f
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'Cbe Conservative * 9
which attempt to force abnormal value ,
demand condom-
Combination nation , as they re-
. vs. tard a natural
Co-operation. operation of
natural law , and
will ultimately fail. Combinations
formed for the individual and indepen
dent development of character and
skill , or for economy of production ,
have reason to exist. At this point they
cease to be combinations , .technically ,
and develop into co-operations.
Magnitude or great wealth is no argu
ment against commercial association.
Retribution , resultant upon the trans
gression of natural law is sure and
effective and , therefore , no permanent
fear of combination of any character
lias a moral right to exist.
Great emphasis is placed upon the ne
cessity of bridging the chasm which
exists , personally ,
A Social Chasm , between employer
and employee.
This is not an unexpected or abnormal
condition , as the multiplicity of labor
divisions and modern extensions of in
dustries have forced a condition more
rapidly than it could effectively be
met. Some substitution of the
primitive social relationship , between
the two commercial forces , is now
necessary. The cultivation of good
fellowship and co-operation is suggested ,
but profit-sharing is given as the neces
sary final outcome. Combinations of
labor with labor , and capital with capi
tal should be destroyed , and the two
parts which moke the unit , capital and
labor , should combine and co-operate.
Upon this basis , can capital and labor
be unified. They are already in harmony ,
as inharmony would have prevented the
immense production of wealth , so evi
dent everywhere.
"The Economy of Humanism" will
have earned an enduring popularity and
respect if its teach-
Governmental ingsalong the line
Arbitration. of governmental
arbitration can be
realized. " " The freedom of individual
contract is guaranteed by the Bill of
Rights. Therefore , it should be denied ,
that any force , outside of voluntary and
mutual concession , has a vestige of
authority to fix the price of labor.
Compulsory arbitration is a curse.
Conciliation is better and harmony with
natural law is ideal.
To what extent a state shall properly
interfere with industrial freedom is a
perplexing conun-
Economic drum. It is ad-
Legislation. ' mitted that a local
natural monopoly ,
such as the providing of water and
light , if not operated by the municipal
ity , ought , at least , to be firmly regula
ted by it. This , then , is one introduc
tion of legislative privilege into com
mercial life.
Mr. Wood suggests , first , that no leg
islature ought to interfere with any
enterprise which can be as efficiently
carried on by private control , and , second
end , that the question of prices , rates ,
wages and hours should be left to the
natural regulation of free and untrammeled -
meled conditions. The threatening evil
of the present time is excessive econo
mic regulation. Excessive ratesreferring
to railroads , as on instance , will fail because -
cause of the approach of a gradual under
standing among the managers of rail
road organizations , that a large traffic
at a normal rate is more desirable than
a restricted traffic at an exorbitant
tariff.
In the matter of a working day , it is
ingeniously intimated that both rich
and poor are endowed equally in respect
of time. Time is the poor man's capi
tal , in a greater degree than the rich.
Therefore , an appeal for shorter hours
is , virtually , a request for the diminu
tion of labor's capital. Legislation ,
fixing the frequency of pay-days is
equally as antagonistic to economic
principles as the instance given above.
The prevalence of alien ideas , pater
nalistic sentiments and liberty experi
enced here , in compari-
Dependence , son with native restrio-
Poverty and tions , not only tends
Socialism. toward making for
eigners a dependent
class , but tends toward a rapid dissemi
nation of such ideas among the illiterate
American born. American character
must be strengthened in weak places ,
must be taught and infused.
Poverty cannot be alleviated or de
stroyed by advertising - its misery ,
neither vice. Exploitation renders them
inevitable in the popular mind.
Charity must be temperate and prac
tical , and not intemperate and extrava
gant. The law of supply and demand
applies equally as well to charity as to
any other social or commercial condi
tion. The greatest boon to the depend
ent is practical encouragement , com
mencing at that point in every man
which is commendable.
Socialism cannot possibly solve any
existing difficulty , for socialism depends
upon legislatures , and is not only con
trary to natural law , but will ultimately
fail. Ideality can never be realized by
legislation. It may be assisted , but , in
most instances , it is retarded.
Capital and labor are already in har
mony , as stated above , but there is a
prevalent belief
Harmony. that they are in
discord. Merely
a social misunderstanding prev
ents the greatest degree of har
mony between them. They are in
harmony because necessity demands it ,
and not because of a mutual desire.
The mutual desire for closer relation
should be stimulated by teaching inter
dependence , cooperation and profit
sharing.
The great desideratum of an ideal cur-
renoy is steadiness. A constant shifting - '
ing of public senti-
Money , ment destroys oonfi-
Coinage and donee , and a destruc-
Tariff's. tion of confidence leads
to commercial collapse.
A .system , once tried and found ade
quate , even though it be faulty in parts ,
is more desirable than the introduction
of a financial plan , the mere suggestion
of which , destroys confidential rela
tions.
A very unsatisfactory feature of such
questions is , that they are made partisan
policies , and , in a large measure , parti
san belief deadens the free and unob
structed opportunity for dispassionate
thought and unbiased study.
This is also true of the question of
tariffs and protection. All tariffs are
articificial , and all'are , in a measure ,
hindrances to the free courses of trade
and commerce. Whether or not a tem
porary obstruction to trade is beneficial
to native interests , is suggested as"a
theme for experience , rather than a
subject for partisan and theoretical dis
putation.
The intricacies of the tariff question ,
would , under normal conditions , render
the selection of an intelligent and 'non-
partisan board , a splendid substitution
of the present methods of making and
changing tariff schedules , and , even
then , it would be doubtful whether all
the complex interests of commerce
would be satisfied.
Mr. Wood also treats lightly upon the
evolution of the modern railroad , the
abuses of corporate
Conclusion. management , and the
, _ result of social experi
ments in Australasia.
Undoubtedly , this work will do more
towards the ultimate consolidation of
all present crude , conditions , than any
which has appeared for some time past.
The book is well and strongly written.
It is concise , practical and temperate.
It is sociological in its nature , and ,
undoubtedly , sociology embodies the
solution , of the industrial problems of
today.
STATE EXPERIMENTAL STATION.
The New York State Experimental
Station will have a splendid exhibit at
the Pan-American Exposition. In the
fruit department there will be 281 var
ieties of apples , 89 of currants , 105 of
gooseberries , 150 of plums and 56 of
cherries.
Mr. S. D. Willard , of Geneva , who
has in hand the work of collecting the
exhibit , says he believes it will be a
complete and elaborate one in every
particular. There has been alloted for
it 8,000 square feet of floor space , and
more has been asked for.
The commissioners are arranging to
have the exhibit conform to the time of
production , beginning with strawber
riesand continuing on with all the small
fruits , until the time of closing "the
exposition. . . - >
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