OCR Text |
Show THE CITIZEN s Probably our wings will then be so clipped that we will drop down and out of sight. But Switzerland appears to get along, 44 why cant wef We boast of our diplomats, but the real diplomats are located in foreign ports; we are only the tools. If we expect to hold our rights we must take a stand and throw foreign propaganda to the four winds. England could not see us mistress of the seas and she found a way to down us. The World Court is just another step to handicap American independence, and as we have stated before in these columns, if we ever allow those foreign diplomats and political experts to talk us into joining their circus ring, we will rue the day. In two conferences the foreigners have taken advantage of our conhonesty, what may we expect in the future or from another eration to be a dangerous and destructive fallacy. Undoubtedly his book will arouse a storm of invective and criticism, not only against himself but against any person or publication disagreeing with the socialistic theory of political ownership of industry. Those who fight the extension of government ownership of private industry will be classed by friends of the Hydro System as the tools of Big Business and enemies of the peopled A perusal of Niagara in Politics will be pretty sure to open the eyes of the reader to the fact that the results of political ownership are most dangerous in their effect upon the government, and limit individual rights and activity. 4 4 44 4 4 SUGAR AND CANDY. In a recent report of the National Confectioners Association, it was stated that Americans ate 825,000 tons of candy the Americans, wake up ! past year. It was also said that to make up this tremendous amount of candy that 425,000 tons of sugar were used, being GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS. the chief ingredient of the candy. It will be remembered that during the' late World War, the The great problem involved in the proposition of public ownership of industry is not the injury which government com- candy makers were hit hard when their supply of sugar was petition does to private business, but the harm it does to gov- curtailed. At that time, one of the most prominent candy ernment itself. Government competition may kill certain pri- makers of this city and state, announced that not more than 25 vate industries, but the loss to the stockholders and owners of per cent of the candy was sugar, and that the bulk of it was those industries is as nothing compared to the loss in freedom made up from other materials. However, candies may now contain more sugar than hereof .action and initiative suffered by citizens who are forced out a given line tofore. Nevertheless, there is a big discrepancy in the candy reof business and whose opportunity for of business is removed by the government going into business ports now, and the war reports. We also note, that while sugar was never any cheaper instead of confining itself to purely governmental functions intended to give all persons an equal right to carry on legitimate than it is today, still the candy price is higher than ever, and the better grades of candies cost from 75 cents to $1 per pound, enterprises. A very interesting book just published by James Mavor, and even more. Emeritus Professor of Political Economy in the University of MEXICAN REFORMS. Toronto, entitled Niagara in Politics, treats of the effect of politically controlled business, upon government. This vital Religion, schools and politics are at outs in Mexico and. as a point is too often lost sight of. Its effect upon government is of the greatest importance, because there can be no successful pri- result many of the sectarian schools have been closed and much vate industry without sound government and the tendency of uneasiness has been felt in many quarters. Of course Mexico has the right to say what kind of schools political ownership of industry is to undermine government, and destroy the very foundation which guarantees the right to pri- shall be maintained within her jurisdiction. She has a right to vate property and the opportunity for the individual to follow ban everyone that can read and write as well. We hope that the Russian Bolslievicks are not getting in his own inclination in business pursuits. . While Professor Mavor s book deals with the conditions in their work in Mexico ; it is easy to grow them where there are Canada, it is of supreme importance in the United States be- no schools. cause the Ontario Hydroelectric experiment is constantly cited GAS. by advocates of public ownership as a main argument for establishing similar public ownership enterprises in this country. American gas companies increased their stock sales last Several campaigns have been carried on in Washington, Oregon and. California for the establishment of gigantic publicly owned year 32 per cent over the sales of 1924; they increased the electric development enterprises, and for lack of any other rea- number of. their security buyers 85 per cent above the sales of son for such action on the part of the state, the Canadian situa- 1924. Their sales of ranges, space and water heaters, reached tion is dragged in as an excuse, in spite of the fact that the pri- nearly 2,000,000 pieces during the year 1925; and they have vate power companies in the states mentioned render better ser- more than 10,000,000 customers, and serve an estimated popuvice and more of it than the Canada Hydro plant will ever fur- lation of 52,000,000. nish. Incidentally, the private plants on the Pacific coast pay Fewer suits are filed every year for new rates for gas demillions of dollars in taxes for the support of government, livery ; with the spread of customer ownership and a better unwhich public plants would escape, thereby transferring the load derstanding of the problems that must be solved in making to the general taxpayer. Professor Mavor shows the disinterates, the public favors giving gas as wrell as other utilities, a grating effect political ownership of industry has on sound gov- fair chance for life and for better service. In 1908, 118,000,-000,00- 0 ernment and the morale of an independent, free thinking and cubic feet of manufactured gas was sold in this country; last year, with the figures still not accurately made up, the total aggressive people. He says : The Ontario government committed a vital error in per- approached 500,000,000,000. Securities based on an industry that touches so many peomitting what was originally designed to be an investigating, inspecting and controlling department of the government, to ple and that is growing faster every day, of necessity, must be transform itself into a monopolistic enterprise, to legislate it- good. self outside the law and to conduct itself in so arbitrary a manner that it has become wholly out of place in a democratic The poor will never ride in automobiles in Japan. They can never save enough money to purchase a machine, andtlidn country. The book contains 243 pages of official documents, letters, if they had one, the annual license fee of $200 would bo beyond text and comment substantiating his comment on the Ontario their purse. The American poor man scores again. Hydro system. He says openly that he believes government op ference! re-enteri- ng 4 4 44 . |