Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-06-19
How and Whore Of Progress.

(CNTlSllan SCIENCE hOUItOI)
Present day economic tendencies
seem to be as full of contradiction as
Of interest and instruction. There is
such shifting around Of attitudes,
such a Juggling of expressions, that
one who is content with mere surfa ce
manifestations is quite certain to be
mislead. The interest lies, however, in
the changing conditions, the !nstruc-
ton in the changing convictions. thai,
are seemingly undermining and I'M
settling time -honored and deep-rooted
theories and practices. The conserva-
tive of today almost without warning,
accepts a plank from the platform OF
the radical OF Yesterday The capital
isr who yesterday expressed unmistak-
able alarm over the growth Of collec-
twist sentiment today voluntarily pro-
poses a socialistic remedy for econom-
ic ills. The builder Of stupendous
commercial edifce upon foundation
OF capital acquired thru individual eff
fort frankly expresses the belief that
competition should become obsolete,
and invites. in behalf Of the interests
he represents, the patronage. the pro-
lection and the control OF the state.
Private combination all but asserts
that it is paving the way to ultimate
public ownership and operation of in
dusr-es as well as utilities. Dazed as
il We're. by its collision with govern
n2ent With organized society It's first
impulse is TO beg for terms Of surren-
der. To save its investment a. ieas:
to be permitted TO draw interest upon
il Indefinitely. it would sacrifice to ex-
pediency the principle of !ndividualism
10 which the world heretofore. rightly
or wrongly. has attributed al il has
gained in enlightment. comfort ana
freedom. Private combination is GER
tain TO recover shortly from its pan
icky feeling and to take calMer and
saner view OF the situation; not so
certain is It. however, that. having re-
covered. at least partially from its
fright, il will change its tactics and its
methods and alter course that In re-
cent years has been preparing the
thoughts Of American citizens for the
acceptance OF economic changes which
they would have unhesitatingly spurn-
ed in other days.
\ great structural economic change
IS inevitable There IS now little Ques-
ton about this Uncertainty relates
rather 10 the speed with which Il Will
come and the form it vii! ultimately
neither the time. manner nor form OF
the change VIII apparently be deter
mined on the one hand. by the iI1pul-
sive and too aggressive radical e.e-
ment, nor on the other by the class
whose conservatism is rooted mainly
in self-interest. The great mass OF the
people. whose welfare is at stake IN
every revolutionary movement, and
whose voice and vote constitute tho
decisive factor. cherishes opinions Of
its own as TO the departures IN policy
and government that are desirable or
undesirable. L viii not permit Judge
Cary, any more than II Will permit Mr..
Debs. TO settle go momentous Ques-
ton. The nation and its well-heing
are considerations that IN the comm on
thought overshadow all others. They
dwarf seemingly tremendous political
and economic agi,ations as theT do
the aggregated wealth. interests and
pretentions OF all the trusts. In this
fact lie hope and assurance.