The Washington herald., 1912-12-22

cities, I suppose. iflsound and able busi-
ness men. free from political influence.
were to control. With politicians in COM
mand conditions would be- disgraceful.
Itis opinicps About Socialism.
81 am not a Socialist, but there are
thoughts in. socialism which should be
studied carefully. Numerically, the So
cialists are stronger in Germany than
any other party. Excellent laws have
been enacted in that country because OF
socialistie agitation. Old age pensions is
one of the laws; provision for the care
OF the Ill and helpless is another. II a
servant were working for my mother,
she. my mother and the State would
each pay a certain sum TO the pension
fund SO that when the servant became
old she would have some means of sup
port The theory is sensible and Just
and has been copied by Great Britain.
But public control OF the agencies of
production, OF farms, stores. factories,
mills. and railroads is a wholly different
proposal It would be impossible, unless
all men were alike, wanting to wear the
same kind of clothing and to eat sauer-
kraut every day. Men are not alike, and
I am glad they are motif would be a
weary world IL they were. Besides, there
can never be a dead level of property
any more than there can be a dead level
OF talents and aptitudes. Divide to-day.
equally as to money. stocks Of goods
and houses and lands, and the equili-
brium would be spoiled before sundown
and another distribution would be nee
essary tomorrow. Lord Rothschild once
went into conference with four French
Socialists.
"'You should divide your property
with the people they said.
"'Very well,' he answered. About how
much do you think I am WORTH
AT least 100000 francs they re-
piled.
"T accept your figures Lord Roths-
child responded. And here is your share,
whereupon he took out his purse and
gave each man 21-2 francs"
do you think there are municipal
grafters in all large American cities?"
/ asked.
'Tf there are not. then the cities free
OF grafters have kept mighty quiet about
II. At least I have not heard OF any
| which are making boasts In that direc-
ton"
LOnninE Money to the Poor.
You had some experience with usu-
| rious money lenders a number OF years
Rgo?''
II did, and Ioaning money to the poor
is another municipal problem. We have
Citizens Permanent Relief Committee
| in Philadelphia 1t was organized in
| 1873. / am the only founder of the So
ciety now living. The organization has
always been highly respected in this vi
cinity. We collected $4,000 for the suf-
ferers In the Johnstown flood, sent S35O,OO
! to San Francisco after the earthquake,
and $3OOOoC to the starving peasants of
Russia. I went to Russia myself and
distributed a shipload of flour. Well.
| in 1898, during the hard times, I heard of
woman VINO. having borrowed SO had
paid So interest on the loan. | brought
the case TO the notice of our society and
was appointed a committee of one 10
! look into the methods OF money lenders.
Daily sessions were held for foul
months. during which / investigated
| Zoo transactions. The lenders were
| compelled TO return all the money they
had collected, except the original loans
| and per cent interest. One unfortunate
| woman was paying 50 per cent a month
or 720 per cent a year, for a sum she
! was compelled to borrow through the
| stress OF hard circumstances. ! worked
up 81 serious cases against two brothers
both OF whom were sent TO the peniten.
| tiary There should be phiIanthropiC
! lOdning establishments in all cities. One
in New York lends sl1.OOO.O0O annually al
l. per cent interest-6 per cent goes &c
| the men who supply the capital and
per cent is required for expenses"
You have been a vigorous worker IN
reform politics for thirty-five years"
said.
Yes. and saw the cause OF good
government defeated in almost every
battle in which I took part, but I never
lost faith in the morality and inherent
common sense Of the people. We Amer.
leans make mistakes and then repeat
the mistakes, but ultimately We do the
right thing"
Are millionairts a menace to the
country
Some are. and some are not. Pilins
up money for the sake of money is
| neither good for the man nor his coun-
try. Power comes, and may be wrongly
used One should understand that he is
in debt to his community and must pay
the debt in labor for the general vel
fare Human life cannot he selfish. un-
less one wants to initiate an animal. II
thinking, l have always tried to do my
part.
In July. 1890. after fifty years of work.
first as a clerk at IS a week. then as a
travelling salesman. and later as a mer-
chant and manufacturer, I retired from
business. But / was never too busy to
take an active and, ] think. a sensible
interest in public matters"
(Corynsht. 1872, by James b. Morrow