Denver labor bulletin., 1915-02-13

work for the people to do. And they
could find it.
Think of the things that this country
needs that the idle men could do. We
need waterway from the city OF Chi
cago to the Gulf of Mexico to be able
to carry the biggest ships.
That would give work to hundreds OF
thousands of men, to all of. our machin-
cry from Panama and to lots of other
machinery. And it would pay for itself
and the government could afford it.
Take the neglected and badly managed
state of New Jersey as an example.
It needs canal as much as a little
school boy needs shoes. But it can't get
it because those in office are usually
running for some other office ahead of
time, or doing their best to get some.
thing for themselves out of the offices
that they fill.
There ought to be canal running
from the inside of Sandy Hook all the
way down to Barnegat bay. Every man
who lives in New Jersey knows that.
The natural water courses already ex-
isting could be used. The rest could be
dug out.
1t would not take long, would not cost
much, it would give employment to
thousands. it would pay for itself
thousand times.
That canal would permanently benefit
the state of New Jersey and the state
of New York, and permanently add to
the nations wealth.
Need Government Ownership.
Water freight could be taken from all
the farms in New Jersey to New York
City without going on the rough ocean.
People would come and 60 in their small
boats. Boat building. farming would be
promoted, food would be made cheaper
for the millions of New York City,
prosperity greater for the New Jersey
farmers
But there is no brain to dig that lit
tie canal and tens of thousands Of men
sit idle, machinery is rusting.
We need government ownership rail-
roads-more railroads. better managed.
lowest prices. better pay for workers.
II you ask. .-Iiow could the govern
ment pay more and charge lower
prices . your answer is very simple;
One single railroad-the New York
central-iT paying ar, an average of Q per
cent ON at least $500. 100000.
Six per cent on $500, 900 900 is sls,.
100000.
The government could borrow that
money at } per cent and save $1,000. 900.
All the railroads shed tears recently
because under decision OF arbitrators
the wages of Eastern railroad workers
were raised a total of S6,O00.0 600 a year.
The railroads said they couldn't live
IL all together in the East they paid
s6.000,000 more for wages.
But the government of the United
States could save $6,00O,00O on one sin
gle interest charge on one single rail
road. And it would have rates lower
or increase wages stfll further.
We need government ownership Of
railroads. Of ships, Of telegraphs and
telephones.
Too Big for Private Ownsrs-
We need to have this big government
and the intelligence Of the people do for
all the people what the railroad mana
gers and the little men have proved that
they can't do.
They can't manage the business to be-
gin with.
They can't keep from stealing in the
second place
They wouldn't keep from stealing II
they could.
The New York, New Haven & Hart
ford, run and looted by thieves; the
Chicago < Rock Island, managed and
looted by thieves; half dozen other
railroads of the same kind, a lot OF
them bankrupt and others soon TO be
bankrupt. all prove that this country
should run the things that have grown
too big for the little private owners.
A country should do for its citizens
what the intelligent farmer does for his
horscs-find for them work, useful. nee
essary and steady.