The Mena weekly star., 1913-04-24
u.ha, of This Administration?

To the Editor.
 Please pardon me for answering a personal question through your paper. The question was, What do you think this administration will do?"
 Let me answer you this way; We are at the threshold of a new order. Individual competition, having run its course, has now become monop- oiv whether men wish it or no. The evidences of the new order are coming to light m every paper magazine and book. The efforts 10 control the trusts and monopolles are the dim vision of the many that something is wrong and must De changed. This vision will become clearer and clearer just as was the grasp of the individual competitive idea as the world emerged from feudalism. The demand for mu- njcipal ownership of pubic utiLi- ties. the complaints and protests aeaInst court decisions favorable 10 the masters of industry. the many and increasing fraternal organiza- tions and political demands, the lh- surgency of the Progressive party and the political revolution Just passed. with the many efforts to get radical laws as relates to the oWh- CTS of monopolies-all these are 1 straws that presase the coming storm or popular dlSapproVal oi me conditions that have grown out ol | the old system Ii the industries l were forced back to the old condl- | tions of fifty years ago the era ol 1 monopoly would return m ten years and be about as f is now, But I the day of small industries IS gone, ] never to return. The great indus tries have proven their fitness to survive and no law that can be en- acted would drive the people back to the small shop and hand tools ot yesterday. We are to have greater industries. They are developing every day. Only feeble minded per sons believe that We can control the trusts while permitting few to| own them. The rich and cunning owners of the industries, to main tain their power and prestige, can and will bribe and control our law makers and our judges and prevent our having them operated for the benefit of the whole people IL Is absurd 10 expect anything else. There is only one road out of the morass into which every nation of the earth finds itself. That is that all industries be owned by the gov ernment, so that no part of the peo- pie will have any interest greater than their neighbor in manipulating the laws and courts for private gain. With such ownership, there could be no great private fortunes built up. but the industries would be greater and greater, benefting all who worked in them or used their products. The common wealth would be common wealth. not pri- Nate wealth. Being produced by the workers as it always has beenl, if would belong 10 and serve the worker and the droneS would either have to go to work or starve. Now the drones often draw millions year income. while the workers .are rotting in poverty and degre- daiion after producing inconceiy- able quantities of the very things for which they are suffering. We are 'to have greater and greater in- .duStfies. Monopoly is certain and sure, It is merely question as to whether we will have public mo- nop0ly for the benefit of all. or pri- Vate monopoly for the benefit of the few. We have a choice between these two ways. We have no other choice. One or the other it is cer- tain to be. One way is Socialism. for the good of all. The other is the belief in private capital for the benefit of the few and the degreda- ton and poverty of the many. When the development reaches a state that makes this plain to the ma jority, there seems to be but one course for them to pursue-that is for all the capital to become the serving function of all the people. The danger lies in the people not seeing this until oppression shall force them into a revolution. There fore l must admit that I see no re- lief coming from the present administration.
 Very truly yours,
 Ross Ford