Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-17
TAKES MONKEY TOWN
FOR SOClALISTIC TEXT

Editor Deseret News: Dear Sir
Your editorial headed Are Men Sim
ians?" in Saturdays issue OF The
News, Is interesting reading for II in
vites thought on a subject that should
| concern the human race more, perhaps
than any other subject or the times
with one exception.
The story Of "a beautiful grove, the
| habitation Of some Of our simian ances-
tors" as told by the street orator you
quoted. could he changed somewhat,
and made 10 represent the true state OF
affairs in our modern economies, which
1t does not do as told by the orator as
you have pointed out.
Suppose the big fat monkey got to
the grove OF cocoanut trees FIRST ana
said: They are mine" Other mon
keys came and the big monkey said 70
them: TN these trees OF mine there
are nice cocoanuts, 20 up and gather,
clean, and prepare the nuts for food,
then give them TO me and ! shall
give YOU some" The monkeys respond
and gather nuts and receive share
sufficient 10 live on, In this monkey
community they soon find IL necessary
10 have shelter and means Of protect
ing themselves against other monkey
races: also order must be kept in their
own midst For these and other public
labors. time is needed and they all dc
eide and agree that each shall be
taxed. or give a certain proportion OF
his cocotnuts to feed the monkeys
chosen TO do the public lsbors.
The biz fat monkey soon finds out that
some of the monkeys that go up his
trees have improved Instruments with
which they can cut and clean the CO
coanuts very rapidly. so with the share
they get they can pay their tax, live
and savo some. He therefore decides
TO reduce the share 10 the cocoanut
picker 10 a point where tho best worker
viii just have enough to live on and
the slower workers win have 10 i'm
prove their methods and speed I'm order
10 keep alive. The result Is the big fat
monkey soon has n large store OF nuts
saved up.
Now n mile or SO away there is an
other grove OF Cocoanut trees which
other fortunate monkeys claim. An1
a host of other working monkeys pick
and clean cocoanuts. our big fat mon
key travels and finds other trees where
moneys live but with his goofly store
Of saved nuts he Is able 10 buy the new
trees or form combinations with those
who claim them.
In the light Of this story as II Is now
started and may be developed by any
thinking man, the question Are men
simians2" might well be answered IN
the affirmative The Interpretation ot
the story and the remedy for the sys
TEN of economies II represents would
take too long 10 give In full here. But
in short they are as follows;
The coCoanut trees represent land.
The big fat monkey and those of his
com bination represent big land owners
who are recognized as absolute own
ers OF the soil The cocoanut pickers
and crackers represent the laboring
classes The monkeys chosen for pub
lie works and defense represent our
governmental system. and tho cocoa
nuts given for their food represent the
taxes paid by citizens. The cocoanuts
produced BY the trees over and above
tho amount necessary 10 Justly com
pensate the laborors represent rent In
modern economies Tho store OF cocoa
nuts saved up and used 70 pay for new
trees or other possible new investments.
either by the big fat monkey or any
successful laborer. represents capital.
Remedy The all important question
IS: What right did the big fat monkey
have to say the trees were hls2 VIVA.
right did he have 20 be the exclusive
owner of the fruit OF the trees? Did
he plant the trees2 No, Did he give
the trees their property Of bearing
No He was born before
tho other monkeys OF that particular
and consequently was at
the trees first. But had the monkeys
anything 10 say as 10 the time they
should be born7 No.
What Individual right has man TO tho
exclusive ownership OF the soil2 Tho
same right that the big fat monkey had
10 the exclusive ownership of the trees