The Irish standard., 1912-11-02


The socialstic views and misrepre-
sensations are more seriously in e"-
ror,and INSCRIPTIONS in representing
the individualism that underlies our
present civilization, and particularly
the methods, conditions and results of
modern corporate organizations, and
the system under which capital is
used in conjunction with labor under
the wage system in the production and
distribution of wealth.
The exaggerations are such that
they bear no resemblance to the real
facts and conditions existing in the
industrial and business world; and up
on the presumption that the socialists
and reformers are conscientious in a
general way in their views of social
ism and the Industrial reform, it is
very difficult to see how they can
bring themselves to so exaggerate and
misrepresent the actual facts and con-
ditions pertaining to both sides of the
question, as between capital and la
Dor.
On the other side, it would seem
that if the Socialists actually inter-
preted rightly the outcome of the
present conditions of individualism UNI
der which the vast mass Of wealth is
produced and distributed, they could
hoN .;cI,f 10
resent, as they would see that labor
and the whole commonwealth of peo-
pie are better served, and that the
matchless prosperity and common
welfare of all the people are incom-
parably better and more desirable than
ever known before. The only explain
alton that can be arrived at is that
they are either inexcusably mistaken
or that their personal popularity and
control of public sentiment is priced
by them more than the welfare of the
common people.
The gross Misrepresentation that a
few men own, control and appropriate
to their own personal use, benefit and
enjoyment a large proportion of the
wealth produced annually is utterly
lacking in intelligence and honesty.
The wealth produced each year is in
round numbers: food products, ten
billion; manufactures, eighteen bill
lion; mining products. five billion
making in all thirty-thre billion 70,
annual distribution. What proportion
of this thirty three billion do the five
per cent of capitalists get, have, hold
use, consume, or in any way appro-
pirate to their own use and benefit?
If they get 95 per cent, as so ridicu.
lously claimed, or even the largest
part of it, what do they do with it?
Do they eat 1t, or in any way use.
consume or appropriate it? Or do they
store IS per cent Of the vast annual
output of provisions of manufactures,
machinery, furniture, clothing, build.
ing or material or mining products?
If SO, there must be enormous accu.
mutations. On the contrary, is it not
all distributed among the people, Las
nearly as practicable in proportion to
the contributions toward its produc
ton without going excessively to any
one class? The wealthiest get but
little more than other people.
The annual wealth is all distributed
among the people generally including
the capitalists. But there is on an
average in all stages of production
from the undeveloped, raw material to
the finished or completed product,
dividends or credits of a possible fif-
teen per cent Of the actual distribu-
ton value, that goes to the capital
lists. The eighty-flve per cent or more
goes to labor. Some of the capital
| lists or the sometimes profigate or
extravagant descendants waste their
fortunes and it is scattered among the
people. Most of those who get the
larger incomes or credits, use or con-
tribute in larger proportion or per-
centage than the average citizen, for
the public welfare Through the lib
erality of the prominent business men,
hundreds of millions have been con-
tributed within the past generation,
for public institutions and the public
| welfare. 1t is more liberal and has
accomplished more for the we'll being
and advantage of the people, than the
citizens of any other nation or time
ever approximated. 1t should also be
remembered that in the production of
wealth, hundreds of millions are paid
out and distributed for wages, salaries
and supplies, through which in large
part, the annual wealth is distributed.
The capitalists and corporations are
arraigned also for plundering the peo-
pie and absorbing and appropriating
to their own Nse large mart Of tho