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.
