Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1911-09-28
Creation of National Wealth.

Much. that is said about the creation
of a nation s wealth tends to mystify
us, for we hear of real wealth and fcti-
tious wealth. The one substantial and
lasting, the other ephemeral and and
unreal. Just where to draw the line
between these two kinds of wealth is
of itself a difficult matter. And after
we draw a dividing line that satisfies
we are little better off, for in the end
we are forced to conclude that real sub
stantial wealth is no better under a
highly civilized form of government
than the thing which is its representa-
ton, says Chicago Wholesale Grocer.
All of which is pertinent at this time.
If we can find and destroy wicked
trusts, well and good. To do this is
national duty. More than that, the
government should reach out its pro-
testing arm and shield the smaller bust
ness concerns from any harm which the
| big fellow, because of his very size,
might do the smaller business. 1t
should be the business of the govern
ment to know the very intentions of
the powerful, and if by any chance the
intent to do wrong escapes notice, then
the wrong, when committed, should be
so treated as to make its recurrence I'M
likely. But it does not seem necessary,
in order to punish evil doors that the
whole business fabric of the country
should be seriously disturbed. Ficti-
tious wealth has value, even though
much of it being what we call watered
stock. Its earning capacity determines
its value, just as the earning capacity
of all things we call wealth determines
its value.
Getting rid of lot of water will not
impair real national wealth. 1t will 90
to the consumer in the form of cheaper
and better goods.
To destroy the whole because a part
is regarded bad would not be wis,
! thing to do, for the innocent public
would be made to suffer along will
those deemed guilty.
r All this great wealth now in tn,
) country has national value. Much OF
. it has. been created out of nothing NOR,
than lost motion, it is true, but it il
nevertheless wealth that the nation
cannot afford to destroy.
This campaign of destruction whicl
! some short-sighted people would pursu
to its logical conclusion would TAX
. away from the people all that kind o.
wealth which, for want of a bette
! name, we Call good will. 1t would pu
us back into the condition of aborigines
possessed of nothing but such rea
wealth as land, huts, food and clothing
;, Good will and other forms of intangi
BILE wealth are worth preserving by tn
nation.
,, 1t is because of the great abundanc
of this sort of wealth, created in tn
past decade, that the laboring man, wit
no trade or profession, can get 30 to 3
cents an hour for his services, wherea
the laborer of an earlier period coul
not get half that pay.
, 1t is because of the great amount o
good will-wealth created out of notf
n ing-now in the country that the work
y ing man of this country can eat mea
three times day, live in steam
heated fiat and smoke a few good cigar
IT after his big Sunday dinner.
10 This intangible wealth, so plentifl
% in our country, is not to be found els,
It where on the globs. 1t makes for til
it general prosperity of the people.
If we destroy much of this wealth
answer to the cry of lot of ignorar
I, people who do not know why they al
so well off, we will have cause to r
y, greet it.