Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-10-10

statesmen were unable to see except at
close range. They could not sud
denly view a Christian brotherhood
of nations with the smoke Of the bat
tlefelds and the stencil of the dead
still poisoning the atmosphere. Wood
row Wilson stood alone voicing for all
nations the spiritual aspirations OF
common humanity. He was coldly re-
ceived in court circles abroad, as he
is by the masters in high finance in
this country, who really do not want
democracy safe in any country where
they rule or make their money. Tnose
senators who are now opposing the
treaty say by their acts that they are
ready to continue international an
archy, war and destruction, provided
they can secure political advantage at
home. These men who insolently call
themselves leaders, try to deceive the
public with vast moral pretensions,
when as a matter of fact they are after
electing one Of their number president
of the United States, regardless OF
larger consequences.
Reform or Ruin.
/ am not an alarmist, nor ringer
of alarm bells am getting to the age
when man becomes philosopher.
IT is my honest opinion that civilization
itself is on trial. Unless present ten
deneies are speedily checked, distress
and violence will work havoc in this
world in comparison with which the
evils of the war (great as they were)
will be pucrile. We can hear OF the
determination Of an entire race Of peo-
pie in Turkey and the wholesale ex-
termination Of property owning and
educated classes in Russia, with the
abolition of private property and the
nationalizing of woman. 1t is no or
dinary problem which confronts us.
1t has nothing to do with accommo-
dating to a gradually changing social
and industrial status. 1t does not con-
template mere modification of old in
dustrial forms to. changed conditions,
1t has no concern with amendments to
existing conditions. This European
is launching stern questions
at the system itself, which constitutes
the present order Of society 1t IS
denying its right to continued exist
cnce. 1t Is in this country. You have
only to read the demand Of organized
labor as to the railroads. The demand
made recently in the steel strikes.
These strikes will fail because the
people of the United States aresnot in
sympathy with the movement, but it
still leaves the question unanswered.
All Of the actions Of men first live
in the thoughts Of their mind or emo
tions of their hearts. These are the
forces which create revolu-
ton. There it stands, grim, menacing,
and terrible, and SO 1t will stand un-
Ill Justice be done or crash comes
which will go echoing down the ages.
The alternative is before this country
Of industrial reform or ruin. III we
refuse the one, the other shall surely
compel us.
The same fundamental cause that
brought about the war is still In op-
Grafton; every government in TINS
world is specially designed and ad-
ministcred to bring comfort and lux
ury to class instead Of to mankind
as whole. The world has tried the
governing power Of evil, 1t is up to the
United States now to try goodness rs
governing force. During the war and
since the consolidation of manufactur-
ing and financial interest has been tax
ing place at n rate and on scale never
known before. Tho Sherman antitrust
law is :; dead letter for the trusts now
control all of the necessities OF life;
they own all of the copper, coal and
other mineral lands together with the
means of transportation. There was a
great outcry during Roosevelt's admin
istrat!on against the trusts. He prose-
cuted certain malefactors of great
wealth" as he called them. Those were
pigmies compared with the giants that
now have vast cold storage plants,
buy up all the tomatoes. washing pow
ders, baking powders, fruits, eggs, put
ter and sugar. Armour and Swift with
their associations have this country by
the throat. There was never as much
food in the United States as today. IL
is under the control of those interests
who make it artificially scarce and con-
stantly raise the price. l heard mer-
chant say a few months ago that ne
could not get any rice except through
Armour. Look at our cotton SEED.
This same combination controls the
seed market and the fertilizer market.
They name the price which you must
pay for fertilizer. There is no compe-
titive seed market. They fix just one
price and you have got to take it or let
the seed rot. The same combination
through their ownership of stock and
interlocking directorates control every
necessity of life. Just new they are in
a great fight with organized labor and
when that is settled, you watch what
tell you. they are going to take charge
of the cotton market just as they nave
tho seed market. They are now try
lND