The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-06-17
d D DO o o O O O oooo O
O BOYD'S ADDRESS o
10 q
900 0 o o O o O O G o O O


major at Clemson College and one OF
The strong men of the graduating class
made somewhat remarkable address
on the occasion of his graduating this
week Mr.. Boyd is summer resident
OF Anderson. being connected with the
Bank of Anderson. At the request of
this paper he has furnished the follow
ing synopsis OF his address on the
subject why Poverty Prevails Amid
the Greatest Abundance"
The present century has been mark
ed by prodigiOus increase in wealth
producing power. The utilization Of
steam and electricity. the introduction
Of improved processes and labor saw
ing machinery. the grander sub-divis-
lon and grander scale OF production.
the wonderful facilities OF exchanges
have multiplied enormously the eff
fectiveness and efficiency of labor.
AT the beginning of this marvellous
era 1t was natural to expect, and in
deed 1t was expected, that labor saving
Inventions would tighten the toll and
improve the conditions of the laborer:
that the enormous increase I'm the
power of producing wealth would
make poverty thing of the past.
Eouid man OF the last ccntury-a
FRANKLIN or Jefferson-have seen,
IN vision of the future. the steamship
taking the place OF the sailing vessel,
the railroad train of the wagon, the
threshing machine of the fail; could
he have heard the throb of the engine,
that in obedience to human will and for
the satisfaction Of human desires. ex-
ert power greater than that of all
the men Of the eaeth combined: could
he have seen the forest tree trans
formed into finished lumber-into
doors, sashes. boxes and barrels with
hardly the touch of human hands; the
factories where under the eyes of bows
and girls cotton becomes cloth faster
than hundreds of stalwart weavers
could have turned 1t out with their
handlooms; could he have seen steam
hammers shaping mammoth shafts
and mighty anchors. and delicate ma
chinery making tiny watches; could
ne have realized the enormuos saving
OF labor. resulting from improved fa-
cilities Of exchange and communica-
tion-sheep for instance killed In Au-
tralia eaten fresh In England. and tho
order given by the New York banker
executed In London on the same day.
l say could he have conceived of the
hundreds upon hundreds of improve.
ments which these merely suggest.
what would he have inferred as to the
social conditions of mankind?
1t would not have seemed like an
Inference, further than the vision
went, 1t would have seemed as though
ne saw, and his heart would have leap
ed and his nerves would have thrilled,
as one who from height beholds Just
ahead OF thirsty stricken caravan the
living CLEAN of laughing water. Plain
iy In the, sight OF Imagination, he
would have beheld these new factors
society from its very founda-
tton. lifting the very poorest pauper
above the possibilities of want. ex-
the very lowest from the
anxiety for the natural needs of life;
no would have seen these muscles of
IRON and these einews of steel making
Lhe poorest lab0rer,s life a holiday, in
which every high quality and noble
impulse could have scope to grow.
And out OF these bounties and almost
lnconceivable material conditions he
would have seen arising, as q neces-
sary consequence, the golden age OF
which mankind has always dreamed.
More or less vague these have been
The hopes; these the dreams born OF
which give this wonder
ful century its pre-eminence.> But
true, and tis true, that disappoint-
nent has followed disappointment, and
That discovery upon discovery. and in
Vention after invention have never les
sened the tolls Of those who most need
It. nor brought plenty to the poor. AS
we see these results we must ask our
selves the question, what Is the cause
Of all this? From all parts Of the
world comes complaint of Industrial
depression; OF labor condemned to in
voluntary idleness; of capital massed
and wasting; OF pscuniary distress
among the individual business men;
of want, suffering and anxiety among
The working classes. All the dull,
ieadening pain; all ths keen, madden
Ing anguish; that to the great masses
of men are involved lin the words
hard times. affect the whole world
Today. This state Of things common
10 communities, differing so, widely In
situation. in. political institutions, in
fiscal and anhncial systems. in density
of population, and In social organiza-
lion. can hardly, betattrIbuted to any
local causes. There Is distress
where large armies are maintained,
but there Ia also distress where stand
ng armies are normal. There is dis
.ress where protective tariff stupidly
and wastefully hampers trade, but
here Is also distress where. trade is
'ree. There Is distress where auto
cratic government yet prevails. but
here Ia also dIat reaa whera DoiiffCal
power ID wholly In the hands. OF the
people. Evidently. beneath all these
We. are forced, I say. to look for. a
common cause. There is d common,
,ause. and It Is something very closes
Il Lei