite indi-
vidual variety in the fairest possible
play of individual forces. Only in
that way can it find that wealth of
resources which constitutes civiliza-
tion with all its Appliances for
satisfying human wants and alleviat-
ing human suffering, all the entice-
ments to thought and spurs to ac-
tion."
With government building, its
own warships. entring banking. in
clined toward operating Alaskan
coal mines, it is proposed that it
enter the express business. If it do
this. may not the next be the rail-
road business, milling, packing, steam
boat business or clothing business I?
If government through the aid of
appropriations is to do business
more cheaply than individuals can,
individual effort is handicapped
Parcels Post would be a long step TO-
ward this socialistic revolution.
Parcels Post, Mr.. Moon said.
would transfer the business of the
retail merchants of the towns and
smaller cities largely to the great
cities. and population would follow
this divergence. Capital would be
withdrawn, the banks. churches and
schools would be affected. hotelkeep-
ers would miss the commercial travel
ers. investments amounting to mil
lions of dollars in the smaller cities
and towns would depreciate.
The welfare of many others is
linked with that of the retail mer-
chants. Wendell Phillips spoke of
the civilization Of New England's
villages rotting when it approached
a congestion of population of the
cities. Those village trade centers
are training grounds for young men
and young women. The country life
commission recommends that farmers
and their families get away from
home more. The villages are social
centers. the home of the lodge, church
and school. To destroy their stores
would devitalize the village. With
population going vet farther city
ward. the cost of living must farther
advance Adam Smith spoke of these
results following congestion of popu-
lation in England. The villages in
culcate individuality. In the cities
men become machines.
John Stuart Mill said that the
habit Of looking to paternal gov
eminent destroys opportunity for
action. and initiative. 1000 of 5000
booksellers have ceased business
since 1874. Concentration of mer-
chandising into department stores
has reduced individuality.
Although the investment and ef-
fort of the average retail merchant
is about that of the average farmer
in the state of Iowa.. for instance,
there are 18 retired farmers to one
retired merchant.
The retail mail order houses can
afford to do larger advertising than
can the retail merchant. Through
the farm journals they will reach his
customers. A government-maintain-
ed delivery system would complete
their sales plan. The present meth
cd of trade distribution has with
stood revolutions of business methods
because it is the best.
Prof. Ely has said that anyone is
a producer who improves the condi-
tions and positions of things, in
creasing their utility, and that "the
merchant produces utilities as truly
as the farmer or manufacturer. y
The retailers of the country arc
selling goods upon a closer margin
than ever before The cost of iv-
ing has advanced from the increas-
ed per copita consumption. increas-
ed cost of production on farm and
In factory. bv departure from usual