The St. Joseph observer., 1921-10-29
TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

such thing as too much of good
thing-and that is exactly the reason
that the present railroad troubles are
setting the United States by the ears
As an example there is organization
and machinery when they go hand in
hand.
A few wealthy men-and who con-
troll capital meet-they organize and
pool their capital--to build and oper-
ate a railroad. A splendid thing. 1t
makes possible new development in
creased production. exchange Of COM
modities between wide distances. The
spread Of civilization depends upon it.
The employees by whose labor the
railroad is operated likewise organize,
so as to be able, in the defense of
their own rights and interests. to
meet with their united strength the
united strength of the men who own
the railroad. Again a splendid thing;
a necessary movement, as experience
has proven, to assert and protect the
dignity and rights Of human flesh and
blood when 1t comes to dividing equit-
ably the joint products of capital and
labor.
But the railrC ads grow, in numbers
and mileage. They come to represent
tens Of billions or capital to cover
hundreds Of thousands OF miles. The
employees increase from a few hun
dreds to almost two million.
And the ownership is organized not
alone within each railroad system but
among all the systems. The employees
for itself on the systcm it serves, but
all the groups are organized among
themselves and compacted into one
great group.
On the one hand an enormous ag-
gregation Of capital on the other Of
labor. Covering the country like a
great blanket. Groups of private citi-
zens, their orya nization so extensive
and yet so compact that they hold
over all other citizens a power such
as no. government even the most
duspotic and irresponsible. ever WELD
ell, The power in literal truth, Of
life or death. For between them they
control, as a monopoly, an indispen-
sable public service. On the efficient
funcuonins OF that service depends
not only the production and commerce
Of a great people, but their daily
bread.
\ group 80 Indispensable, so power
full. that if it refuses to function dis
aster as terrible as war or pestilence
o. famine, and including, possibly, all
three, is the natural consequence.
II each railroad stood by itself, If
each group OF employees serving that
railroad stood by itself, no such power
could rest In GIivate hands. Where
one system. one group, might fail,
others would continue to serve and by
extending their services fill tho void.
But when all are combined, when in
tho hands of few men representing
the two great groups rests finally the
power to precIpitate war between
railroad capital and railroad labor TO
Threaten or actually bring about a
Suspension OF all railroad services, or
zltion has reached the point where a
relatively few citizens are mightier
than the government of all the clti-
zens.
The m enAce exists not merely as &c
railroads. 1t exists everywhere-or-
panization and combination for the
c ntrol OF machinery in this age o.
L. chinery. and for the lions share o
is products. II controls nearly ever!
iudustry--or quarrels for its control
These quarTels bring on not only in
dustrial warfare but internationa
war. Tho great war itself was tn
fruit of it. 20 an extent greater thai
most people now realize.
And to sum st all up in the grea
dispute that now impends. it is not
question Of the rights or wrongs, 70
there may be right or wrong on botl
sides The dispute eliminates, jus
the same. IN an explosion that blow
Dr. Average Man. the innocent spec
or, off his feet. The question is
c. stion Of too much power and tn
portunity to abuse it.
Democratic platforms have beei
I ing us for a quarter OF a centur
TIT a private monopoly is intolerabl
aul indefensible. Through the stead
N.te hands. power OF capital an,
T.War Of labor. the truth Of this OBJ