The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-10
Conlmercialisrn at It's Worst.

r + may seem strange that the term commercial
Il ism" as describing phase Of modern life should
imply so much that is dscreditable, but when a
public writer or speaker wishes to emphasize the
decline In American ideals, he speaks Of American
life overborne by the spirit Of commercialism.
This term so used implies a great deal in the way
Of subserviency to the desire for weaththe love Of
the dollar. It signifies subordinaton Of everything
in life to the spirit of greed.
Of course it is very easy to misapply terms
which in their proper and natural connection stand
for what is commendable and desirable. Certainly
will depore the fact that the commercial life
Of today is in advance Of that Of the past wv have
right to felicitate ourselves upon advances in
mercia life which minister to the comfort the hap
piness and the welfare Of the people generally. The
organization Of industry has been Of the chief
factors in contributing to the greater comfort and
happiness Of the world. We do things SO much bet
ter and much. cheaper than before the age Of
organization that the same conveniences and COM
forts and even luxuries are distributed much more
widely than it possible before this organization
was effected. But Notwithstanding all this there is
sense in which the term scommercialismo de-
scrbes conditions and results which neither minister
to the welfare Of those directly affected nor be
tolerated by any who is sensible Of his response
bilities and duties toward his fellow man.
No more unlovely-no to say hideous Or revolt
ing-aspect of this spirit Of commerciasm has been
manifested than in the development of the great
cotton industries Of the south. The south has prof
tied financially and has rejoiced greatly in the loea
ton Of the cotton mill in the cotton field but this
development Of the cotton industry in the south has
been no more free from the burden Of labor imposed
upon the children than it in the early days Of
the New England factory development. The secre-
IL r IL,
that in this fifth year Of the twentieth century there
are 100000 children in southern cotton mills from
6 to l6 years Of age toiling twelve hours day or
twelve hours night and reducing the wage scale to
what is necessary for the support Of child instead
Of what will support family, or manhood wages 8
This is startling statement, but doubt a
true one and one which has given the south a
thrill Of shame and alarm. But the most deplorabe
thing about it all is that this industry and this
dition Of labor are SO imbedded in the whole COM
mercial system in the south that it is almost mpos
sble to secure legislation and the execution Of law
against it. Not only are the factory owners fnan-
cally interested in maintaining the present condi
tions of labor but other commercial interests
affected by the prosperity Of the cotton manufac-
turers that the weight Of the commercial interests
of the south is thrown against any movement for
betterment Of these conditions It is when we see
conditions and results Of this kind that the term
commercialism conveys to the mind the idea Of sub
ordination Of every thing to the overmasterng pas
sion Of greed