The labor world., 1917-11-10
|SoC|AL JUSTICE AND THRIFT

I eS~ o~ubSo buUVO
Thrift advocates are fond of quot
ing the maxims of Benjamin Frank
lin. They usually quote them so as
to leave the erroneous impression
that Franklin knew no better than
to believe that through personal econ
omy alone all might become rich. An
exception Is to be noted in one of
New York city's financial institutions,
the Franklin Society, which shows the
true position Of the old philosopher
in a business advertisement appear
ing in the New York Times of Sept.
I12.
benjamin Franklin believed in So
clal justice. And he didn't believe
that individual thrift was 4 substi-
tute Tor 1t. But he preached cour-
age to the man with a hard. row to
noe, and hard work and self-denial,
In order that personal character and
strength and independence might re-
suit. These, he knew, would help a
fellow rise above an adverse environ
ment, and thus attain larger oppor-
tunitles and influence in the age
! long struggle for better and juster
social and political conditions. He
would have men mend themselves
while contending for mended laws"
Credit is due the Franklin society
for giving a proper Interpretation to
the sayings Of one of Americas wisest
philosophers. Franklin was not only
! an advocate of social justice but a
student of political economy and an
advocate of economic reforms, so far
ahead of his time that they are just
coming within view of the present
| generation.
Franklin realized that freedom of
access to the land is essential to
thrift. In his "Observations on the
Increase of Mankind,' written in
1881, he said: Land being this plen-
ty in America, and so cheap that a
laboring man that understands hus-
bandry can in short time save money
enough to purchase a piece Of new
land sufficient for plantation
whereon he may subsist a family,
such are not afraid to marry, for If
| they even look far enough forward to
consider how their children, when
grown up, are to be provided for,
they see that more land is to be had
| at rates equally easy
Had Franklin foreseen how in less
| than two centuries the rising price
of land would make two-thirds of
| Americas farmers either tenants or
| mortgaged holders, he would have re-
| Trained from adding to the above the
| following, or he would have qualified
| his remarks: 80 vast is the territory
of North America that it will require
| many ages to settle it fully, and till
| 1t is fully settled, labor will never be
! cheap labor where no man continues
| long laborer, but gets a plantation
of his own.''
Had he foreseen what was coming
he might have been more active in
| urging the adoption of preventative
measures. For he was we'll acquainted
/ with the principle which in our time
has been given the name Of Single
| Tax. This Is shown by letter writ
| ten in 1868 to a leading French advo-
| cate Of the measure DUPONT deNem-
ours, one of the school of economists
known as "physiocrats." In that let
ter Franklin said: Il have received
your obliging letter of the 10th of
May with the most acceptable pres
ent of your 'Phyaocratic'
There is so much goodness mixed
with the wisdom In the principles of
your new philosophy that I am per-
fectly charmed with them
had, before I went into. your coun-
| try. seen some letters OF yours to DR..
Templeman, that gave. me a high
opinion Of the doctrines you are en-
gagged in cultivating. It is
from your philosophy only that the
maxims of a more happy conduct are
! to be drawn, which therefore SIN
cerely wish may grow and increase
till it becomes the governing philos-
ophy Of the human species as it must
| certainly be that of superior beings
! in g. better world"
Franklin's words make good Single
Tax propaganda material, even at this
late day.