The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-14
NJ A N
BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
Copyright. 1s1s. y syndicate)

entitled to draw from society in pro-
portion as he contributes to the well
fare OF society. This law Is funda-
mental 1t conforms to that sense Of
justice which forms the broad basis
of social intercourse and Arm foun-
dalton for government. This sense
of Justice is offended when any one,
either through the favorism of gov
eminent or in defiance of government
acquires that for which he has not
given an equivalent. There are GER
tain apparent exceptions, but they will
upon examination be found to be only
apparent or to present evidence of an
attempted approximation to the stand
ard
For instance, by general consent
there Is requirement by right of dis
covery. A man finds something of
which man has not before known. and
although the discovery may not have
caused him great effort, yet 1t may
be of great value. There Ia Justice
In giving him a reasonable compensa-
ton out OF the thing which he has
discovered, but the fact that the gov
eminent under whose Jurisdiction the
land lies limits by metes and bounds
the land which the pioneer may claim
Is evidence Of an effort to fix a rela-
ton between service and compensa-
ton. And so II one discovers precious
metals the law determines the amount
of land that can be claimed under the
discovery The inventor. also, in re-
turn for the benefits conferred upon
society. Ia given temporary monop-
oily of the sale of the thing invented,
! but the fact that ne Ia protected for
"a limited time only is another proof
of the general desire that the reward
collected from society shall be pro-
portioned 10 the benefit conferred
upon society,
It IL hardly necessary to add that
II is as sacred as his right to provide
for himself and the mutual obiiga-
tons between parent and child take
inheritances out OF the ordinary rules
of property. and yet even In this case
! the graded taxes now imposed upon
inheritances In various Statea-and
they should he imposed in all States
Indicate q tendency to limit the tesla
mentary disposition Of property. Gifts
are either first, an expression Of ar
lection or friendship. or. second, pay
nent for service rendered or payment
In advance for service to be rendered
to the donor or to others.
But turning from the exception 20
the rule. what could be more saIutary
today than a universal recognition Of
this law of rewnrds7 II instead Of
measuring success by the amount re-
ceived each one measured success by
the amount actually earned, what n
transformation would be wrought in
the world. II each one were so per-
fectiy under self-control and so at
tached to high ideal as not to de-
sire more from the world than Just
reward for his contribution to the
worlds welfare, society would present
changed appearance. Nearly all in
Justice. nearly all of mans inhuman-
fty to man. can be traced TO an at
tempt on the part of the wrong-doer
to Obtain something for nothing or
something for which only part pay
ment In offered. 4 conscientious appli-
cation of this law of rewards would
not only go far toward adjusting dis
putes between labor and capital. but 1t
would 20 far toward removing the
! barriers between the classes
The empioye to make a just COM
plant against his employer shows that
the latter is claiming a larger share
of the joint profit than is his due,
and the employer to bring just In
dictment against his employe alleges
that the employe Is seeking a larger
taC thAS Io& AEh-
There would be little difficulty In ad-
justing hours of labor and the condi-
tons of labor If the primary question
of participation In profits could be ad-
justed, and that adjustment cannot be
eauitahly made upon any other basis
than that of equivalent values With
universal acQuiescence In this rule the
usurer would disappear. carrying his
train OF evils with him: with the es-
tabisshmeHt of this rule the stock Job
her and the market gambler would
cease to disturb the law OF supply and
demand. and the reign of watered
stock and of exploitation would be at
an end
The observance of this rule would
make factory laws unnecessary and
relieve from premature toll hundreds
OF thousands of children who now, TO
! the shame of our civilization and to
the permanent harm Of our country.
become sullen supporters OF the fam
| lily when they should enjoy the de-
! lights of childhood and the advantages
! OF school. Those who. instead OF try
! ing to see how much they can squeeze
| out OF the world. are anxious to give
| to the world dollars worth OF SER
vice for a dollars worth of pay are
protected against every form of swind-
| ling. for the "get-rich-quick" schemes
! which spring up and impose upon
| the public until they are exposed and
I r.