Gilpin observer., 1919-09-18
PLAY NO FAVORITES
Political Anarchists Sent to Jail;
Why Favor Industrial Anar-
chists? Asks the Butte Bulletin.

|
Ever since the writer can re-
member and probably for many
years before the public has in
dulged fear of anarchy which
the doings of anarchists scarcely
seemed to warrant.
The avowed anarchist was an
object of general detestation and
constant police surveillance. The
slightest appearance of miscon-
duct on his part was heralded far
and wide. In rare cases, smart
ing under wrongs inflicted by the
injustice in the existing social or
der, he resorted to secret violence.
For this he was promptly held up
to scorn and the responsibility for
all violence not otherwise clearly
accounted for was laid at his door.
What Breeds Anarchy?
Sometimes such violence grew
out of business rivalries. Some
times it grew out of the antagon-
ism between capital and labor.
| Whatever the cause he was the
culprit or the goat-more often
the latter.
He was opposed to the dictation
of society thru the state in regu-
lation or limitation of human con-
duct and individual initiative.
He believed in absolute freedom
of conscience. He was, and is,
therefore, a rebel against consti-
tuted authority and the state must
in self-defense regard him as a
public enemy and wage war of
suppression or determination
against him.
In return for this kindly notice
he exposes unflinchingly the pol
itical shams, the industrial injus-
tice, and the religious hypocrisy
of modern society.
Born under monarchial forms
he is the anthithesis of the mon
arch. Reared in a wealth-controll-
ed democracy he opposes the gov
ernment because it interferes with
his pursuit of happiness. Left to
himself he lives quiet, peaceful
life with conscience as his sole
dictator. 80
So long as the majority of US
believe in government the anar-
chist must to some extent be re-
garded as an outlaw.
We may not be able to agree
with the anarchist, but we can
play fair with him.
In order to do so we must con-
slider who and what are his chief
accusers.
The Anarchists Accusers
We find in them the barons of
manufacture, the magnates of
transportation, the princes of
commerce, the lords of natural re-
sources, and the kings of high A.
nance.
The business and purpose of
each and all of these is to get
wealth to increase their power, to
get more wealth, and to continue
this process while life shall last.
These men cajole or buy our
representatives, they dictate to
our executives, and they frame de-
cisions for our courts. They be-
lieve in law only so far as it is
made, interpreted, and enforced
in their interest. They oppose ev-
cry law intended to restrict indiv-
idual initiative in the control of
business.
They want the anarchist free
dom of conscience and liberty of
action for themselves, but not for
the rest of us. They want busi-
ness to be free from legal restric-
tions and governmental interfer-
ence. They oppose public owner
ship or operation of any and ev-
cry industry where there is an op-
portunity to choose.
Not Public Benefact0rs
Their attitude is not prompted
by a benevolent desire for the pub
lie welfare but by the lust of
wealth and the power it confers.
What shall we say of these men
who pursue the avowed anarchist
without mercy for holding to GER
tain principles in politics while
they fight for the application of
the same principles to industry?
If all that opponents of anarchy
say with regard to the conditions
which political anarchy would
produce be true, then even a cur
sorry view of present Industrial