New-York tribune., 1910-09-02
rU4NGTNG THE RbLES.

4 v 4
If was perhaps natural that Coionei
Roosevelt cammemoraung nero on
the scene Of one of the conflicts preced-
inc the Civil War, should compare the
conflict he sees coming with the one OF
which John Brown was precursor Inc
parallel has often been drawn. though
usually by those who believe they see
Il more fundamental clash coming than
that which the colonel has Ill mlnd.
Mr.. Upton Sinclair. we think. made the
parallel the basis Of one of his writ
ings, but Mr Upton Sinclair Is Il SGciai-
list. and SO are most of those who thiiih
they can perceive John Browns IN the
flesh to-day. From the socialist point
Of view there is q certain attractlveneSS
in the parallel. Property in men. slav-
cry. was as cid human institution IN
all proba bility as property III lhlnSS.
The Civil War ended property IN men
The new conflict viii end property III
things II will be no more arduouS
step to wean humanity from property.n
things than it was to Wean it from
property in man. In fact. 1t is Logically
the next step. Thus the parallel Win
the Civil War works cut most happily
for the socialist But as used by Mr,
Roosevelt. while apt for the occasion,
it is exaggerated.
We have said that the conflict of 1851
concerned an institution as old. perhaps,
as human society. The object of this
next conflict is not clearly defined by
Colonel Roosevelt. for he has not made
perfectly articulate that which Is GER
tainly stirring III many mems minds
ITO change the rules of the game. he
SAYS. is the purpose. That puts it
graphically. if not detinitively. and with
all OF Mr.. Ro0sevelt's knack for Il popu-
lar phrase But in 1861 men were bent
on doing something more than chang
inc the rules of the game The Speclai
interests in politics are mentioned AS an
object of attack The special interests
in politics are an abuse, not IN lnStltu-
ton. as slavery was.
-.Changing the rules of the game Is
the phrase that viii stick. as 1t is The
nhrase that deserves TO stick. II Is,
however, pacific. 1t suggests something
that has been happening in that arena
of conscience the football world, for
several seasons past. or something that
banpened in Washington last winter
when men came to think a more open
game WAS needed in the Capitol ana 1t
doesn't remotely suggest 1861. Ana
there is. indeed wide and general be
lief that the rules Of the game should
he changed. but always SO as to keep
,,,H, oot
what our socialist friends have in mind.
Colonel Roosevelt suggests q number of
rules for the reformed game. We have
observed that about changing rules there
is a great diversity of opinion. There
will be in this case. though all the ex-
pertS seek to give to the common run
of humanity the substance rather than
the shadow of equal opportunity. Many
Of our institutions in practice do not
work out the perfect fairness toward all
that they We're designed to promote,
President Taft for example. called at
tentiOn in Il striking way TO the fact
that the system of ready appeals. open
TO all. in our courts did not bring about
the perfect equality of all litigantS be
fore the law which was its purpose.
but. together with the Overdevelopment
of technicalitieS. commonly defeated JUS
tice and gave the rich litigant an un-
fair advantage over the poor. That.
though il is emitted from the compre-
hensive OsSawatomie programme, is one
Of the rules OF the game that President
Taft would have changed for he. too, is
making changes in the rules. About the
need of this change there is no room for
dispute.