Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-04

l MEETING, PRESIDED OVER BY COL. CARROLL W.
wRIeHT-soME LIVELY REMARKS MADE.
The lecture-room of All Souls church was
comfortably filed last night with political
| economists of both sexes, assembled to listen
to the logic of the members of the Washing
ton Branch of the American Economic associa
| ton. The occasion was the monthly meeting
of the association, and the subject selected for
discussion was Edward Atkinson's Challenge
| to Reformers."
The president Col. Carroll d. Wright, in
calling the meeting to order, brought to the
attention OF strangers the objects of the asso-
ciation and then introduced Mr.. C. F. Adams
as the first speaker. Mr.. Adams prefaced his
reply to Mr.. Atkinson by deprecating any at
tempt on his part to cope with such an intel
lect as that of the challenger, and announced
| that he merely desired to demur to Mr.. Akin
| sons position. in which there seems to
Turk, he thought, an attack in general
upon all reformers to enter q protest
against the notion that all wise reforms ended
at given date, when Edward Atkinson became
satisfied that everything is all right. He and
many OF his followers, continued the speaker,
have been anxious in the past for radical re-
forms, but for reasons best known to them
selves have concluded that reform has gone far
enough. In an article in the December Forum,
Mr.. Atkinson claims to have proved that in
this country workingmen and women engaged
in production are steadily securing an increas-
sng share OF an increasing product, and that
capital and its accessories are being placed at
lessening rate of compensation and profit. In
fact. Mr.. Atkinson says, let the good work go
on, our institutions all right; in other
words let us adopt the policy of 'laissez faire.
THE sELFIsHNEss OF MAN.
Mr.. Adams then continued to analyze Mr.
Atkinson's position, which he reduced to the
proposition that the selfshness of man works
continually for the material welfare of all
mankind, and that consequently we have no
need of radical legislation for the reform of
our institutions. Mr.. Atkinson, said the
speaker, had presented reformers with a di-
lemma of this nature: Take the proposition to
equalize wealth a basis; from the incomes
of all people receiving over 81 900 a year take
the excess above that figure and distribute it
among those getting less, and the game would
not be worth the candle; the proportionate
part of each one would be but few cents;
while If the excess were divided 50
as to materially benefit few,
a new class would be created and there would
and the very poor. Mr. Atkinson's challenge
was: Justify your projects for radical changes,
in view of this dilemma.
MIR. Adams, having thus reduced his alb
sent opponent down to definite plat
form of his own construction, began a
drift of his remarks being that of all reforms
the one most likely to succeed was that pro-
posed in the taxation and land theories of
Henry George, and proved to his own satisfac-
ton. and evidently to that of majority of the
audience, that Mr.. Atkinson's gage of battle
had been successfully lifted. He was gener-
ously applauded upon the conclusion of his
paper.
CAN REFORMS ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING.
Col Wright said that the question, which
was open for discussion, was Can reforms ac-
complish anything, if reduced to practice, in
the alienation of the sufferings of humanity?
He hoped that Mr.. Atkinson would be treated
kindly in his absence, adding: Mr.. Atkinson
Is a charming man. he is never so interesting
as when he is wrong; he believes every word
he says. and is perfectly honest whether he is
wrong or right"
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
There was some difidence among the audi
ence about volunteering to discuss the ques-
ton, but finally Mr.. Blodgett took the floor and
claimed that ''capital" and ''labor' are inter-
changeable terms A man, in any walk of life
IL al some time capitalist and at another a
laborer. and in economic discussions that fact
is almost invariably ignored. The moral side
of the economic problem, he thought. was not
sufficiently emphasized. If every stroke of work
on the Washington aqueduct had been done
honestly we should now have a decent water
supply. If every laborer and every capitalist
should treat each other honestly the labor
problem would be wonderfully simpified.
The next speaker was Mr.. Peters. who took
exceptions to Mr.. Atkinson's theory that selfish
ness benefits mankind. In what light he
asked, could the selfishness of highwayman,
who demands your money or your life, be re-
garded as benefiting other folks? 1t is ac-
knowledged that the legislation of the past,
and executive and Judicial application
of it, are shaping very largely the
economic action of to-day; therefore the
question Is, Shall we not amend past legislation
or enact new legislation in order to ameliorate
the condition of the people? AS an example Of
the effect of legislation upon economies. Mr..
Peters cited the building societies of Philadel-
phia, which have accomplished wonderful re-
suits, while in Ohio and Illinois recent legisla-
tive action has caused almost all the building
societies IN those states to suspend operation.
On the other hand the cooperative banks in
Massachusetts. that have achieved great sue
cess. are the result of a new law
MIR. McCreary then advanced from the rear
of the hall and asked permission, through an
outsider. to add his mite. This was readily
granted, and the speaker entertained the audi
ence for some minutes with a series of very
quaint arguments. He said that he did not
like Mr.. Atkinson's statistics; they did not cover
enough ground. AS to that dilemma he thought
IL was bugbear. Mr.. Atkinsons idea was
that or cents do not amount to ANYTHING
Then cent does not amount to anything. In
view of that fact. why, he asked. does not the
entire population of this country give him
cent each. and thus enrich him? If a cent had
no value as Mr.. Atkinson Inferred this could
be done without any loss whatever to the other
people.
A LITTLE DIssENsIoN.
Some of his statements caused little dis
sension among the audience, and for several
minutes there was cross-fire of questions and
answers which had the effect of burying Mr.
Atkinson under the subject of land reform, and
he was not seen or heard of any more during
the evening. One gentleman asked Mr. Adams
wherein he differed from Henry George. and
Mr.. Adams made a long speech in reply. begin
ming with an humble apology if he should pre-
tend to differ with such u man as Henry
George. He discussed the land-reform cues
ton, and after some minutes sat down with the
remark that he had done his best to show
how he agreed with Mr.. George. Thereupon
one member, with very practical views of po-
litical economy, remarked that he would be
grateful to anyone who would kindly point out
the difference between Mr.. Adams and Mr.
George, for he had listened patiently for some
time without discovering them. No one vol
unteered this information.
Transfers Of Real Estate.