New-York tribune., 1905-06-03

MODERN INDUSTRIALISM. An Outline OF the
Industry and Problems of England. the United Ioet
states and Germany BY Frank L. nfET Tg'
i2mo. PIP xvi 9el d. Appleton & Co
In his study of the complicated problems or
our present industrial system. involving as well
the machinery of production. exchange and dis
tribut,on Dr. McVey has limited his subject 10
the conditions prevailing in England, Germany
and the United States, the three leading manu-
featuring countries Of the world, and considers IL
under the three heads Of History. Industry ana
Administration. He believes that the eVoluuoh
~ government under the influence Of the in
creasine Importance Of industrial conditions IL
tending in the direction of new form of state.
in which industrial interests will prevail ana
that in our present Industrial society will be
found all the essential elements of the future
rto+a" The more clearly we understand in what
those elements consist, and how strong and now
weak the fundamental principles of organization
are the better equipped we shall be TO utiiiZe
them. to direct the processes of their develop
ment and TO view with greater connoehce 'iio
result of their ultimate evolution
.1s r." he asks necessary to reform society,
or are the foundations SO securely LAID on prl-
vate property, individual initiative and compeu-
ton that these may be retained through soLle
modification Of the wages and capital systeh
NOW seen only In dimneSC oullie! hio NONN
not a++eropt the role of a prophet, further than
70 give this qualified answer to his seif-pro-
pounded query:
The individual having parted company VIII VIII the t
old Iaissez fare' doctrine is ready to modlIy IN. .he
cornnetitiye system modify its evils. Euo t
Socialist refuses consider lnodlLceIoIi,
e. +ba snaI solution in q society based upon equa
itv nublic ownership of the means OF i
S ggHIrihntion of product upon the basis of LABOR
SnnA or the needs Of the members or society.
STst means the natural evolution OF INC
4ha second q complete revolution OF the coiIiPe -
eysteu II we refuse to accept the Iast as a az
1}o I-a are forced TO turn to the exisung state a
tba institution that shall in the emo cohLiVL 4rst
on ;ndIstrv If this view is accepted, the intei
centres in the possible attitude the state Itsnl % .
~ reference to its development and the hnaI solu.
.4or ~ these problems. No complete soluuou cali
syer be attained by the state. put st Is 6oo III
naver+haless to take position. Three ways Sl1lS
are omen to It under the present conut1ols
are found in occasional interference Vh
resu!ation and government ownership OK puplG
utilities.
| In his presentation Of the history OF indus
i trialisrn and its development in the three coun-
! tries considered. the author gives evidence OF
| deep research and comprehensive understand
! ing of the situation arrived at in each case.
fIis style though necessarily compact in treating
so broad g subject In small a compass is
clear and direct and the majority Of his readers
will agree with him in his conclusion that in
each State the problem must be worked out In
its own way conditioned by its own history and
the light that may be thrown upon the problem
| by the experience OF the others, in so far as
! conditions are similar.