The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-11-18
MONEY ESSENTIAL
TO ALL GROWTH
Commercialism NJ a ke s
Spiritual Regeneration
a Possibility
HIDING BEHIND ART"
Says Non-Productive Idlers of
Today Not Entitled to
Use Of Wealth

NEW YORK, Nov Il. -- The
Greenwich wllagcr. dabbung In art
for arts sake, Is overlooking a ono
best bet
Far from being a menace tho
commercial spirit OF tho age holds
the key TO the riddle OF spiritual
woll-hclng"
So says the American Exchange
National baum, which. in it's current
monthly letter, forsakcs tho dry
ueld OF finance % pay It's respects
60 the young ladies and gentlemen
who spend their time about cellar
ten tables, denouncing the ways OF
commerce
In fact" AYERS the bank. 'If Il
worcnt for the commercial instincts
or someone gone before, those young
people might be grabbing for their
own living instead OF discussing art"
The dissertation continues:
When War Was Main job.
In the days when war was the
chief occupation of nations the war
rior naturally held the mere trader
In contempt, and as he usually
profited from war the trader did
not object. Lator at the beginning
OF the modern economic system. tho
heirs or the warrior class were still
In possession OF large land holdings,
which the economists OF that day
sought TO justify upon the ground
that leisure class was needed az
a medium for the transmission OF
culture 90 the next generation, TO
carry on the traditions OF the race
and 20 bear forward tho fruits OF
progress apd civilization.
In a degree these economists
were riSht the leisure class of that
day, directly or indirectly. did not
only In large part recover the cui-
ture OF past ages, but they also
erected a new culture and raised
new standards which they bore
gloriously forward standards which
have elevated the entire human race.
standards upon which the super
structure OF modern civilization 10
firmly set.
Our Own Age IL Greatest.
"Our distinguished predecessors
were also responsible for much fool
ishnesE for which we must excuse
them, as they also were members
OF the human race. But they were
rarely guilty OF the foolishneas OF
living In the past They were sell
dom found going back to the cave
men for standards with which 20
measure their contemporaries.
"Our own age Is the greatest OF
any Of which we know that che
world has even seen. and CONNER
cinlism has made II what II is. for
| commercialism has applied the wis
dom OF the ages toward the im-
| provement and the welfare OF all
| mankind. And furthermore. unless
! u n,iscrably nasses !ts opportunities
/ by commercial lism will eventually
solve the riddle OF spiritual well-be-
ing.
Except that the enthusiasm II In
vokcs In rarely genuine, there is no
objection TO the pursuit OF art as n
diversion for those who arc not arr
lists, provided they do something to
earn the leisure In which 10 carry
on the pursuit. Loafing on un-
earned money is an economic crime,
The son OF the rich man is no more
entitled TO leisure than the son OF
the poor man. Wealth In the hands
OF the individual is a trust which
cannot rightfully be employed In
support OF idleness. Tho modern
code requires that every man shall
make his own contribution to society
and that is one OF the canona that
are leading commercialism toward
the spiritual regeneration OF the
race"