Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-13
Henry Clews, Noted Financier,
Says.it Would Destroy the
Country
ALL HOPE IN iNDIvIDUALIsM
Socialism Puts Bar on Ambition and
EHort-Present System Of Govern.
ment Means Freedom and Has
Made Nation What It Is-Points Out
the Issue. J

New York. May 13.--Individualism as
the force which has given to the Unit
ed States her material prosperity and
national greatness; socialism as the
menace which would bring to the land
stagnation and subsequent decay-such
were the pictures etched by Henry
Clews, the banker, at the Columbia
theater Brooklyn, Sunday afternoon.
The occasion for Mr.. Clews' denunci.
alton of socialism and his support OF
the system of individualism, which he
prefers to the term capitalism, was a
joint debate between the banker and
Professor George r. Kirkpatrick, who
espoused the cause Of socialism. =
1t is the freedom enjoyed under In
dividualism, declared Nj. Clews, which
is responsible for the energy and ambi-
ton and initiative which have made the
nation what 1t is. To findividualism,
he argued, the United States owes her
tremendous wealth, her progress, her
Supremacy
Socialism, on the other hand, insist
ed Mr. Clews, will take away from the
individual members of the nation the
desire to achieve; it Will mean the end
of special effbrt, 1t will sound the knell
of ambition, and it will drive the men
Of superior ability from the country.
Socialism, to Mr.. Clews' view, spells
but one thing-ruin.
Some of the most telling points
made by the banker were as follows:
Individualism means competition and
competition can be got rid Of no more
than can the law Of gravitation.
Indiyidualism means industrial free
dom.
Individualism calls out energy, en-
terprise and good work.
Socialism would remove free OPP
portunity and deaden all incentive to
excel.
The United States, by reason of dts
free institutions and equal opportuni-
ties for all men, is the last country on
earth to need socialism.
Socialism would benefit the ishiftless
and lazXlat the expense of the thrifty
and Industrious
Civilization would DECLINE under So
cialism.
Superior men would quickly desert a
country which offered nothing but a
dismal dead level.
Socialism means ultimate industrial
slavery and political bondage.
"Individualism has been WE'LL de-
fined" said Mr. Clews, "as the private
ownership Of the means of production
and distribution where competition is
possible, leaving to public ownership
those means of production and distri-
button in which competition is practi-
cally impossible. 1t will, then, be at
once apparent that the individualist
believes that competition which en-
courages merit and develops skill
here the issue is made between indt-
ividualism and socialism, the socialist
denying that competition is beneficial
to society.
Upon this ISSUE so joined, / stand
firmly in favor of the principle OF, COM
petition. 1t is that system of govern
ment under whichAwe live today. I'm
der this free system of government,
whereby individuals are free to get a
Lying or to pursue, wealth as each
chooses, the usual result is compete
ton. Obviously, then, competition
really means industrial freedom. Thus,
any one may choose Mis- own trade or
profession or, if he does not like it, he
may change. He isEfree to work hard
or not; heNmay make his own bargains
and set his price upon his labor or, his
products. If any one has a genius for
making and managing money, he is
free to exercise his genius, just as an
other is free to handle his tools.
1T is well also to consider the good
side of individualism. 1t is an axiom
that the freer men are to choose their
work, the more work they are willing
to do. Their. energy and enterprise are
called out, their wits sharpened, their
hopes stirred If any one wins unusual
success others are, encouraged to try
better methods"
CANADA HAS MOTH scoURGE.