The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-31
A Wage for the Unemployed.

Speaking before an economic, conference
held at Evanston, Bishop Francis ]. Mcconnell
maintained that the state should pay I'M
employed persons until they are put to actual
work He did not say until they find work, but
until they are put to actual work. Presumably
he assumes that if it is the duty of the state to
pay the unemployed it is the states business to
find the jobs or create the jobs for the
employed. If the state is to pay the unemployed
the state will want to pay few unemployed
as possible and soon would want to take hand
in the administration of private business and
industry. in order to regulate matters of hiring
and discharging, as well wages and profits.
At the same conference Professor John Gray of
Carleton college held that today the combined
vested interests are making what they consider
the final attempt to draw the last remnants of
unionism from industry D. F.. Diefendorf, a
layman from Grange, n. J., presented the crux
of the discussion when he stated that Society
cannot be considered today apart from economic
interest and aims"
All three speakers stand for a social policy
that would require the state to assume economic
and industrial responsibilities not provided by
the federal constitution or even contemplated by
the traditional American view of the meaning
of state. These speakers are not exceptional
in their views. They represent a large num-
Der of people inside and outside Of the
churches and political parties, Their aims and
motives honorable, but if their objectives
to be realized in their way the American
people first will have to revise their conception
of the state and make some radical changes in
their views of the states relation to business
and industry. If the social order is to control
the competitive system, if the state is TO exer-
else paternalistic supervision over private en-
terprise, if the ideals of those who see perfect
social order must be worked out along lines
radically different from those followed in the
past, there is a long and serious economic and
political struggle ahead. Such a revolutionary
remaking of constituted society could not be
successful if limited to one country. 1t implies
an entirely world civilization established
on an altogether different basis from that on
which our present social order rests.
Those who believe that there is inherent in
our present social principles and traditional
American ideals the elements of stable peace
full and prosperous people will continue to de-
fend Americanism it was in the beginning is
now and ever shall be. The reformers and rad
icals should distinguish between practices and
principles. After all the basis of the highest
civilization can go down no farther than the
bed rock principles of justice, liberty and fra
ternity. There may be changes in our attitude
toward these fundamental essentials but never
can We depart from any of them with safety
As long as different factions agree in their loy-
atty to the foundations the permanency Of the
state is assured and the adaptations to meet
present emergencies and contingencies are guar
anteed.