Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-06-19
SOLUTION or \ PKoBLEM.

{ d a j. !. IL. {. & Z
a little pamphlet on Socialism, by
a Norman 49, Dresser of this City. has
found its way to this office. 1t Is a
STUDY of some social problems. Inc
nuthor begins his argument by stating
{ a number of questions that are fore.
most III the public mind at this time:
why should we have these recurring
seasons Of depression? Why should
there be so many men anxious to
work but unable to obtain ! !? Wis., IN
n rich country like t.lis, should there
be an Increasing amount of poverty
WHY should the relations between cap
I ital and labor be growing more and
more antagonlsticg And is 1t not pos
sjhIe to have such /. condition of So
cietS that involuntary poverty snail
be unknown and the laborer receive
theffull reward OF his toil?"
These are, as stated by Mr.. Dresser
questions that force themselves TO the
attention OF the student OF industrial
and economic conditions. What is the
answer? n
The author of the pamphlet takes
up, one by one, some of the relned-
les proposed, but he finds none that
is satisfactory. Charity is but q pal
liatiye. 1rrugality is no remedy; for.
carried 10 its logical extremes that
would mean financial depression and
the ever lowering of wages; learn
ing, and education do not furnish the
REMEDY, and SO on He concludes by
Suggesting reform that aims at the
following RESULTS:
First, give to every man the OPP
.portunity to employ himself and TO
receive the full reward Tor his labor
Second, to give every man his share
of the sociulsaadvantages that arise
from the growth, progress and ini-i
3proyement of society. "a 3sj5l Z
s:;'s.Third. totsglv .iall men the use on
equal terms of all public utilities or
natural monopolies.
a Fourth. to give every man the poll
teal rover to secure through anna
JoritSs Of his FELLOWS any industrial
prs political change he desires with
ont the interference of any minority.
whether it be executive, legislative or
giud!cinl, or the limitations of a con
stitution imposed BY a dead majority *
t We must admit that the philosophy
here outlined, If we understand cor
3IectlY the meaning Of the language
employed, is not very attractive How
can every man be given an opportunity
,toS@efnploy himself? All work that
amounts to anything under an ad-
xanced civilization is operative. La
borers must unite their efforts if the
question ii of rearing palaces, building
railroads and bridges, constructing
cai1als or even cultivatLng the soil on
81 large scale. AS long as man wore
Ii ;Woolf skin for clothes, lived in q
hut, depended on his feet for travelling.
each man could, no doubt, employ
aafmself as he wanted and enjoy
the full reward for his labors. But
under modern ltlons, when It takes
ID thousand hands to bring one piece of
worlz to perfection. somebody must
employ and the others receive en-
3ploSihent. A man might decide TO
build palace but he could not ems
2pIoy himself to do lit, unless he had
the aids of hundreds Of others, we
see therefore no chance of q time corl--
ing Under a complex civilization when
every man can be hissown employer,
SIT should be less inipracticablc to-
give every man his share Of social
advantages And yet, those adyansi
.tagns are largely, even now, what each.
.pDc makes them for himself, And
there. viii never be any change in that
except that y time will come when
moral qualities and refinement shall
count more than moneybags.
The third suggestion, to give all men
tile use on equal terms Of all public
utilities, is rather va-ue. Does 1t
mean that all ought to ride free on the
railroads and street cars That they
should not be required to pay for their
Iiiatle All public utilities cost some
thing, and the cost is conveniently as
sessed against those who use them2
That should not be objectionable.
The fourth suggestion seems to be
that laws, courts. and constitutions be
done away with together with minor
ities and majorities. We fancy the
world Is not ripe for that reform, yet,
1T viii never be. Unrightcous laws
will be abolished. The tyranny of
inaajorities viii be done away with. But
even. under the most perfect conditions,
Jaw. will prevail 1t prevails in ma
ture.
The true solution OF the social problem
Is the general adoption of the Gospel
of the Redeemer and the application of
Its principles to all human activities.
These are truth, righteousness, broth
erly love, peace, etc Through such
principles social reforms of the most
far-reaching consequences have already
been effected, The tyranny of absolut-
ism has been dethroned and democracy
crowned in many countries Slavery
has been abolished, The equality of
tl.e sexes has been recognized. The
brotherhood of MAJ, has been pro
claimed. Through such principles the
reform work win continue. until all
men recognize each other as brothers.
nndf the welfare of all is dear to every
human heart. There is no other rem
cdy. The Gospel of Jesus has been
given 10 the world for its salvation
fioha5 every kind of evil, and as it is
adopted and applied to the affairs Of
men, those evils will exist no more.
When truth and righteousness MI the
human hsart and become a force. they
;-fiil pernieate business and sanctify
,ciitics. When hrotherly love prevails
INEQUALITIES viii be evened out. as far