Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-23
PREJupIcING YOUNG MINDS.

AT the graduating SAClSioo0 A
week at the State university at Iowa
City, Prof. w. F. Wilcox OF Cornell
university made the statement that
statistics show there are more tenant
farmers now than formerly and tnat
there sis no trustworthy evidence
that wages in manufacturing estaD-
lishments were increased between
1890 and 1900. Apparently the d.
vision into economic classes is grow
ing sharper"
No man should make such mislead-
ing statements to young men who are
about to enter the struggles OF bust
ness and professional life.
Why go back ten years? Prof. Will
cox could have selected some years
between 1890 and 1900, when there
were no wages at all paid in great
many manufacturing institutions in
this country, because the factories
were shut down by legislation.
brought about by just such talks as
he was making. Evidently the
statistics covering the years 1900 to
1910 about wages in manufacturing
establishments, do not suit his line OF
argument. The statistics for at least
eight years of that time, are available
for his use.
At the same time that Prof. Wilcox
was making his address about Glasses
and Masses" Prof. Jas. Lawrence
Laughiin of the Chicago university,
was lectuling to the graduating class
at Drake university on the subject OF
Leadership" Prof. Laughlin is quot
ed as not mentioning any names, but
by word and inference he talked along
what now seems to be the popular
cry. He is quoted as using the follow
ing language: Zone man had the wis
dom to find out what the people want
ed and then the moral strength to
carry out their wishes. Special in
terests had no voice in his admins
tration. On the other hand is a man
who stands out In sharp contrast. He
Is weak in moral courage and listens
to the voice of the special interests. :
isis word interests as used by a
great many public speakers nova
days, Is supposed to represent an
awful combination of mysterious dan
ger. Every character in the word Is
used as if 1t had a stinger at both
ends of it. 1t is to be regretted that
men who are employed as teachers
should so address classes of young
people who are just about to enter
their duties of active citizenship. The
object of these men seems to be to
prejudice their listeners against the
very people to whom they have to go
for employment. Who but the man
who invests his money, does anything
but give employment?
This seems to be time when some
speakers think that the way to get
applause is to attack every business
and institution that employs labor. It
does not require any great ability to
find fault. They shout:
Flight the interests"
Flight organized wealth."
Break up the corporations"
That kind of talk does not deserve
and does not get the applause of the
men who think. These speakers try
to create in the minds of their listen
ers a prejudice against successful
businesses and business men. Few OF
this class of alarmists have anything
to lose. They are not giving anyone
6uplOyIu0IlG VI ulc0lllS, odCuAo1y poy
rolls or monthly payrolls. They are
talking against institutions and invest
ments that do give employment.
One speaker in Iowa during the re-
cent primary campaign said that what
is now needed in congress is men who
will fight organized wealth. That is
putting it in a very violent manner.
Organized wealth Is any successful
business organization. No business
organization can exist without the
use of money to pay its bills. The
smallest successful store or factory as
well as the largest establishment, is
organized wealth. It may represent
what seems to be small amount to
one, but is a large amount to another.
If it is a systematic business it is an
organization.
Will it benefit the employees for the
=