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About The independent. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907 | View Entire Issue (March 5, 1903)
UET THE NATIOK OWN THE TRUSTS "It seems probable that events in-the future may show that H. Gaylord Wil shire builded better than he knew when he coined that catchy sentence, which is his slogan "Let the nation . own the trusts." Even a cursory stu dy of American history will Bhow what an important part has always, teen played by expressive , catch words, phrases and sentences. Of course, Wilshire, when he says, "Let the nation own the trusts," fol - Iowa it up with his socialistic argu ment for the collective ownership of the means of production and distri bution. He does not mean the sort of ownership which is best illustrated by . a ioint-stock company, where the own er" of one share has one vote; the own er of ten shares, ten votes, and the owner of a thousand or ten thousand shares, a corresponding number of - vbtes and absolute control of the destiny of not only the property repre sented by his shares, but also the property represented by the shares of all the "little fellows," who in the aggregate may own more than he does, but by reason of being widely separated cannot, If they would, act in concert. The heaviest-patron of the Lincoln postoffice has no greater ownership in the building and grounds than the man who never receives or sends a letter. Every person (not outlawed as a "fraud") can use the postoffice, both as to sending and receiving mail, just as much or as little as he sees fit, if ' he has the money to pay for the ser vice. The ownership is "equal," but not joint. "Government'ownership is technically a misnomer although without direct legislation and power to recall public officials, as is the case at present, the technically incorrect term is practically correct. A Madden may wield the power of a .czar for years before he can be reached. "Public" ownership the populist de mand say- as applied to railroads, would ' under present conditions be "government" ownership. But even with direct legislation in force it would differ from "collective" owner ship, as 1 understand the aims of so cialism,, in that under socialism only those encaeed in railroad business would have a voice in managing the railroad business; while under popul- ism the public would elect the chief officers and the remaining, employes would be. under a civil service tenure similar to that over, the, present postal employes, except that it should be bet- .. . . ter. ' " ' "- . But Judge Peter S. Grosscup of Chi cago seems to be the appointed or self appointed instrument to turn the ef- ' feet of Wilshire's slogan into a dif ferent channel. He, too, wants the "nation" to own the trusts to "peo pleize" them, as he calls it. .The form of ownership he has In mind, how ever, is "joint" not "equal." Read ers of The Independent will recollect Ms address before the students of the University of Nebraska some weeks aeo. This has recently been repeated at the University of Michigan and doubtless other colleges will hear from " him alone: the same line. He is alarmed by the story statistics tell. For example, between 1880 and . 1890 the following increases were made: Groth of population, about 20 per cent Growth of general wealth, about 25 per cent. Growth of bank deposits, about1 73 per cent.";.,:, : "' ' 1 'f , 'Then, again, in the." decade from 1890 to 1900: Growth of population, about 20 per " . cent. ' . ' ' Growth of general wealth, about 23 per cent ' r Growth, of bank deposits, 85 per cent. This, to his mind, shows ''that the people at large are withdrawing from ownership in the industries ; of the 'country" and putting their money in the banks and that the figures "point to a time in the near future, if the present methods of consolidation go on, when, barring the shopkeeper, the farmer, and, the owner of city real es tate . . . there will be but compara tively few proprietors among the run of citizens who ordinarily would be in terested in the country's industries." " His remedy is "peopleization" that Is, to bring the industries under such government supervision and control as will make their 'stocks and lxrad3 safe subjects, for public investment In other words, an amplified publicity with a"Bort of national bank attach ment, perhaps. - Have Uncle Sam "O. K." the stocks, or better still Indorse ' them and "maintain the parity." Hence, "peopleization" is simply a ' term for another form of paternalism by which the captains of industry can sell their stocks, under a guaranty from Uncle Sam," to a great number of small holders who can never have any real voice In the management of the concerns they hold, stock in. ( The Outlook gives this scheme Its "hearty indorsement" and adds: The churches, , the schools, the government that is, the religious, the educational, and the politi cal institutions of the United . States are . democratic in their structure. All the people are alike interested in them, all the people , share In their control. What is necessary for the solution of our industrial problem is that all the people- should have an interest and should share in the control, of our industrial organizations., . There, is ho parallel between Judge Grosscup's "peopleization" scheme and ownership in churches , and schools. Who owns any stock in the University of Nebraska? .Who has joint ownership in one of Nebraska's public schools? What is the market price of stock in St Paul's Methodist church? How can one sell his owner ship in the county court house? Would John Doe s interest in the postoffice be regarded as good collateral at the bank? Ilet Wilshire look to his laurels. "Peopleization" may deflect the Nia gara of industry through 'the Welland Canal of joint-stockism so it will not flow over the precipice of collective ownership. CHARLES Q. DE FRANCE. A resolution was Introduced into congress last week looking to the pur chase of Canada from Great Britain. The horror expressed on all hands at the Idea that a people tiould be bought and sold like cattle is in strange con trast with the ideas evolved by re publican editors when the imperialists bought the Filipinos for $2.50 a head. As far as The Independent is con cerned, it can see no difference in the ethics involved inx purchasing Fili pinos and Canadians. All the Washington correspondents agree in the statement that there was the greatest display of millinery In that city last week that was ever seen on the face of the earth. The gowns and hats, as well as the furs and wraps, were of such costly magnif icence that the reporters gave up in despair at the very thought of de scribing them. These goods were ex hibited on the persons of the Daught ers of the American Revolution, who had met to elect officers of their organization. Outside of New York city perhaps there is no city of any considerable size that equals Indianapolis fox pluto cratic democrats. The contention be tween Hon. Flavius Van Vorhis and the Sentinel (the chief "democratic" organ in Indiana) ought to open the eyes of real democrats. As Mr. Van Vorhis points out, Mr. Morse, editor., of the Sentinel, is one of the editorial associates of the National Economic League, and doing all he can to bring about the "benevolent feudalism" pre dicted by Mr. Ghent in his remark able book. The many friends of William W. Bride, former Washington correspon dent for this paper, will be pleased to learn that he has been chosen a mem ber of the debating team of George town university school of law, which will debate the University of Wiscon sin on the subject of "Compulsory Ar bitration Between Capital and Labor. In over a hundred years, covering many . debates, Georgetown has been beaten but once and retaliated the same year by winning from the former winner. This debate is the second with the University of Wisconsin. Georgetown won the first in 1899. The reference to Copernicus and his discovery of the movement of the earth about the sun made in the ar ticle last week headed "Conflicting Views" was one of those incomplete statements Which are made in the hurry of a newspaper office. Of course in his life time, the Copernician the ory was known, to but few and doubt less caused no one to suggest that Copernicus was insane because he very prudently withheld publication until about the time of his death. But it is a matter of history that Luther regarded him as a fool, if not act ually crazy. Thirteen women of "good standing in society" were arrested in a Chicago pool room and charged with frequent ing gambling houses. They were al lowed to plead guilty by an attorney and did not appear at the trial. Here Is another demonstration that there is one kind of justice for the poor and another for the rich allowed in our courts. These "society" ladies were fined $1 each and their names sup pressed. Poor women would not have received that kind of treatment In our courts. IAW1S HOR SES Are sensations to his buyers, his low prices are "warm propositions" to M eompeti. rami will -show jrou MORE stallions of big size, quality and finish than ALL r? IN NEBRASKA, and horses you will wish to bny or pay your fare to hlrT?nP Jool Jon will pay cash or five bankable note, yoa will sure bny a stallion of JAMS. In UtolMV be imported 63 black and bay stallions, they cannot be duplicated m any importing; barns in tlist United States for the number, for big site, quality, finish, royal breeding and bargain prices. iney areau TOP NOTCHERS. Visitors and buyers throng his barna and say: Hello, BUll I'm from Illinois; I m Ikey from Missouri j la ml has the good ones; be shows us horses better than he advertises. See that J,900-lb 2-year-old, "a hummer," I bought bim at $1,200. Couldn't duplicate him in Illinois. Ohio, or Iowa at $2,000. See that 2,150-lb 3-year-old, a "ripper". Say, Ikeyl ewe those six black 2,jU-ib 4-year-olds he is showing to those Ohio men. They are the BEST I EVER HAW. . Say, boys 1 look at this 5,100-lb pair of beauties ; they ere worth going from Maine to California to sea (better than the pictures'. 8ay, Ikey, you couldn't go wrong here. They are all "crackerjacks . If you pen your mouth and your pocketbooks, you will do business. lams sells them. lie bason nana Imported and home bred, ' ,. ' .... 117-BLACK PERCHERONS, BELGIANS & COACHERS-117 2 to 8 years old, weiht 1.600 to 2.500 lbs., all approved and stamped by the European govern meat, 85 per cent BLACKS, SO per cent TON HUKSKS. lams speass rrencn ana direet from the breeders. PAYS NO INTERPRETERS. NO BUYERS, NO SALESMEN. HAft NO TWO TO TEN MEN AS PARTNERS TO SHARE PROFITS WITH ; his buyersget middle man's profits. These six facts and his 21 years of successful business at St. Paul makes him sell first class stallions at fifty cents on the dollar, and saves his buyers $500 to $1,080 on each stallion. FARMERS: Form your own stock company, why pay slick salesmen $2,500 to $S,000 for third rate stallion when you can buy a better one of lams at $1,000 or $1,200. First class stall ons ar NEVER PIDDLED to be sold. IT COSTS tSM TO 1,000 TO HAVE A COMPANY FORMED BY SALESMAN : IAMS pays horses freight and his buyers' fare. Write for finest horse cata logue in United States, showing 40 Illustrations of his horses. It is an eyeopeuer. References, St. Paul State bank, First State bank and Citizens' National bank, Barns in town. FRANK I AM ST. PAUL, Howard Co., Neb. On U. P. and B. A M. Rya. DRAFT STALLIONS, SHIRES, PERCHERONS, BELGIANS. 60 We down all Pft Head to select from all im . OU ported by us and guaranteed. $1,000 buys a good one from us this fall. competition by selling more quality for less money than the small importers can possibly do. We do not advertise 100 and only have 20, but have just what we claim. 60 good ones now on hand. Barns just across from B. & M. depot. On September 9 we landed iO head, which is our 34th import. , Watson, Woods Bros. &Ke!Iey Co,, - - - - Lincoln, Neb. illllllllllH ,AHR' io3l RANGES V0 3 Sit6 Hardware STOVES, SEEDS Now at 1032 O St. Frank E. Lahr, To. illlllllllllllllllill!l!!!!li!lillilII!IIIIillllllill!IIIII!IIIIII!IIIIIIIH WritAa nostal card today if you want to take part in The Independent's school of political economy. The Denver Post is in hard lines. The newsboys all over the state re fuse to sell the paper. That paper made a villainous attack on wage workers and the boys won't sell it any more. Some of the boys have been arrested, and no doubt the courts will find a way to compel them to by some new-fangled construction of the con stitution or an appeal to "inalienable rightS." yy Troops are being constantly shipped to the Philippines. In one case a regi ment that has served the regulation timeHhere is being sent back. There is something the matter over there. The judges are bound to stand by the railroads every time. The Wiscon sin supreme court , has gone so far along that line that it rebuked, in one of its decisions, a lawyer for the earn estness ' of his speech in a damage case against a, railroad. That is. the first instance of the kind on record. If ' a lawyer in that state hereafter prosecutes a case of damages against a railroad with earnestness he had better look out. . From the course the judges have pursued that, the republicans have put on the bench, it appears that the party which boasts so much about having established free labor among the blacks of the south, has not much sym pathy with free labor among the whites of the north. The moral character as well as the intelligence of the crowd which pop ulists are invited to join is indicated by the charge that Bryan, months be fore he, or any one else, knew that he was to be nominated for the presi dency by the democrats, made an ar rangement with the populist leaders to support him and fuse with the demo cratic party. The intelligence mani fested in making such a charge is on a parity with the morals of the man who made it and the crowd to which he belongs. How many populists will be attracted by such a showing? Certificate of Publication State of Nebraska Office of Auditor of Public Accounts Lincoln, February 1st. 1903. It is hereby certified, That the Hartfodr Lifa insurance company of Hartford, in the state of Connecticut, has complied with the insurance law of this state, applicable to such companies and is therefore authorized to continue the bus iness of Life insurance in this state for the cur. rent year ending Januaiy 31st, 1904. Summary of report filed for the year ending December 31st, 1902. INCOME Premiums 2,442.301.9(5 All other sources 150,317.05 Total 2,592,619.01 DISBURSEMENTS Paid policyholders 1.801.522.55 All other payments 618,979.46 lotal. 2,420,502.01 Admitted assets $3,194,734.03 LIABILITIES Net reserve 500,520.00 Net policy claims 220,819.00 Alt other liabilities..... 1,546,025.24 2,267,364.24 Capital stock paid up ... 500,000.00 Surplus beyond capital stock and other liabil- " . ities.. 427,369.79 927,369.79 Total . . 3,194,734.03 Witness my band and the seal of the auditor of public accounts the day and year first a boy a written. Charles Weston, J. L. Pierce, Auditor of public accounts. Deputy. Certificate of Publication ..State of Nebraska Office of Auditor of Public Accounts Lincoln, February 1st. 1903.' It is hereby certified, That the Home Life In surance company of New York, in the state of New York, has complied with the insurance law of this state, applicable to such companies and is therefore' authorized to continue the busi nes of Life insurance in this state for the cur rent year ending January 31st, 1904. . Summary of report filed for the year ending December 31st, 1902. INCOME Premiums ........$ 2,537,702.61. All other sources 679,664.7i ' ' 1 Total.. $ 3,217,367.31.: DISBURSEMENTS Paid policy holders... 1,339,933.40 . , All other payments... 843,817.61 . , Total , .,.$2,183,751.07 Admitted assets $14,432,216.66 LIABILITIES Net reserve $12,867,248.00 Net policy claims and matured installment ' policies not yet due. 96,650.40 All other liabilities.. . 144,910.36 13,108,808.75 Capital stock paid up. 125,000.00 1 Surplus beyond capi- '. ' tal stock and other ' liabilities... ...... ... 1,198,407.80 ! ' 1.323.407.S0 Total. ........ . . $14,432,216.68 W ltness my hand and the seal of the auditor of public accounts the day and year first above t rrtte,?- ai ihTf? weton. J. L. Pierce, . Auditor of public accounts. Deputy. Do you want to read the best books on political economy? Then write a card to The Independent today.
