White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-02-28
e'NATURAL ECONOMICS
(Continued)
By Jesse H. Tromanhauser

If, in the pursuit of scientific facts
and mechanical invention, men had
chung to the old methods and devices
as they have chung to our imperfect
economic system, there would be none
of the modern discoveries and me-
chanical improvements which we all
enjoy today. We must have the courage
to enter the realm of adventure and
to explore new social and economic
possibilities.
The timid will hesitate, but those
with confidence in themselves will go
forward. Christopher Columbus was
sure the Atlantic had another shore
and to prove his faith he gambled with
Dame Fate and risked the hazard of
uncharted seas, and won. There Is for
us a happier and more verdant econ
omic shore, but to win it we also must
brave the pillows of new, uncharted
waters and with our compass set for
straight Ahead, go confidently for
ward to new and more Utopian shore.
Our ship must not be of the Dread
naught type, and on it's deck there
must be no monsters of destruction.
We must make the crossing upon the
safe old ship of State commanded by
Justice and Equality, and plotted by
Peace and Harmony and Goodwill to-
wards ALL
This may appear more idealistic
than practical but when we contem-
plate the extremely serious situation
confronting all peoples on earth today,
we at once realize the imperative need
of altering our compass, and it is the
duty of our generation to develop and
to bring into practical operation a
clearly outlined system Of economics
that will do no injury or injustice to
any and bring greater comfort and
happiness to all.
In changing from our present econ
omic methods to those of a new sys-
tenn, there need be no resort to force
or violence. The change must be &C
complished by the sovereign will of the
people expressed by majority vote, just
as we now shift from the regime of
one political party to that of another.
| Violence, when used even in a good
: cause, always leaves an aftermath of
hatred and desire for revenge. There
fore, since the objective of the pro-
posed system is the general welfare
Of all, the change must be effected
without permanent or even temporary
injury to any section of society," This
may seem impossible of accomplish
ment to those who think only along the
lines of our present methods and mea-
sure life with the yard-stick of indi
vidual ownership, but to those who
can shake off their selfishness and get
a vision Of the rights and welfare of
others, there will be no difficulty in
recognizing the justice and practical
bility of the proposed new system.
In changing our industries from pri-
vate to collective or national owner
ship there would, of course, be a neces-
sity on the part of present private
owners to surrender all industry into
the hands of the whole people to be
] operated and controlled by them
through their constituted government
for the benefit of the whole people
and not for the profit of the few, as is
the case under our present economic
methods.
This transfer of industrial ownership
would not constitute an injustice to
present private interests nor would the
taking over of industry mean the con-
fiscation of property as that method
carries with it an injustice not COM
patible with the object and purpose
of change.
There must be proper consideration
for the interests of the private owner
and compensation given in return for
property taken over, but at the same
time it must not be assumed that the
interests of the present owners are the
only interests to be considered.
Modern thought assumes, as a great
fundamental fact, that the industry
of nation belongs to the whole peo-
pie of the nation and not to the few
who, under our present system, are
supposed to be the sole owners of our
industries. Therefore, since all of the
great industrial plants and organiza-
lions of today are the joint product of
capital and labor and the presence or
existence of the people, it follows that
all three are joint owners as their var
ious interests may appear, and the only
question is what portion of the whole
belongs to the various interests repre-
sented?" Certainly, they all have claims
that must be considered in making an
equitable adjustment between them.
Capital will, of course, assume that,
having paid wages to labor while build
ing and operating industry, labor is
therefore fully paid for it's service,
and that capital is sole owner of both
plant and industry, nor will capital
acknowledge that the presence of the
people who make industry necessary
has anything to do with the owner
ship of industry.
The laws and methods of man so
far have never fully acknowledged
these simple facts, yet they are the
laws OF nature and must be taken into
account in future human affairs 1t,
therefore, appears that the interests of
capital, labor and the people must be
in the ratio of their respective values
to the industry and since labor and
the consuming people represent two
thirds of those interested, it is rea-
sonable to assume that capital owns
the remaining third interest and moth
ing more. This statement, however,
need not be accepted as final, as it is
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