The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-18
1.-THE PROBLEM OF GREAT FORTUNES" Br. Jacob Gould SChUrman Makes Address At Omaha REFORMS ARE NECESSARY Progress of the Worker Is Discussed and pr. schurman Says There Is
 No Need for Alarm at the
 Present Conditions.
REFORMS ARE NECESSARY

Omaha. December 17.-The following address was delivered by Dr. Jacob Gould Schurman, president of Cornell uniVer- sity. at the National Corn exposition to- day on the subject, '"rhe Problem or Great Fortunes" He said:
 The great majority of problems which today interest American voters are eco homie problems. It is economic problems which are transforming, recasting and re- creating our political parties. And here in our history is but following the course of European history. If we LOOK over Europe" says MT. Bryce in his Amer ican Commonwealth, i've shall flnd that the grounds on which parties have been built and contests waged since the De- ginning of free governments have been in substance but few. In the hostility of rich and poor, or of capital and laoor' in the fears of the Hayes and the desires or the Havenots, we perceive the most freouent ground, though it is often dis guised."
 In the United States the situation is intensified by the existence Of great ana increasing inequalities of economic con- ditions It Is this phenomenon which fosters socialism amongst us, and the socialistic spirit is far more widely diffused than the number of voters for the socialistic ticket would indicate. Many minds are rendered susceptible to the al- lurments of socialism by resentment at existing contrasts between our very rich and our very poor, while that equality which is the foundation of the socialistic state has something in 1t akin to the sense of justice and fair treatment which Is the deepest element in the moral na- ture of man.
 The socialistic Remedy.
 While sympathize with the socialistic desire to improve the condition of our unproportioned classes I have no faith in the socialists panacea. That forced, unjust and unnatural equality for which he stands would destroy the genius en- ergy, and initiative of the individuals to which the progress of civilization Is in the last analysis due. And the so- cialist's supposition that the state would manage great industrial enterprises suc- cessfully as private individuals Is refuted every day by experiences and observa- tion of the manner in which in all coun- tries business is conducted by the polit- ical leaders and managers who consti- tute government for the time being. Nevertheless I am profoundly convinced that a new and serious problem is aris- ing for us in consequence of the increas- ing inequalities of economic conditions And l suppose no one could deny that the contrast between the rich and the poor would conceivably reach a point at which there was no alternative but revo- lution. That is to say the number of people in the country without propertv might become so large and wealth so con centrated that 1t would not seem to the voters worth while to perpetuate a form of government under which such inc qualities had been developed and were be- ing maintained. And must not fos a moment lose sight of the fact that the right to hold private property and the right to bequeath it. as well as the existence of the republic itself, depend entirely upon the sentiments of the voters of the country. The majSgity must be reasonably satisfied with our institutions, or our institutions will be modified to meet their views and senti- ments.
 The Maxim of Equality.
 have no faith in the socialistic scheme of state ownership of capital and equal compensation for all. On the other hand I recognize the lesson of history that in- equalities of fortune. when they have become very conspicuous and firmly es tablished under the aegis of existing in- stitutions lead to revolutions A reason able equality of economic conditions seems to be the lesson taught by the experience of the ancient t1ieek repub lies their history has been interpreted for us by the penetrating analysis and profound reflections of Aristotle. There Is one wise and just observation of hu- man life which the Greek drama con tributed to our New Testament That evil communications corrupt good man. ners' was a maxim of Menander which Paul cited to enforce his exhortations to the Corinthians. Everyone recognizes the truth and importance of this observation There is, however, another maxim of Menander which I sometimes wish had also become part of the New Testament for it is no less just reflection on human life and an indisputable corrol- lary of the political experience of the Greek republic. This other maxim of that profound Greek observer who taught us that "evil communications corrupt good manners" Is this: Choose equality and flee greed" If this maxim were gen orally accepted and to measurable de- gree applied to the business of life we should not be confronted with the grave economic proLlem which modern indus trial conditions are continually accentu- ating.
 The Socializing Spirit.
 Let us not, however, be guilty of mis- apprehension or exaggerated alarm So- cialism, as I have said, Is an impossi- hility Individualism is the only work able scheme of society, and when tenn pered with proper social spirit it is the justest scheme. The danger however, which lies near 1t is of becoming anti social and of breeding revolution. It's safety lies in renewed baptisms in the so- cial spirit. And that social spirit, while admitting inequalities. and even great in equalities, yet exercises an influence in the direction of greater equality. It thus becomes the purifier and preservative of existing institutions The men who fight it, the men who contend for unlimited in- equality IS the natural correlate of the free individual, are the doughtiest cham pions of revolution. However sincere they may be, they are wofully short-sighted
 If the majority of voters are to be sat isfied with existing institutions. certain changes of a character which might