The Grit-advocate., 1901-05-03
SCHEMES THAT ARE GENER-
ALLY WELL-MEANT,
Iu = Way Everybody Wishes to Help
the Struggling Man-Too Much Over
Fostering. However, May ParsIyze His
self-HeIping Qualities.

preston working class or wage
earning class in this country, declar-
ing that we have no such distinct
classes; that men pass readily from
one position to another, according TO
their abilities or good fortune. But
the age has something further than Il
mere spellbinder's or demagogue's pur-
pose in dealing with this subject. It
holds that the use of the expression is
unfortunate if it encourage tha idea
OF patronage of one class by another.
1t declares, and rightly, that in this
country the wage-earner does not rep
resent a class, but condition that
may be temporary; that there are very
few employers that have not at some
stage of their career been wage-earn-
ers, and that our so-called classes
merge in a way that would be impos-
sible if there were any real class dis
tinctions The Age therefore depre-
Gates anything that tends toward the
making of class distinctions, toward
the patronage by one class of another.
as well as toward the acceptance of
patronage. In this connection it de-
velops thought that may not be so
popular as this, but that commends it.
self to reflection, namely. that an en-
couraged investor like an encouraged
immigrant or an encouraged anything,
is not worth much. The practical ap-
plication Of it is that it is unwise for
industrial and transportation corpora
tions. for example, to Offer as they
frequently do, special facilities to their
employees for becoming stockholders
Such schemes are generally, If not al
ways, well meant. The stock idea we
all know, namely. that employees that
have an interest in the business will
be stimulated to greater care for that
business will be steadied by their
sense Of sponsibility-which sounds
we'll, but which the Age holds to be
rather specious than solid, because the
practice leads to an artificial situation
Every investor. it declares. should in
vest for the same reason that any in
yestor invests, exercising the same
caution. be prepared to accept the same
responsibilities, and be entitled to the
same fruits. The specially helped en-
ploye as a stockholder is likely to be
troublesome. The thought is a deep
one and worthy of consideration. In
way, everybody, particularly in this
country, is hopeful and helpful as to
the struggling man of small means.
The sight of the small wage-earner be-
coming a large wage-earner then
salaried man. and then capitalist, is
ever welcome sight. It is typical of
the optimistic and sympathetic charac-
ter Of American life. But however
beautiful these qualities are, they can
not in the long run ignore fundamen-
tai traits, and unquestionably it seems
to us the Iron Age has laid bare one
Of those traits in its suggestion that
too much over-fostering or too much
help may result not only in a paraty-
sis of self-help, but in the creation of
the spirit that is fatal to the only con-
dition on which permanent prosperity
can be based, namely, the exercise on
the part of each for himself of the
qualities of good judgment. Of thrift.
and wise management. For with all
these there is more or less of an ele-
ment of luck or the operation OF
things that no one can control that
bring at times disaster and when dis
aster comes the only defense against 1t
is the education which the exercise OF
these qualities alone can give. The ar
tificially stimulated man at such times
lacking these qualities shows weakness