The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1915-05-27

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You hear a good deal about the
folly" Of pubic ownership. From
what you read in the newspapers and
from what you hear distinguished
men say, you may think that the peo-
pie are very foolish even to think
about the public ownership and, oper-
alton Of their public utilities. That
is precisely what the men who make
money out OF the public utilities want
YOU to think. That is why you hear so
much about the folly" Of trying to
make public utilities serve the pub
lie Instead Of serving these men. And
the newspapers and the men who
make money out OF public utilities
tell YOU this in the face OF the TACT
that public ownership where tried IN
the United States serves and pleases
the people. More remarkable still, the
last is true despite the efforts OF the
men who make money out OF public
utilities to make 'foliies'' out OF public
ownership experiments. oh, yes.
They do Just that. They openly and
coyertlv try to make public owner
ship a failure. 1t is hard to believe
that honorable" men would do some
OF the things these men do. You want
to know what they do1 Well read and
see what they have tried to do to the
Chicago Drainage Canal. The story
follows. Wherever public ownership
is tried the same kind of men will try
earnestly to make it fail. So it is
we'll to get on to their game. 1t IS
not easy to catch them, but here is
one definite story. Whatsdo you think
about it?
When war between nations is de-
clared, all diplomatic relations are
broken off, the ambassadors get their
passports, and proclamations are iss-
ued. Then the bands play, the tread
sof marching soldiers is heard, and the
newspapers come out with great head
lines. War between nations is in the
open.
When, however, war against the
Common Good is decided on by Big
Business seeking to exploit commu-
nifty or nation, the procedure is differ
ent. Facts are distorted by the lead
ers Of public opinion, the agents OF
the corporations go about wearing
gum shoes, and the newspapers eith-
er misrepresent the situation or pre-
serve a solemn silence in the presence
of the common danger until the thing
is put over.
Have the Trusts declared war
against public ownership and the COM
mon good? If not, what is the mean
ing of the presence and activity of the
.'sniperss along the line of march OF
civic progress?
The enemies of the Common Good
said it would not do to have postal
savings banks. Well, they have been
established; beginning has been
made.
The same people said the govern
ment could not run the parcel post.
The government is running it, never
fheless and the parcel post is doing
pretty well. thank you.
Every now and then a newspaper
or magazine contains an editorial, OF
an elaborate contribution from some
traveller, alleging the failure of gov
eminent railroads teleQraphs and teIe-
phones in Europe, and the superiority
OF American methods as exempiified
by private ownership of public utili-
ties The next time you see an article
Of this kind, turn to the advertising
columns and see how railroad, tele-
graph and telephone advertisers have
like political managers in critical elec-
tion times, put their money where il
will do the most good.
And now. as shown in a recent
number Of Pearson's, the New YORK
Young Mems Christian Association
IS to have a course Of lectures
on public ownership, in which bank
ers, brokers and college professor.
will expound the gospel according tc
Wall Street
The United States Commission OF
Industrial Relations has been visiting
various parts of the country for the
purpose Of studyisg the causes of in
dnstrial unrest. At Chicago last sum.
mer Samuel lnsull was one of the wit.
nesses testifying before the commits
sion.
Who is Samuel insult? He is pres.
idenf OF the Commonwealth Edison CO
chairman OF the board Of directors oi
the Peoples Gas Light and Coke Co
and president ordifector Of corpora.
tions controlling practically all public
utilities within radius Of fifty miles
around Chicago, as we'll as a director
III many such companies operating
throughout the United States. Hs
was formerly second vice-presideni
Of the General Electric Co, head oi
the Electric Trust.