The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-06-10

.M1Xe0 tram ss.ssst".
to find an excuse for Mr.. Patterns
writing it one would have to &C deep
er into the mysteries Of creation. 1t
has long been evident that the ennis
sion of his sort of mi is part OF his
very nature.
It is the privilege of any one to de-
plore the crowding of millions of peo-
pie into the little island of Manhattan
to denounce the immortality or the
luxury of New York, and to point out
how much more wholesome, or Virtu-
Gus, or happy would be the lives of
thousands who swell the metropolitan
swarm If they made use of the oppor-
tunities which the vast untitled areas
of our country afford. This, and more,
Professor Patten might have done to
his hearts content, without blame.
But he processes to speak as an econo-
mist and a scientific student of socie-
ty: and he undertakes to declare, in
this capacity, not only what ought to
be, but what will be, and that speedily.
"A number of driving forces" he de-
clares, ARE operating with fearful
rapidity On the industrial life of the
east, pressing 1t, whether it will or no,
toward a precipice of financial insolv-
ency.". A great struggle. he tells us,
is going on between New York n
Tile TEST VI Ill0 COultkS anu IL ltC
country at large wins, New York city
will face q slump in values beside
which the crises of the past have been
a mere bagatelle.' Signs of New
York's approaching downfall are al
ready visible, for already the exports
of foodstuffs Cher chief dependency
have fallen off in favor of Baltimore,
Boston, and Montreal"
But the fault of MIR. Patterns articles
1fnc> 0nf ca ro1f0h. IN fhn mild rhaT 20 ofar
of his. sweeping statements and pre-
dictions as in the ludicrous insigniff-
canoe of the facts and figures he cites
in support of them. Take this matter
of food exports, for example. MI. Pat
ten spreads u a table showing that
exports of flour from New York have
declined from 100000 barrels in 1880
to $500, 900 in 1904, while in the same
interval the joint exports from Phila-
delphia, Boston and Baltimore have
increased from 1,600,00 to 3,100, 900;
and likewise exports of provisions
have here decreased from 1,150, 000, 900
pounds to $50 5000, 600, while in the riv-
al cities they have advanced from AGO.
100000 pounds to $40, 000, 600. Now if
this business is, as Mr.. Patten says,
this city's "chief dependence" how in
heavens name has it happened that
New York has grown so tremendously
in wealth n population-and at a far
more rapid rate than the other cities
during these t~Wenty-four years, while
the amount of this business has actu-
ally declined? One more instance
must suffice-indeed, these two are
among the very few in which Mr.. Pat
ten even attempts to back up his as
sertions by any citation of facts. To
prove that a great exodus to the west
is on the way, and that 1t must be rap
idly accelerated owing to wage condi-
tions, he says:
The relative advantages of the east
and the west are made plain by the
wages paid in the two districts. Some
Of the latest state reports show that
the wages in the west are considerably
higher than in the east, as this table
will illustrate:
Thep roportion of men engaged in in
dustry who receive more than SIS
per week
In each 100.
In Massachusetts .......... ZIG
In Kansas &c
In California R7
And this pitiful little exhibit of a
difference between Massachusetts and
Kansas-with seven times as much
difference between Kansas and Cali
fornia-is all he has to present in sup
port of his thesis!
1t may seem almost as ili-iudged to
take notice of eruptions like this OF
Professor Patterns as to print them Ii
the first place. Often, indeed, one feels
that silence is the only proper course
with regard to them. But occasionally
it seems to be more or less d duty to
brand them as they deserve, for the
benefit of those who may be misled
through the official position of the
writer into attaching weight to them
But " IS difficult to deal with them in
language that is confined within the
bounds of courtesy. What shall he
said, for instance, of the holder Of an
important university chair who is cap
able of the combined ignorance and
effrontery of this explanation of the
French revolution:
In 1850 the work of the world was
done by hand. The steam engine was
invented; machines came into use.
the enterprising Britishers found coal
Of England moved from the villages Of
the south into cities in the north
Meanwhile, the French continued ii
manufacture by the old hand process
es. Before they realized what had han
pened, England had an Industrial lead
Of thirty years on them. She took the
french markets, impoverished their
INDUSTRIES, n created widespread
distress which brought on the reyoIu-
ton. Louis XVI. Robespierre, Danton
and Mirabeau were incidents in s
great economic process. The real
cause OF the political revolution Is
France was the industrial revolution
In England.
IT may be impossible for Mr.. Patten
TO keep himself from finding q new
key to the history Of the past, 4 new
solution OF the problems Of the pres
ent, and q new revelation of the Sc
I cretS OF the future, every other morn Z
ing. 1t may be Impossible to
the publication of these wonderful dis
coveries, Ia books or magazines On
newspapers. But at least it Ii possible
to warn innocent bystanders &c the
utter absence, In his explorations, 81
any trace of scientific Of responsible
thinking.
InarossihIe.