The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-16
"'M0DERN FEUDALISM."

: In the early seventies, during the first
outburst of anti-railroad. feeling in Min
nesota, and when many of the western
stat es were putting granger railway laws
On their statute books, the late Cush-
man X. Davis made - a speech which
started him on his3great career. It's sub
ject was Modern Feudalism." The rail-
way owners were the barons, said Mr..
Davis. the people were the vassals. The
Grafton proved immensely popular. The
legislature ordered a large edition of it
printed and MIR. Davis delivered it many
times. For: years, Minnesota men could
not, hear CushmansK. Davis name men
toned without thinking of Modern Feud-
alism.".. . ~7s.s. =
AS the years went by and Mr.: Davis be-
came Senator Davis and a highly es-
teemed- corporation, lawyer with intimate
connections with the railway barons he
had clamored against in his youth, his
views underwent decided changes He
had found that, after all, the railway
baron when you come to know him, eat
at: his table, travel in his private car,
belong to his club profit by his tips, be
counted among his familiars, Is not such
a: bad fellow. So the senator came
to look back Upon the purple writing of
Modern Feudalism" much as the man of
mature years looks back In a sort OF
shame upon his sophomore or graduation
orations. He gathered up and destroyed
every copy of the oration he could find
even, it is thought, the copy kept in the
archives of the state historical society.
Yet within a few years many serious
minds have taken up the line of thought
followed in the fashy: oration of Senator
Davis youth, andshad the senator lived a
few years longer he: might have been
rather proud of the production of his ten
der and verdant years as prophetic ut
terance. The multiplication of trusts, the
Strengthening of their powers, the grow
fnE number and lexclusiyeness Of the ex-
tremely rich, the growing dependence OF
the employees and producers of the coun-
try upon these fortunate ones, the contin-
ual restriction of economic independence
and the elimination Of competition, have
led to the suggestion that we are rapidly
basis of which will be capital instead OF
land, the serfage of which will be at
tachment to job or livelihood instead
of the baronial estate. 49,
l. The thought that has: ben In the minds
of many who have considered the enconomic
tendencies of the times, has been put into
concise and even brilliant form by W. J.
Ghent, in an article which appeared in
the Independent. April 8. At that time
the editor predicted that sooner or later
in some form or other, every reading man
in the United States would become famil-
lar with Mr.. Clients views. The predic-
tion Is In q fair way to be realized, for
the article has called forth a vast aunound
of: comment and has been answered by
Professor ]. B. Clark. ii
Mr.. 'Ghent says we are drifting into 8
benevolent feudalism in which the very
rich will be the barons but will be kind
| thoughtful, humane barons; though the
fact will remain that power resides with
them and all that is best in life will be
kept for them and the upper classes o.
the feudal society they will organize
around themselves The outward form
and some OF the strength of the democ.
racy will be retained, but the barons b,
their great power and wealth will contro
all its workings. The governors, legisla.
lures, presidents and Judges will all be
theirs. The masses will be more inten,
upon keeping their jobs than anything
else and will be passive while the baron'
rob them of their birthrights. Mr.. Ghen'
says that by collective assertion of theil
power the people could nip this benevo
lent feudalism In the bud, but he is sur
that they will not assert themselves.
Professor Clark replies that the ten
dency Is toward monopoly rather tha,
ffeudalism and that the great trust lead
Iers and their hordes Of followers, admir-
ers and employees are more like robbie
bands than feudal systems. But the ten
dency is about as bad whatever the nam
be given to it. Whether monopoly o
benevolent feudalism is threatened tn
! outlook is one to3cause the people to be