The Washington herald., 1914-02-25
Consider the Other Fellow.
Henry L. Higginson. N The Survey.

ana 10 DO each other kindnesses. and this
mood again breeds a further wish 70
understand the other side and to give
and to receive help But n large class
OF the community is being trained to hate
the rich man. and would strip him Of
MIS- property. that is. the result OF his
saved earnings. Yet that everybody
Graves property is to be seen by the
records OF the savings banks. where the
deposits OF the wage Garner daily In
crease, and In our country largely out
strip the savings In any other country.
FOR a long time II has been recognized
tnat 10 make man a householder goes
far towards giving him self-respect and
standing In the community. and the same
Is true of his deposits In the savings
banks These things make him better
citizen.
Now, to consider the rich men OF the
country. Almost all OF them, starting
with no money, have gained their riches
through industry and brains; they have
seen chance, have used II. have in
creased II, have gone on with their In
dustry and their ventures, and in time
have reached high point OF power and
wealth. Perhaps this result is to be de-
precated, but II is the work OF men who
have made their own way, and. In doing
so. have helped to make the country
what 1t Is. More than that, it is what
most men would like to do. Perhaps
some OF these men have done things
which At the time they thought honest.
put which later on they have thought
dishonest. and OF which they have been
ashamed. But where Is the man who
has gone through life and done nothing
for which he should and does blush?
After all Is said and done. the industry
and brains OF these men have produced
WNNN
cannot take IL out OF the world, II re-
mains here for use. and our country will
use il and benefit by Il.
This accumulated wealth is not an end.
but gateway through which material
progress marches on and blesses the
whole nation One man builds a rail-
road, and million use II; few men
opened the West, risking their earnings
and millions Of men have profited there
western lands might be q wilderness to-
day.
The government of our country Is in
tent on conservation Of land, timber
ccal. and waterrights, and, with good
flaws. II will conserve the accumulated
riches Of the successful men. The real
point is TO put these riches to proper
Use. IL invested In factories or railroad
or farms, they will give employment and
food TO many people. The government is
outstanding the national resources. and
this private wealth Is one Of the ma
uonal resources-it Is the great reser-
yoir from which the country can draw
for education, or help in case Of disease.
war, fire or any other calamity; and
again and again We have seen 1t used
abundantly for such needs
Now, IL attacks are constantly made
on property in every shape. II managers
o. great corporations are attacked, will
these accumulations be made, and will
these workmen, now become capitalists. :
use their money in new ventures? The
railroads and factories are not owned by
few rich men alone. but largely by
a great public OF dsy-laborers, me-
chanics, farmers, stenographers, school
teachers and professional men. and also
by the great savings banks and life in
surance companies which again are the |
reservoirs holding the earnings of the
working classes, so called. The distribu- |
tion Of railroad shares is wide, and the |
same Is true Of the shares in a thou |
sand and one factories large and small |
the country. Some rich men |
have great interests in them. Can such |
men be injured without injuring every
body? For 1t is a fact that the money |
OF the poorer people vastly exceeds in |
bulk that of the richer people.
Still further. it is very easy TO blame |
the large corporations for misconduct, !
but the public demands of the railroads I
frst-rate service and many luxuries and
fast trains. and pays today what it used |
to pay for very inferior service. The |
workmen demand more and more wages. |
IL the costs are higher, and the rates are |
not raised-a matter which is in the
hands of the United States government
the railroads cannot get money, and IL
they cannot get 1t. they cannot improve
Or extend their lines or even maintain
their present condition. and the whole
public will suffer. Without railroads our
would have been an impossibility
and there is hardly a road in the coun-
Try which has not been in grave diff
culties, IL net bankrupt The venture
some man who had money or could
borrow il built these railroads. Will he
still venture, IL he can expect only
,nmity or at best. criticism? After all,
We arc human beings.
If business men and capitalists are
pushed aside, who is TO undertake and
AIRY on large works? Government has
never accomplished such results as pri-
rate men or corporations. cannot con-
luct large operations well, should not
-isk public money on ventures. and does
spend more than a corporation on
,ivcn piece OF work. Government cannot
,e punished for misconduct or even re-
,uked for mistakes. Every private citi-
Ten or corporation can be hailed into
,Ourt, criticized and punished. Govern
nent has accomplished some large works
we'll. but at a greater cost than that of L
private parties.
The truth is that the government can
lot hire the best men; because Il can
lot assure them a steady job, and be-
ause it pays men less than the private
Employer. who will keep thom on their
oh if they are honest and capable. The
servant is always sitting on
ne end Of a tilt. which may go up or
own at any minute. After all. the pri-
ate business of the citizens large and
mall is much more important than the
usiness of the government. The govern
nent exists for us-the citizens-and we
o not exist for the government, which
an rightfully control but not execute.
1et the shoemaker stick to his last.
well-to-do men and women are thinking l
4 and helping their less fortunate fell I
ows more than formerly, and are using {
heir means freely for public institutions
Ike galleries. Fairgrounds. concerts and I
hraries. Everyone needs wholesome {
and refreshment, for life is
ainful as well as joyful. and, while many
are within the reach of we'll G
o-do people. they are beyond the reach
{ poorer people. Galleries. orchestras, !
fairgrounds and the like, which simply i
ducate or solace. cannot exist without a
ubsidy. / am grateful for this fact. for G
re would far better work and worry even a