The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-07-31
PHILADELPHIA SOCIAL SCI
ENCE ASSOCIATION.
A Plea for Better Distribution.
ny cHAs. NJ. DU pUY.

/ A more intelligent method To-
the better distribution OF human
productions is one OF the very gray
est questions which belongs to thu
dominion Of Social Science.
The world has made such wonder
full strides In the vast increase 81
human productions through auto
matte machinery that we need nc
longer be concerned how to enlarge
the volume OF productions, for mar.
kets are already easily ovcrstocked
faster than consumption can dis.
pose OF them.
What we need Is to devise better
way to consume these immense pro-
ductions, which are 80 rapidly on
larged by constantly improved
automatic forces, in order that hui
man labor may always be sufficient
ly employed for the best interests
Of society.
It has become apparent that this
large production which Is being
thrust upon the world, can only be
consumed by increasing the earning
and purchasing power Of the multi
tude. The consuming power Of the
few will not answer. The enlarged
wants OF the multitude will only &C.
complish the purpose.
How these wants OF the multitude
may be increased without disorgan-
izing society by submitting q better
system OF distribution, Is the ques-
ton Immediately before us.
At present, in vain effort to
overcome the complications grow
ing out OF a limited purchasing pow
er, we throw more and more auto
matte productions into already glut-
ted markets. No relief Is afforded.
The difficulty is only aggravated,
with this competition, by adding i'm
mensely to the surfeit Of produc-
tons. Defective distribution still
denies their use, to the multitude
whose earnings are further limited
by the keener competition and les
sened COS. OF producing the in
creased surplus.
It Is very evident a close relation
exists between human activities
and the medium which interchanges
these activities. In other words,
distribution and interchange is best
accomplished by securing the prop
er volume and low cost OF money.
The effect Of money On industry is
magic. When 1t is largely locked
up or held too dear, 1t impoverishes
production, while, as we have seen.
the promps infusion OF treasury
money has more than once averted
pending financial ealamities. The
low cost OF money has as much to do
with general prosperity as has its
proper volume. 1t is believed the
narrow, but time honored gold basis
causes periodical prostrations, by
enabling few to absorb too largely
the fruits Of production without pro-
ducing. Through the power its linn
tied volume gives in fixing the in
terest for money used iE interchang-
ing production, it constantly absorbs
too large a share OF the profits Of
production. This power OF gold, it
is beginning to be believed, may be
neutralized by the judicious infusion
Of legal tender, to break down the
monopoly Of money, and the late
United States Supreme Court decis-
ion, in regard to legal tender. only
reflects the growing public senti-
ment upon the subject. Still the
beneficial effect Of the prudent use
Of legal tender money in promoting
general prosperity, is not yet suffi-
GENTLY underdelstood to concen-
trate controlling voice in framing
laws for its most efficient govern.
ment. Misapprehension and sell
fishness have often very much to do
with moulding false views on Public
Policy. Among those, in the inter-
est Of its opponents is the recent ar
gument before the Judiciary Com
mittee OF tho House, By Mr.. Geo. T.
Curtis, who takes exception to the
broad construction Of the Supreme
Court OF the Power OF Congress, to
legislate Legal Tender Money. In
his plea to commit the country to a
gold basis, he would have the CON-
mittee report constitutional
amendment for the action OF the
States, which he says is the best way
OF its accomplishment ",cithout un-
duly agitating the public mind" He
would not call u convention OF the
States, believing it "would be haz-
ardous and dangerous" He would
ignore thorough investigation by
the people themselves who are so
deeply interested in this question,
and hand it over to a few ruling
spirits in the several States to be
manipulated by hasty, ill-digested, il
not worse legislation.
The advocates OF legal tender
money, believing it to be the true
medium for better distribution, de-
sire no such ill-considered legisla.
ton. They believe the more widely
the question is examined, the more
certain constitutional amendmt mt
will be to strengthen and confirm
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