The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-10-06
wealth Determines power.
BY JOB HARTMAN.

Out or the universal conflict of in
terests waging in the outside world
condition has arisen in which the
physically strong and the intellectu-
ally cunning survive. The heart
plays no part in our affairs The
powerful and crafty succeed; the
good and humane too frequently 20
down before them. It is a survival
of the unfit. 1t is this terrible fact
that is developing a worldwide hatred
Of the system of getting money and
power and dominating the world by
brute force. Take all you can and
keep all you take. This is the creed
Of capitalism that is poisoning the
sould of humanity.
Can this be overcome by group
of people located in the very heart Of
such system, even as it affects. the
people in that very group? Can a
new order of things be established in
such q community out Of which will
grow new social spirit? Can the
pathway to a higher social life be
blazed through the thorns and
thickets and swamps of capitalism?
We are convinced that humanity
is neither depraved nor wicked; but
rather that the hearts and minds of
men would be as sweet and gentle
and loving as the babyhood, if the
stream Of life were not polluted by
the vicious methods produced by the
universal conflict of interests
With this firm conviction we pro-
vided that in the Llano del Rio COM
munity there should be:
Tristan equal ownership of all
productive property.
Second-an equal income.
Out of these two provisions is aris-
ing a community of interest that is
Tar reaching and constructive.
Already there has resulted COM
plete transformation of industrial af-
fairs at Llano from what exists on
the outside, as we'll as revolution
In the community spirit.
A desire for power and for the
appreciation of our fellow men is
among the strongest impulses of the
heart. Under capitalism, the social
power of an individual is almost en-
tfrely determined by the wealth he
takes from the community This
wealth is used as force with which
to determine the social policies, and
the policies thus determined are used
to increase his wealth. The appro-
baton Of at least few, follows close
upon the heels of this power. Thus
greed and ambition grow apace,
while the mind is thrilled with
sense of power, and the heart hard
ened with brutalities arising from
its use.
But in our community, where both
the ownership of property and our
incomes are equal, no such wealth
or economic power can be accumu-
lated. Yet the desire for social
power and for the appreciation of
our fellows still exists Indeed, this
desire is keener in the absence of the
dominating aristocracy. Under such
conditions, there is but one way by
which this desire may be gratified
and that is l>y rendering service to
the community and to ones fellows.
The character and value of the serv-
ice rendered determines ones in
fluence and the welcome with which
one is received. Thus kindly heart
and a social passion are induced and
developed.
Whoever wins to great achievement
by serving his fellow men wins q
peace of heart and depth of joy that
are dearer than life to him. - From
such come the martyrs Of the world.
It is the highest quality of service,
by the keen, the alert and the efficient
that wins.
The doors to the schools, to the
industries, to culture and hence to
efficiency are now and must ever re-
| main open alike to all, for with us
all, are enua1lV interested and have
equal incomes.
Equal interests, equal incomes. and
equal opportunities open the way for
development of all that is good in
man. and lead him to consider the
welfare Of the community as of
primal Importance. The incentive
for our action is measured by the JOY
T! to be derived from the thing sought