Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-09-30
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
constructive Democracy the Econ
nmlos Of Square Deal" is the title OF
book Of about $50 pages that has
just been published by the Macmillan
company New York. The author Ia
William f. Smythc. and 10 Ia dedicated
to senator Francis 6, Ncwlands. OF
Nevada.
As implied in the title. the book is
devoted TO the discussion Of some OF
the burning question OF the day-ques-
lions in which every good citizen must
be interested, Il he will fulnl his du-
ties "a a citizen intalllgenuy, with
freedom Of Judgment and action. And
it Is particularly helpful because OF
the conservative, phllosophlc treat
nent Of the various subjects under dis
usslon, even when the author finds
it necessary to radically differ with ac-
oopted views or condemn common
practices
The author first tells the story Of the
evolution OF plutocracy" and points
out the mIsrule OF the almighty dollar
lie shows why political parties have
become Impotent. and discusses the
remedy offered by Socialism. The SEQ
ond part Of the book Is devoted 90 the
subject Of monopoly and trusts and
we fancy most readers viii learn some-
thing new by perusing carefully the
chapters treating on these subjects
Other parts Of the book treat OF "The
Surplus Man The Unfinished Re.
public" and institutions for Surplus
Men"
few extracts from the pages before
US will give an idea Of the general con-
tents. Speaking Of the evolution Of
plutocracy, the author concludes:
The Republic is ruled by tho al
mighty dollar"
And on another page
The net result Of 1t all is this; To
a very large extent the actual exercise
OF political power has passed into the
hands Of organized wealth. The own
ers Of machinery. Of the means Of
transportation, of natural resources IN
Gispensable 10 human eXistence-that
IL TO say those who hold with firm
grasp the instrumentalities of produce
ton and distribution-have for the
time being acquired the power TO ex-
piOit the masses as was done by other
agencies I'm the past. II Is most ex-
traordinary but literally true. The
evidence Of 1t is seen on every hand"
Speaking Of the mpotency OF the po-
lltical parties the author says
1--WE speak OF the parties, as parties,
not of the vast numbers Of honest and
patriotic men who compose their vot-
ing strength. The people are all right,
but the people do not rule Az we have
seen, the real political power has pass
ed Into the hands OF organized wealth
and organized politics
1T remains undeniably true that
both the great political parties stand
impotent IN the presence Of imminent
perils to tho Republic
The remedy proposed by Socialism,
Mr. Smythe calls revolutionary The
Socialists, he says propose to cure
private monopoly with public monop-
oily, TO cure poverty by abollshing pow
crty; TO destroy corruption IN politics
| by removing all incentive for corrup-
| tom TO make good the failures Of
democracy by mfusng more democ-
| racy into our institutions, The growth
Of this party I'm this country is shown
| by the increase OF It's voting strength,
! from 1000 In 1858 TO 403,33S In 1904
But Notwithstanding this phenomenal
growth, he does not believe Socialism
win be Immediately accepted The
Socialists, no admits. have a correct
diagnosis OF the existing economic
conditions but their program Is not
! ripe"
The author, IN his summing up OF
the discussion. very forciby suggests
that religion VIII yet be the regener-
ating force, not religion as commonly
understood, but religion with a new
meaning and a new application, The
former view Of religion he represents
thus.
What humanity has missed In this
! world, humanity has confidently eN-
pected to realize IN the hereafter To
| make this faith a tangible, living re-
! ality, and thus to induce tho individual
! 20 subordinate his own good 10 tho
good OF the social organism In It's Wild
/ est significance, is according TO Mr.
Kidd the true function Of religious
| belief
But this narrow conception Of 70.
ligou is giving way Tor broader, and
truer. We quote again;
we have seen the natural forces
| which man once regarded as his
| enemies converted into his most pow
| erful friends, He has learned, FOR ex.
| ample, to command the foods 10 stand
| back until he summons them to his
| fields, and thus 10 make the desert
| bloom, He makes electricity perform
! his drudgery and carry his burdens
| In asserting his control over the forces
OF nature, he ls fulfilling his destiny. as
! Henry Drummond perceived as con-
scious expression OF the Divine Mind
| by becoming the agent and benehcl-
! airy OF the process OF eyolution--the In
| strument OF Universal Purpose. IH It
| not the true function OF religion 70
teach him that this is so? And when
the lesson Is learned. will It not be dis
covered that the true interest OF the
individual is identical with the true
] Interest OF the mass. and. therefore