The daily Alaska citizen., 1920-01-18

example. corresp ponds first to a fund ameutal human instinct, the instinct of acquisition, the instinct of posses sion. As man is constituted, he de sires Jo own and 10 hold things. It is by appeal to these elementary things in human nature that We draw out men's energies. The desire for private property is one of the most powerful agencies in spurring men to , effort trat can be found. Men will work harder for their personal ends than they will for general public ends. Men will take better care of their own property than they will of what belongs to the group as whole A system in which each man is made responsible for his own welfare and the welfare of his family leads to far greater effort on the part of men than any other system known. In dustrias run by governments are in general far more wasteluliy conduct ed than are industries run by private individuals whose profits depend on tho outcome Ol the operations. EXcep- tions can be found among some muny clpaI enterprises. in which the ac- .utity under observation is relatively simple and comprehenslble, but few exceptions can be found among the enterprises conducted by great gov ernments Whatever else We may seek 10 do ln improving the social order. We must not do anything which will lessen the efficiency or produc- ton The fundamental fact in the whole social problem is the fact that We do not now produce enough.
 This does not mean, however. that all phases Of private property and all of ;1, lights connected with private prop-.ty should be regarded as sacred and not subject to criticism. Private property should be subject always t1 public regulation and sub ordinated 10 the public interest In great city, man should not be allov,d to put up hIgh building in suca u manner as to cut off light and air rom his neighbOrs. We do not allow men to maintain public hui sancea upon their private property. In arid and semi-alid regions, the right. to streams flowing thru q piece of land are subject to the larg- CT cNmmon need If private property is needed for public use, it may be taken either by taxation or under the rules Jf eminent domain. Again how far is the unlimited right of beQuest or inheritance an essential part of private property right? And again, is il necessary in order for us to get l.e best out of private property for social purposes that fortunes should be allowed to grow to un- limited size? These are questions about which we may well ponder "Wlrh reference to competition, the case is equally clear The instinct of rivalry Is fundamental in human | nature, and the spur of competition 1 is needed to make men do their best | Competition is the protection of the cons Imer against high prices which | accompany eXorbitant profits. It Is | the automatic force which reduces | profits depend upon low rather than on high prices It evokes in indi- l viduals the fundamental characteris- tic of energy, thrift and power. It hau9onizes the interests of the in dividual and of society.
 Whether competition is wholesome or no, depends upon the level of com petition. When unfair and unWhole- some methods of competition are introduced, the adulteration of goods, the making of alse representations, local underselling for the purpose of running 2 local cOmpetitor-these and othev unfair methods can and should be prevented Trade practices and public sentiment go far in this mat ter. Where necessary, the law should step ln. The game of business com petition must be played fairly. There must be no hitting below the belt Free enterprise, again, together with competition and private prop erty, is vital to economic progress. The man with ideas and initiative must be given free scope to carry out his plans. By and large, free private enterprise is so enormously superior to government ownership Of industry, or industry under govern rnent regulations, that the man who { has seen both systems in operation i intimately can have little doubt , about the matter.
 Free enterprise and competition l are highly undesirable under some . condiiors. There is general agree ment that unregulated competition between two parallel lines of rail roads may bankrupt one or both. Com lcting telephone systems in a given city are pernicious. There Is no room for competing street rail