New-York tribune., 1901-02-17
PROBLEM or PRODCCTION.
NEED OF GETTING MORE FROM NATURE.
TO GIVE INDIVIDUALS A BET
TER AVERAGE

Chicago Feb i6.-George r Roberts Director
% the Mint. Was the guest OF honor at the meeting
of the Bankers Club at the Chicago Athletic Club
house this evening and delivered an address
which greeted with many manifestations OF
approval by the members OF the club and their
guests Enrique G.. Creel. president Of the Banco
Central Mexicano. also IA guest OF the club
and spoke briefly. saying that in his opinion the
tine was not far distant when Mexico would adopt
the gold standard Speeches were also made by "A
number Of local hnanciers
In the course Of his address Mr. Roberts said:
The safety Of the masses from the tyranny ot
assTesat3ns ms 9f Sapiai is found IN the same great
cations. The security and rise of the masses hap
erosty OF considerable favor Of thoss who rank
above them on the social or economic scale They
lasting forces that work for the equality OF man
N2thing Is more apparent than the steady gam
mand over property and the Joint products Of
the earning power of given sum ana a83 ahS thS
earning powers OF hborer. The money has gone
Gown ana the man has gone up. II is the inevitable
Result OF gain In wealth. Capital property the
in the scale So the child born % ian ne an rises
higher aud more commanding position and has I'm
greater wealth than the child of any other year
This improved position Of the indivtd,al 10 ,,,,s
10 the steady gain In the productive powers OF
Is the real source Of the well being of ali TN.
poverty and misery OF such countries as India and
population. to the inefficiency of labor wSrkne Ire
without the aid OF capital. You ivtd
more than all there Is and when the total value Of
a countrys product does not exceed $40 a head "A
year. poverty and misery are the inevitable lot OF
the multitude. ~ -
IL Is the common error OF those who ATTACK tba
existing order OF society To treat OF dtstribtinn
as now OF more Importance than production Thefr
schemes all sacrifice productive capacity for theo-
lem is how TO get more from nature. Careful sra
tstcianS have estimated that the total protIuctio
OF wealth for efficient population as that
OF the United states. including the Weld OF the
soil the output OF the mines and all the earnings
Of capital. scarcely exceeds s. day for every prr-
son engaged in ganfu occupations. Within that
limit all debate over what H. living wage is
necessarily confined. IL IL only raising the total
that any substantial amelOraton of conditions ca
he obtained and so 4 Is To the advantage every
body In an enlightened and progressive society to
have the most economical methods adopted and the
stock OF available wealth incrt ased because all that
Is saved Immediately begins to contribute 10 the
output. Such enterprises your drainage canal.
the Underground railway In New-YOrk and the
lshmian canal not TO speak of the great Industrial
of great wealth
10 Is as Impossible 10 prevent these gains of In
dustrial progress from eventually reaching the
masses as III IL 70 prevent the from reaching
the sea IL Is determined by forces as certain as
gravity IL Is determined by the fact that capital
service OF the masses IL must furnish sonnet hing
for their that they can AFFORD to huv
But their buying power Is limited and thus IN foi
lows that increased supplies capital must be ac
companiea by increased purchasing power IN the
masses or the new wealth will go without EMPLOY
ment. As the owners Of the last canital on tbe
market will never consent To be excluded from All
earnings, IL is inevitable that new caDitaI will
compete with the old. and thus enlarge the pur-
chasing power OF the millions by reducing the