Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-04-19
PROPERTY RIGHTS.

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economic way has been made under a "capitalistic"
From time to time efforts have been made
to organize the world, or parts of it, OH the basis Of
the elimination of Capitalism. a system involving
the common ownership of all property and the de-
NAL to every individual OF. the right to accumulate
property of his own. Under whatever name these
efforts have been made, they have failed lin each
particular instance, and those who have been in
|volved in such enterprises have reverted to the
doctrine of private property rights. .
When property rights are discussed there is a
tendency to think at once of the Rockefellers, the
Mqrgans, and others whose fortunes are counted in
millions. These people and their fortunes are
merely incidental. The people who are really in
terested in property rights are the little fellows,
those whose possessions are so few that they need
absolute security in the possession of what they
have. They constitute all but an insignificant per-
centage of the population of every country, and to
them the security of their possessions is as import
ant, as sacred, as the freedom and security of their
persons.
The individual is entitled to the possession and
complete control of the full fruits of his own in
dustry, whether of hand or brain, limited only by
such regulations as may be necessary to protect
other individuals ard society itself against the use
OF such property III a manner in jurious to the COM
mon interest. This does not mean that the hired
laborer on the farm is entitled to the product of the
farm tor his summers work, or that the factory hand
is entitled to the product Of the factory. There are
others than the chance common laborer who have
CLAIMS which must be recognized. In the crop to be
harvested this season there is represented the ac-
cumulated industry of years on the part of the
farmer. The factory and its equipment represent
similar accumulations for which their owners arc
entitled to their share of the product. And the only
just apportionment is that which is made on the
basis of the contribution of each person to the finish
ed product.
That apportionment having been made, and the
individual having received that which is Justly his,
1T belongs to him absolutely, to save, to enjoy, to
use as the basis for new enterprise, or to deal with
as he pleases, subject only to the restraints neces-
sary for the common good and the assessments
levied for the prosecution of the legitimate work of
organized society.
Capitalism" insists on the right of tile indiyid-
ual to possess his property in peace and security.
Communism denies that right. Between the two
there can be no such thing as compromise. They
are irreconcilable. This is one Of the things which
increase the difficulty of negotiating with. Russia
or coming to any conclusions with her. Whatever
the character and purposes of the people of Russia
may be, it is the Soviet government which shapes
their policy and acts as their mouthpiece. That gov
eminent is committed to the doctrines Of commun-
ism, and while it is willing, for the sake of tenn
porary advantage, to recede from some of the posi-
tons which it has taken, there has been no real
change Of heart and no abandonment of principle.