The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-06-01
SOCIALISM,.
travesty !

The most superficial observer cannot help but
see the progress the world is making in every de-
partment of mechanics and arts. Human capacity
has not reached the limitations placed upon the
race and we cannot believe the forces already dis
covered constitute more than an introduction to
those which lie Just beyond our knowledge Thomas
A. Edison has determined to quit the field of COM
merclal invention, to which he has given many
years of thought. in order that he may devote his
time to continued study of some of the mysteries
which developed while he was working in his lab
oratory and which he was compelled to put aside
that he might accomplish his set purpose. The field
he is invading seems limitless one, and his eff
forts doubt will result in new discoveries and
new inventions of benefit to the race knowledge
is the incentive which keeps this man at his work.
He wants to know things but the whole world will
profit by any discoveries he may make, as it has
by his former inventions.
1t is interesting to note the inventions which
have been given to civilization by individuals in
connection with the growth of theories which would
dlsarrange the present system of rewarding genius
take from individuals the incentive to excel
Industrial centers seem to be the stronghold of
these theores-centers where extremes of wealth
cultural communities, especially in manufacturing
centers where the owners of plants seize upon any
invention made by workman, patent it and give
the genius paltry prize and fatterng praise while
the proprietor makes thousands of dollars on the
patent 1t would be idle waste of words to deny
the growing popularity of these theories. They
represent the ideas of thousands who, not through
any desire to upset altogether the governments of
the earth, but to procure the rewards attached to
Individual effort would reduce all to level
and share equally the products of labor In the
main this theory of socialism is not based any
sound axiom of political or social science 1t is
contrary to all the theories which have been proven
productive of progress. Whereas it seeks just
pensation for labor performed, it the very
incentive to doing any extraordinary labor. Every
body recognizes that wealth is sometimes held in
unworthy hands. But that only proves that unscru
pulous take advantage of Others and brings
before the theory of socialism and equality one of
the insurmountable barriers over which, around
or under which we cannot get 1t is the struggle
for things do not possess but feel capable Of get
ting through honest effort which keeps us moving
on. We cannot mount the hill without effort, and
we would not expend that effort if we had no in
centive
Frankly, we believe it is not socialism which So
cialists want Perhaps the lazy and thriftless want
it, but we do not believe any honest worker would
be satisfied if the sociastic theories were suddenly
instituted in the world by some magic transforma-
ton. Human nature is much the same wherever you
find it. We like to be commended for our efforts
We like to receive recompense for what we do. If
we invent some thing we want the rewards, and we
lont want SOME one to steal our invention. Most
IF those men who claim to be socialists are social
sts merely BECAUSE they injustice in pres
INT system of Iindividualism and they turn to the
newer theory imply because it seems to offer
sdy for that Injustice They know equality does
lot exist in individuals and they know, absolutely,
hat the inaue DURATION of the sociaistic theory
would result i1l stch chaos would render orderly
md wholesome progress impossible.
Learned trdatises for and against the faacious
philosophy of equality and communism will
ettle the question:. Discomfort is the fuel which
dds to the fre The growth of socialism goes hand
n hand with the growth of discomfort. The doc
rine of private ownership and property rights is