Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-06

hibh Soot oi hSiHB. OpiHioHS vary
greatly respecting the real causes Of
the rapidly increasing cost Of living,
but whatever cause or causes may be
assigned for 1t, will be found on closer
examination that they are all rooted in
disorders Of the economic system
which are caused by the substitution
cf the principle of exploitation for
tha> Of cooperation.
The Social System.
The social system deals with the
moral and intellectual wants Of man.
We refer to 1t here only to show Its
dependence on the economic system.
! It maintains churchs, schools, acade-
mics and universities; hospitals, sanl-
tariums and other benevolent institu-
tions; museums, art galleries and L.
braries; multitude of places Of in
struction and amusement, etc. A large
and diversified manufacturing indus
try has grown up and Is necessary to
supply the many wants Of these vari-
Gus institutions and Of individuals. At
women employ their intellect in the
service Of this system. All of them are
useful and necessary in their place--in
fact, they are the natural result Of the
evolution Of civilized society; but II
must be admitted that none of them
could exist without the profits result
ing from the primary and auxiliary
forces Of production and manufacture
of the economic system. Wealth can
be produced and accumulated within
the social system, but only by an in
direct draft on the economic system;
the prosperity Of the first depends
entirely on the prosperity Of the lat
ter. 1t is therefore Of vital interest to
everybody connected with the social
system that business and trade within
the economic system Is conducted on
sound and sane principles. ="
The Political System.
A nation Is entitled to that form of
government which is best suited to
the intelligence Of Its people; and 1t is
a decree Of nature that the capable
should lead the less intelligent But
whatever may be the particular form
Of government, whether It be monarch
ical, constitutional or democratic
each government must recognize and
accommodate itself to the fundamen-
tai principles Of political economy,
viz, evolution, cooperation and mo-
rality; otherwise no government can
endure. The common division Of the
functions Of government into three
branches, the legislative, the adminis-
trative or executive and the judiciary,
coincides with the above principles.
Applying these in particular, the ieg-
islative branch is based upon the
principles Of evolution; the admins
trative is subject to that of co-opera-
ton, and the judiciary voices the pre-
cepts Of morality. But all three are in
general SO closely interviewer. the one
so dependent upon the other, that 1t is
difficult to draw distinct line Of de-
rnarcation between them as regards
their underlying principles. The most
important function of government is
to regulate commerce.; in other words,
to regulate, the economic system. be-
cause 1t is the proper regulation of
this system which creates q sound and
healthy society and makes a good gov
ernment possible. A government
should never enact laws, or allow con-
ditions to exist that interfere with the
legitimate profits resulting from the
primary and auxiliary productive
forces; nor should 1t pledge itself ire
vocably to a certain economic policy
whereby the interests Of one class of
producers are unduly favored at the
expense of another. Business-by
which term is meant all the produc-
tive efforts Of man-should be allowed
to develop along natural lines, that Is,
subject to the principle Of co-opera-
ton, which tends to eliminate waste;
and to that Of evolution, which makes
towards improvement and reduces the
cost Of production. There are no 9TH
er factors which can cheaper the cost
of living. But it's the duty Of gov
ernment to see to II that all artificial
monopolies Of commodities are sup
pressed, and that artificial depressions
of other useful industries are prevent
ed The law Of supply and demand
will rule where 1t is dictated by ma
ture, and 1t should then not be the
subject Of legislation. But this law
becomes a fit subject for legislation
when applied to man made conditions.
A certain excess Of supplies in any
one industry need not necessarily be
the cause Of a depression in prices, re-
sulting in a reduction Of legitimate
profits and consequent losses to the
producer Nor is it in line with a
sound economic policy to market
crops at low prices or at loss be-
cause the supply Immediately after
harvest is larger than the current de-
mand
These are fit subjects for co-opera-
tive or legislative regulation. Such
regulation would be Of distinct benefit
to the entire economic system. 1t is
a fallacy to assume that the producer
gains and the manufacturer or con-
sumner loses through this adjustment
of supply and demand; each one gets
the profits to which he Is entitled and
which he must earn in order to per-
form his economic function and give
proper support to the social and po-
litical system. There is no antagonism
between producer, manufacturer and
consumer; their interests in the eco
nomic system are identical. 1t Is the
duty of government to
shape it's economic policy with view
of safeguarding the fair and reason
able profits resulting from the opera
tions Of the primary producing and
industries and to regu-
late, as far as that can be done, the
profits Of the auxiliary industries. Our
government has only partly succeeded
in this task. 1t has regulated the rail-
road traffic; it has established rates OF
interest on money; 1t has taken over
and developed the postal mail service;
and 1t Is now doing the same with the
hue Tho fa1aUTa nh and