New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-10
DEBATE BY CIVITAS.
MEMBERS DISCUSS THE QUESTION,
HIGHER WAGES ARE PREFERA-
BILE TO PHILANTHROPY"

The Ciyitas Club of Brooklyn. which is making
q study Of social problems yesterday held debate
on the subject, Resolved. Higher Wages Are Pref
cradle TO Philanthropy" Miss Morse began the ar
gument for the affirmative by saying that phian-
thropy would not be necessary If better rate OF
wages was paid.
Wages do not increase in due proportion to the
increase of profits" she said. and thus We see
the anomaly of capitalists spending their superiu-
Gus money in philanthropy toward the people
whose labor procures il for them It is stated that
the normal share of profits is two-ffths the few
capitalists and three-ffths 10 the immense army
OF wage earners yet statiscians assert that in the
last few years the discrepancy has become even
greater and that the actual share of labor is now
only from one-tenth TO one-ffth of the wealth pro-
duced in this country. The remainder goes TO
make the capitalist who may or may not pose as a
philanthropist, giving Of his unfair proportion as
a gift what labor should be receiving as lawful
IF we were a club Of working girls, should we
have any doubt this question? Any sympathy
for the claims OF philanthropy as a necessary
factor in human society? Don't you think We
should rather earn money enough to provide some
beauty for lives than have il given TO as as
phanthropic enterprise
Miss Florence Mead made the first plea for the
negative. Her argument that the mass OF
people are qualified TO spend money wisely
therefore, is better to keep their wages low and
let philanthropists do an educational work Tor
them.
Miss Mead said. Money in large sums can do
more TO help workingman higher life than he
could co himself with higher wages"
Mrs W. D Mitchell. for the affirmative, urged
the value OF the profit sharing mode OF CIV
ing higher wages. She gave Instances N
which the cooperative method had been trled
with entire success and satisfaction to en-
ployers and employed. Hundreds Of thousands OF
honest thrifty worrnen live constantly so close TO
the verge of starvation she declared, that they
never can save dollar. Shall We American women
sit with lips silent and hands folded Willie TINS
monstrous injustice goes on2 Let ihe workman
have chance 10 rise with his employer. why give
ali the profits the stOckholder who puts q an
appearance two or three times year al 4 Ii'ets
The cIoeine argument for the negative MS made
by Miss NJ. Adele Page, who assorted that phtlan-
wages would aid only the individual family ! ne
demand for higher wages is due to the greed for
THE laboring class does net know how TO spend
some Comforts n the indvidnai nome do as much
for the race as the noble institutions such as frtt
Miss Morse replied Tor the affirmative that
people had some time To use them. and that,
further. if they received higher wages those de
age IA accTrn1iila1e This she thought would be a
more American way than o-have them supplied as
gifts, If the worknEmen do not know how to
have any to spend beyond that for the mere neces-
SUES If they haa more noneE ana no pe5 1 TONES
books self-respect'and strength OF character
done
The discussion that followed showed a hearty
agreement with the affirmative. which was proved
later by the vote. Mrs Darwin J. Meserole said
that wealth is a social product and if it We're
Justly distributed one would have *2o00 DAY
to spend.
The president Mrs. George Frank said that il
seemed only justice that living proportion should
De given the wealth producers. They should
have money and more time for self-culture.
After the debate the usual social hour was en-
loyed. Among the hOstesses were Mrs. Charles
bassett Miss Blackford, Mrs. Frederick Corning
Mrs. Charles De BeVoise. Miss Dexter, Mrs T
Alfred Vernon Miss Edith Squire and Miss Morse