The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-22
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INTERESTING QUESTION RAISED
= BY THE ELsINGER REQUEST.
by Should Charities of That Nature
Be Necessary?-How franchise Val
ues May Be Determined for Taxation
Purposes-A stenographer Discusses
= the Typewriter keyboard. a.. ~
the Editor Of The Journal.

the Editor of The Journal.
The editorial in T h jour- a last
lnday telling of the charity of the
to Mr.. Elsinger of ST. Paul was
oubtless read with interest by thou
.nds. It is to be hoped that many of
lose gave the significance of the be-
Test more than superficial thought;
II the purpose of the charity-the pro-
, endowed with $3.50 900, to be To-
tied in the midway district, to care
n children of mothers who are
oliged to go out to work during tho
ay-has profound bearing on the eco.
omic and industrial tendency which
IS been the basis Of more than one vol
me of social philosophy. Il
Their criticising Mr.. Elsinger' char
y or posing as disgruntled member
, society. It is not necessary to do
Their, or feel like it, in order to bring
1t the thought that. no matter how
orthy or commendable the, charity, as
lated to present conditions. it is real
one of those enterprises which should
-ot be necessary.
1t may be that we have the best civ
ization in the world; it NAV be that
those of any other country. In that
e. have much to be thankful for. But
there no room for Improvement in
irections which make for better citi-
,nship and more rational life!
Why should woman who has
a-rought little ones into the world and
erformed the duties of motherhood be
,mpelled to leave her babies in the
ire Of strangers hired by million
)ry to earn a daily pittance for her
reads
This question covers not only the pro-
osed midway charity, but all charities
f like nature and scope-all of which,
- may be freely conceded, meet urgent
smands and alleviate much wretched-
ess; but which, nevertheless, amount to
signed and hopeless recognition of
le lowering of the home standard, the
reaking of home ties and the heart
chesl Of innocent women and children.
The thought is inevitable that there
lust be something better than the gen
raj social condition, no matter if the
~orld has seen nothing better; op.
easoning of the Adam Smith school of
economists, Of which our own j. Law
ence Laughlin is foremost modern
xpenent. For hundreds of years this
,hool has preached that "the present
rider of things'' is economic law and
annot be changed. AS Adam Smith
rged, so do his present day followers
-~-ontend, that the capitalist is the pri
lary, force in industry and society; that
,bor is the secondary force, and de
endent upon capital, and that without
he benevolence and benefcence Of ex
RENE wealth there would be less indus
alues These are not, of course, the
xact words of the Adam Smith schoo
ut they convey the exact meaning, il
he English Ian guage can be understood
If. there is a possibility Of anything
etter socially and industrially the ole
chool of economics may we'll be called
he gospel of despair. Yet it is strong
v intrenched, is accepted without ques
ion by thousands Of bright minds, i
aught by great universities and pre-
en'ts what seems to be q solid wall O.
0gic against which it is useless to con
end.
f everyday facts. But these fact
xisted before the economic reasoning
n support Of them, and it is barrel
ossible that the profound learning req
esented by the various textbooks O.
olitical economy was shaped in hal
aony with overwhelming tendency be
-ause it was the easiest and most nat
raj thing possible.
It required great courage for Henri
1eorge and others like him to registe
heir dissent. The millions who hav
cad the Henry George theories wit
interest and approval attest the wild,
pread hope and desire Of men for di
erent, more humane and more just col
litions, even if their attitude does nc
,4Jrove that the proper remedy has bee
pointed out.
1t is not my purpose to debate thu
,hase, but rather to stimulate though
NJ others, and if that shall result til
,biect of this communication will be a
omplished. George H. Allen.
Minneapolis, Oct. 20, 1905.