Evening star., 1924-08-27

Continued from First Page)
government stands. Democracy rests
upon the private ownership of prop
erty as much as upon any other basis.
The basis of monopoly, and of all
large ownership. is in the institution
of private property. There is no 60
ing back of that fact. 1t stands, and
all theorists will do well to remem-
ber it,
Starting on that basis. ownership
submits to natural forces at work in
the field of industry. These natural
forces make for constantly enlarging
units of production and constantly
enlarging organizations for produc-
ton and distribution. Some Of this
enlargement is undoubtedly devised
also 10 enlarge profits. But basicly
it is all, so far as it is sound and
lasting. in accord with changing
methods of production and devised to
secure economy of production. volume
of production and facility of distri-
button. 1t is economically sound. 1t
is in response to normal and natural
demand for methods that fit the re-
quirements of men and machinery.
Steel Trust Prnised.
The United States Steel Corpora :
ton is called a trust 1t is a pro-
duction machine of tremendous worth
to the people of America. 1t was
built 10 work and il does work. The
supreme Court, wiser than platform
builders. found way to allow it to
live. 1t was good strategy, too. for
1t saved the Government the humilia-
tion of an unenforceable decree
Henry Ford. in national ad-
vertising campaign, is frankly telling
\ hiy,.,, ir,,,
Of production units-a horizontal
trust, including mines, forest, mills.
SmelterS, railroads, ship lines and
factories. Here is a machine which
came into being in response to a
natural demand. 1t is wonderful
economic machine for economical
production. Ford knows this and he
is doubtless advertising the explana-
ton of its sound merits in order to
build up a public understanding that
VIII be too wise to attack it destruc-
lively.
'Whatever platform builders may
say, it is too late in the economic
day to go out with a broom to sweep
back the tide. The tide was started
when steam power was discovered
hastened when steam was harnessed
TO machine puEeys, accelerated whe n
Ben Franklin flew his kite into cleo
force when the modern factory sys-
tenn stood forth in full flower. On
this tide we go onto better things, or
in 1t we go down to destruction.
Would Ride This Tide.
We cannot turn back the tide, but
we can ride it.
The proper sphere of government
in helping toward beneficial results is
to find and furnish information to
get at and make known the facts, to
encourage and insist upon develop
ment within industry of machinery
which will take from invested wealth
its dictatorial power over PoIices of
production, employment and public
relations. There is a normal course
which must be pursued, just as there
always is where life and it's perpetual
ton are concerned. The Government
may be helpful, but it cannot take
over the task without spelling the
whole effort.
"The American Labor movement will
resist at all times every effort at gov
ernmental coercion, every effort of
government blindly to go counter to
the natural and evolutionary forces
that are at work where life has it's
being and it's sustenance. Labor is
concerned with life, while govern
ment too often sees only formulas
"In this issue there is bound up the
whole contest between governmental
ism and individual and group free
dom, between free industry and State
socialism. Labor is for freedom, for
the normal, rational things-for the
utmost of freedom and fullness for
life and life forces. Let politicians
give heed to these thoughts