Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-11-28
With Other Editors


America today is standing on the threshold OF
social industrial upheaval that will leave in its
wake the wrecksge of great number OF long cher
shed institutions including such venerable idols
the survival the fittest the sacredness of
lated wealth and cheap labor. The world that
have helped make safe for democracy includes the
United States and the sooner we let that fact sink
in the easier will be contamination of the renas-
sance TO come.
The day OF individualisrn in America is
Democracy as-we understand it, calls for the great
est good for the greatest number. The majority OF
our people are wage-earners, men of average brain
power. men who desire nothing much beyond the
ordinary comforts and necessities Of life.
For many generations the Hohenzollerns Haps-
burgs and Romanoffs of wealth have reigned in
America = few mon have been able to Xix the wages
Of the Multitude, dole out their food and assign
them shelters. In true democracy such a situation
is inconcevabe and If we have not become true
democracy, as result Of the war, then we have
shed blood in vain
The adjustment in America will be accomplished
without violence. Our people are too intelligent to
assume that the torch and the headsman's axe are
good reform arguments. The war has helped won
derfuIly. 1t has brought together in the same dug
out PerciyaI the son of accumulated wealth, and
Michael the of underpaid toll Lying in the same
wallow Of mud. drinking from the same cantecn and
bothered by the same coolies, no doubt community
of interest has sprung up between them, Perciyal
has discovered that Michael has some good points
and Michael has found that even a rich mans son
has lot Of decent traits And it is the Michaels
and the Percivals back from the for democracy
who will have the great part in shaping the new
freedom for America.
The new era. TO our mind will not be one OF
socialism as # is generally defined 1t will be one
of decency and fair play It viii assume such forms
these:
Private fortunes VIII be greatly curtailed, not by
confscation or by denying men the rewards of their
brain and Drawn, but by stamping out initiation and
by keeping wages up to level that will permit the
worker to share equtably in the profits of his pro-
duet
Ill combinations to keep prices up by the with
holding Of food products other essentials Will be
destroyed.
AS between wages and profits, wages will always
receive the first consideration.
Our weaker brothers, those injured in Industry
incapacitated by old age, will be taken care of by
pensions or state insurance.
Heavy inheritance taxes will return to the state
part of the huge fortunes piled up under the old
regime
These are but few Of the changes We expect
under the new order II our democracy is to be of
the enduring kind it must be where the inhabf-
'ants viii live in a spirit of cooperation where the
stronger viii give Of their strength to the weaker
and where the Of great mental power will use
their God-giyen faculties to help those whose only
ability lies in their arms.
Under the new democracy there be but one
answer to The question Cain asked of God:
Am my brothers. KEEPER Louis Republic