The Washington times., 1914-01-22

ne increase OIL our DuSilSSo dliu
Of our wealth per capita, the growth
of our national prestige, and the
cheapening of all the necessities OF
Efe, except food, are so great that
they are hardly to be credited.
The attention of all the people has
been focused on material success.
All other motives and all other con-
sidcrations were for a time absorbed
in tho chase for the dollar. The val
liable discovery of the value of COM
bination, first in mechanical devices
greatly saving human labor, and
then Of capital, in the reduction in
the cost OF operation, led TO its use
for another and more sinister pur-
pose, to Wit, in the establishment or
monopOlies.
These were obtained in the form
of public franchises and privileges.
without adequate governmental con-
troll, and in the form of trusts.
Agents Of great corporations for the
purpose of maintaining their power
sought political influence and politi-
cal control through abhorrent and
corrupt means; and through the
lethargy Of the electorate in the dis
charge of their political functions
and their neglect in the selection
and careful watching Of their repre-
scntatives in government, there came
TO be n plutocratic control of politi-
cal agencies that threatened tho in
tcRrity OF the Government and its
utility as a benehcent instrument OF
a free people.
Crusade On Plutocracy.
For the last decade or more there
has been a crusade against plutoc-
racy which has brought about
marvellous Change among the people
and has developed in them a con-
Germ and care to suppress corporate
corrupt control of politics. This has
worked a great reform. It was not
to be expected, however, that all the
people could be reused TO such a
danger and to the measures neces-
sary to remedy its evil results with
out some unwiSe eXcesSeS. We are
now passing through the period
when such excuses are manlfesting
themselves. Enthusiasts are sure
that men and society are changing
and that something like a millen-
MUM is at hand, and results are
prophesied which are not only con-
trary to experience, but are alto
gether ut variance with human ma
ture as We know IT..
Concerning social unrest, Mr.. Taft
admitted the possibility that such
existed
Certainly" he said. 1.-THE attacks
on the motives of good people, the
unjust assaults upon the commend
Cble accumulation OF wealth, the
failure to discriminate between hon
est business men and dishonest busi-
ness men, and the cultivation of con-
tempt for law and constituted au-
th0rity, wOuld b. likely TO bring
about such unrest and Sullen or
hostile attitude on the part of many
OF the less fortunate toward the
well-to-dO.
Condemns Sex Teaching
There is another danger in our
present educational influences and
environment" continued Mr.. Taft.
I refer to the spread Of lubricity In
literature, on the stage, and indirect
ly in education. under the plea that
ice may be avoided by teaching its
awful consequences. BY dwelling on
its details and explaining its penal
ties, sexual subjects are obtrudcd
into discussion between tho sexes,
lectures are delivered on them. and
textbooks are written, and former
restraints OF modesty arc abandoned.
This change I'm the attitude Of So
ciety. or that part ;hat treats it as
desirable, has only a small modI-
cum of good. if any, rhile much. Of
II is bad In its tendency and effect
In the first place. wicked editors
seize upon the fact to sell their
literary wares by suGrrstire stories,
treating of sex problems, and pic
turing conditions as General in So
cicty, which, thank 600. are the
exceptions. and all his Is under the
pretenSe- of carrying 1n Il S"Cjal "r-
form. Moving pictures and plays
are paradcd before the public to
teach q moral lGssoD, in v t:th the