The Washington times., 1894-04-15
p Topic or TWO
TO Think Hb0ut

loI tue orSaulZation Oh tue IOrceS iOr Juotice
| and progress, which can come from all quar-
ters, indicate the universally of desire, as
well as general recognition among earnest
men and women Of the need for prompt ac-
| tion. We must not lose sight Of the fact that
while our union must ever be one in aim,
humanity, through education and justice, as
its loadstar, the specific means and measures
employed to accomplish this end will be va
ried to meet the requirements of the situation.
In the great cities, ior example, certain local
evils will call for special consideration from
unions, while in towns. villages, and small
communities, where those evils are absent,
other lines OF work can be effectively carried
on.
Among those things which I feel to be OF
special Importance along the line OF educa-
tional work would mention the organiza-
tion OF educational classes, such as the young
peoples clubs, societies for the discussion of
vital problems, leagues for tho promotion OF
justice and brotherhood which
should encourage and educate the people into
a knowledge of their individual duty and re-
sponsibilitv and impress on each person the
power which he or she should wicld for prog
ress and human brotherhood. The social,
economic, and political world is in a ferment
which must eventuate in magnificent edu-
cational step upward or a revolution, Socie-
ties should be formed in every community
for the systematic study of social and
economic problems. Circulating libraries.
flied with the literature Of the new time,
should be established in every neighborhood,
and evenings should bo set apart for the dis
cussion or talking over of the great ethical.
economic, and social problems which relate
to the wider justice demanded by the present
time. Switzerland has shown what can be
accomplished toward preserving an ideal re-
public, by the introduction of the Initiative,
the Referendum. and proportional representa-
ton.
The land question is a broblem which will
command more and more attention until
radical readjustments are made, which will
recognize the principle that the earth belongs
to all the people. The problem of transpor-
tation, which involves so much, affecting as
1t does all producers and consumers, should
be thoroughly discussed. The larger rights
of women also demand the attention of all
who love justice and true morality. In our
great cities the sums-America' vast nur-
series of crime, degradation and immortality
the tenement evil, the sweating system, child
labor, and other social wrongs and evils
which are due to moral lethargy on the part
of the pc ople, and the operation OF unjust
social conditions must be abated by sys-
tematic and wisely directed educational ag-
itation. 1t is important, further. that classes
be formed and lectures be given by specialists
who have sympathetically studied the great
issues of the new time, and who are able TO
meet honest inquiry in such manner as
clearly to explain the nature of the questions
involved.
The clubs or classes should not be confined
to tine investigation and discussion of social,
economic. or political problems. The duty OF
man to man, of the individual to the state,
and the state to the individual, as compre-
hended in the popular conception of social
problems, while OF great importance, is not
all. We must impress upon the individual
the dignity of life and its responsibilities.
Mans duty as husband and father: woman's
duty as wife and mother: the influences of
heredity, prenatal culture and early environ
mental these fundamental problems should
be broadly treated with reference to their
bearing on society at the present time and
The generation of tomorrow The eyer-pres-
ent aim of all educational work should be to
awaken the highest and best in man. woman,
and child-for the child must not be over
looked. Indeed, he is, perhaps. the most i'm
portant factor to be considered, for upon his
brain the most enduring impression can be
made.
W. E. Brokaw, in the American Journal OF
Politics, asks why rail highways cannot be
maintained by society open to all, free of
toll, as are paved and graded highways?
Some one says: Every one cannot own a
train" Neither can every one own wagon;
nor is it necessary. There is free competi-
ton between steamers on the water. because
ali are equally free to put on steamers. The
same is true of drays and busses-or would
be if it were not for the local protective tar
ills euphoniously called .'licenses.'' And the
same would be true of railways. But there
would be collisions you may say There
are collisions now. and more than there
would be under free conditions. What more
reasons for accidents on rail than On water
under free competition? Do not steamers
have II conform to 4 code of signals and rules
in order to avoid accidents? So would trains
Time cards and train despatchers. so long rs
necessary, would be a part OF the maiatenance
OF a free highway as police are now supposed
to be in a crowded city street
The fact that the smallest railway company
in the United States could then run trains to
any part OF the country. free OF toll. by simply
conforming to time cards and train orders.
would secure free competition. The power
to charge ''all the traffic will bear is due 10
the privilege OF exclusive possession OF that
particular highway, not to the control of the
rolling stock. We're the highway free any
wholesale house could put on train to de-
liver its goods to any point in the country if
the railway companies attempted to charge
eXtorionate rates. They cannot do that now.
Reflection upon this point will show that
there is no force to the objection that s.only
large corporations could engage in the carry
ing trade over such roads, and that combi-
nations among corporations for the purpose
OF controlling the trade would be impossible
So long as the smallest companies Were free
to run their trains over any track in the
country.
There are printed in TINS country. writes
Carr Snyder, in the American Journal OF Poll
tics, upwards of 10000 different papers and
and in all the rest OF the world
besides only 2s,0o0. England has about 1900;
Canada and Australia less than 1.00O; Ger
many has some 5000, and France but 4.300
The United States, then, has more than two
circulation more than one-half.
This aggregate circulation reaches such an
enormous total that the figures are difficult of
The combined periodical
issue in this country last year amounted 10
over 1000, 900. .00O or in American notation
four billion copies, an average of 800 copies
of some periodical for each of the 13 1000, 900
families which make up our population.
If now we estimate the annual production
of books, paper and otherwise we shall find
that it falls far short of 10000. 600 copies
Even allowing a twenty-fold circulation OF
the average book over the average paper or
magazine-certainly far out OF proportion to
the fact-it appears that books do not consti-
tute above per cent. of the general reading
of the country. They probably actually con-
stitute not over per cent If we seek the
Influences of literature upon
life, we shall find them in our daily
and weekly newspapers. For. if we pursue
our inquiry further, we shall find that OF the
total production of periodicals "a per cent is