Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-03

ago man who counted his wealth by
| tens of thousands was considered
| rich, now he must count it by mil
lions. 1t is not long since corpora
ton that could control million dol
lars was looked upon as welding a
power which might become inimical
| to the general welfare; today nearly
every utility and commodity is con-
| trolled by combination using tens or
hundreds of millions. and so powerful
and far reaching as to monopolize the
product and stifle all competition.
This is not proper occasion for a
discussion of the trust question, but |
/ use such organizations as an illustra-
ton of what | mean by purely selfish
action. They are conceived and exc
lcuted without any good motive. They
are built upon the ruin of individual
effort. No consideration is given to
those who may be injured or destroy
| ed thereby. They have not the eX-
cuse of business necessity. or of pro-
viding for the actual needs, safety OF
protection of their owners.
Its Motive Protection.
can illustration of organization for
reasons which in a sense are selfish.
but wholly commendable, is organized
labor. 1t has for its purpose the bet
terment of the condition of its men,
bers. It's motive is protection. not ag-
grandizement. Such organizations do
not hope to enrich their members, but
only TO better and protect them. Not
to obtain monopoly on labor, but to
enable every man engaged therein to
Irealize a wage sufficient to provide
comfortably for his family. and to ed
ucate his children. He does not de-
sire to take from others what they
/ have, but only to enable himself to
preserve and care for what he has.
They are the exercise of that proper
Ispirit of self protection which is i'm
planted in every man and is necessa-
Try to prevent the encroachments of
others upon his natural rights. 1t is
no doubt true that organized labor
makes mistakes. and it does not al
ways adopt methods which meet the
approval, even of its friends, but it's
underlying principle Is right, and it's
mistakes are only such as result from
the imperfection of the human mind.
Such organizations are the natural re-
lsult of the combination of CAPITAL, and
but for them there would be little pro-
lection for the laboring man.
Churches and Fraternal Societies.
I'VE are glad to turn from these,
the one representing in an extreme
degree human selfshness, the other
human necessity to look to those Or
CARNATIONS which stand for mans
better qualities. Two great classes
:. embrace most of them, the churches
and the fraternal societies. While
there are great differences between
them, in MANY respects they are SIM
:. liar. for while one teaches religion
which the other does not, we can but
feel that the best there is in fraternal
: Eorders is but the practical expression
lof the principles underlying true
Christianity.
Are of Antiquity.
mo man can say with any degree
: lof certainty when the first fraterna'
!. society of the kind which we speak
was founded, but we find mention Of
them from very early day. Some
of the secret orders Of today date
back to antiquity. There are now
! many such orders. Each has a differ
!. ent name, its own ritual and it's signs
pass words and secret work. Some
are purely fraternal. some benevolent
and some have beneficial or insurance
features. Some have a military de
gree. some are strictly social, and
/, each has some special feature or ele
: ment of strength which it emphasizes
,lyet taken as whole there are many
+ points of similarity, and the underly
2 ing motive of all is the same
Mans Equality Recognized.
! "Think for a moment of theil
names, their emblems, and such parts
!, of their work as are given to the pub
!, lie, and note the frequency with which
! such words as brotherhood, charity
! hope, beneyolence, protection mortal
; lily, virtue and independence are used
= A member of any one of them who
: has mastered it's teachings and full.
!. appreciates it's motives and purposes
has in his possession the secret of the
: existence and success of all. Under
= lying all of them is that element o
human nature which attracts man tt
, his kind. In them is recognized a:
:. nowhere else the equality of man. Ev
: cry member is equal to every othe
: member. His duties, rights and priv
ileges are the same. There is no dis
elimination, no chickering's and back
billings, no tearing down of another t.
build up ones self In them ever,
1 mans measure is his own quality AM
# men of equal parts are equal. Their
e is no test of wealth or position ar
il piled. All this is possible becaus
d they are voluntary societies, the re
l. suit of mans social nature. No MAI
5, need become member unless h
d chooses to do so, and he who does be
e cause of selfish motives will be dis
n appointed. Membership in such soc
d cites is most beneficial to those VIII
n appreciate and enter most fully int
II its spirit, and the member most bene
3 flied is the one who most benefit
d Iothers.
is For Mutual Help.
n "Such societies are natural associs
d lions where those of like dispositio
s and purpose can come together,wher
s. all men are equal and mutual frient
$; ship and helpfulness prevail. Int
d their organization and conduct enter
it no selfishness, and their ultimate ali
n is the betterment of man.
i Charitable Characteristics.