Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-04-04
CAUSES OF POVERTY.
A Variety Of Opinions by Eminent
Men. in All of Which There Is
More or Less Truth.
Professor Sumner May Not Have An
swered the Question, but He Has
Come Pretty Near 1t.

The New York World recently asked a
number Of philosophers, professors, poll
ticians, poets, labor leaders. social reform
ers and men In all walks of life, the ques-
tons: What, in your opinion, Is the
chief cause of poverty IN this country at
the present time? And Why" The an
swers are numerous, and mainly interest
ing because Of the diversity of opinions as
to the causes of poverty and the remedies
for it. They all readily recognize the eX-
istence of an undue proportion Of poverty,
but scarcely any two Of them agree as to
the causes or in what manner relief is to
be had Ii is also noticeable that pretty
much every man looks dt this subject from
a selfish standpoint, and is a philan-
thropist just TO the extent that his busi-
ness interests require AN exercise of phllan-
thrOpy.
Prof. Sumner, of Yale, gives perhaps the
most exhaustive, and certainly the broadest
discussion Of the question Of any who re-
sponded TO the Worlds inquiries. He is
not enamOred with the multitude of reform
ideas now permeating society, as he thinks
they are simply 50 many propOslOns to have
society lift itself by boot straps His
opinions az to The causes of poverty and
the remedies may be extracted from the
concluding paragraph Of his commnnlca-
ton, where hc says: IF we work harder,
learn more, save more, and behave our
selves, we shall not abolish poverty, or
disease or death; but we shall do our best,
and make the best Of the world and Of our
life in it, This is the sum Of human sue
cess and human happiness. With that
scntentious style for which he is noted
lgantus DonnelIy starts out by saving
that the al 10 F,lIIF,Iy |n
lack Of property That there is
more property, and at the same
time more poverty than was ever known
III the world before. Hence he lnters
that the cause Of poverty at this time is
due 10 the unequal and unfair distribution
Of property, and suggests governmental
intcrterences us the remedy. He holds
that the instinct TO accumulate Is Il
blessing but the state has a right to pro-
tect the public from its excuses. John
Boyle . Reilly traces the cause Of poverty
10 the ignorance and disorgauized con
ditiOn Of the misses, who are unable to
cope with the organized few, who secure
the aid Of legislation to plumber the
masses The remedy he proposes is
stlnct adherence to the Sermon
on the Mount and faithful appli-
cation Of Christian principles to all gov
ernmental affairs.
Chauncey NJ Dcpcw is confident that the
existence Of SO much povery is due to the
lack Of self-cOniideuce in human nature.
Men who have no faith in themselves, con
sequently have no push or pluck, and
~ Il result life Is a failure. He thinks
that rum and almlcssncsS. or hack of iiXIty
of purpose, are the creators of poverty,
and the only remedy is a repeal or re-
construction of human nature Census
Superintendent Porter Judges from the
way his life has been made Il burden for
the last nine months 10y applicants for the
position of bureau pummCratOTs, that the
causes of poverty are traccable TO individ-
uals themselves. Every man is the archi-
tcct Of his own poverty and largely by his
preference for holding office instead of get
ing down to square honest wark. Rev
DIR. buckley, editor of the Christian Advo-
cate, says that poverty is modern There
were no tenement houses in ancient times,
nor do the ruins Of ancient Greece and
Rome disclose anything primarily mtend-
ed for DISTINGUISHED bcncyolcnce. The adj
vance of civilization has developed new
wants The increase Of money has not
kept pace with the increase of demands for
IT.; consequently We have poverty, and it
VIII increase unjil money becomes more
plentiful. Prof Adams of Cornell thinks
that Legislation is mainly responsible for
50 much poverty. 1t has tended to in
crease the opportunities II the rich and to
diminish the opportunities of the poor.
George f. Mcneil the labor leader, is
certain that poverty is caused 10y the I'M
christian aud uuscicutilc methods of the
production and distribution of wealth
Henry t'Icws charges the whole thing up
to whisky lie says: II am never afraid
of the man who drinks as "a competitor;
his habit is q weakness that disablcs him
in the battle Of life, and when the crisis
comes lie cannot hold his own for a mo
mrnt with the temperate man. Charles
Prai; takes about the same view of it. Dr.
McGlyuu SAYS poverty Is caused 10y MUS
ticr, and the denial to man of his God-giy-
en birth right Of access to the land and
its natural opportunities Edward Atkin-
son tcrsey puts it voluntary idleurss;'
while John y. Rockefeller as contentious
" replies "lntempcraucr That is all
The one word answers the questions fully. y
St Paul Globe.
Took His own Life.
NECrpAU. Wis, March % A Swedr
named Henry Johnson. a cranberry grower