The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-11-06
Geo. E. Roberts Tells How Co.
operative Character of Cor
porations Is 0bscured.
RADICAL AGITATION RESULTS
Maintenance OF Present Industrial sys-
tenn Necessary to Maintain Present
Standards OF Comfort for All
the People. Hs Says.


this fact Is obscursd by the complex
ity OF huge enterprises. George 4. Rob-
erts. noted authority on business and
finance. declared In q recent speech
before the American Bankers Associa-
ton Convention at Atlantic City. N. J.
THE primitive man knew that tho
harder he worked the more he would
have" Mr.. Roberts said. When a man
exchanged work with q noighbor he
had the whole transaction under
his eyes. But when a man works
with thousands of others for .
great corporation he doesn't see any
definite relationship between what he
does and what he gets. He doesn't
know whether he is getting a fair
share OF the Industrial results or not.
and he suspects not.
The modern Industrial system Is
essentially cooperative. but you can
not have effective cooperation with
out understanding. Because people do
not see the Industrial organization ~
. whole We have the tendency for so
ciety to break up into groups and
blocs and unions and organizations OF
one kind and another. many OF whom
are trying to advance their own inter
ssts at the expense OF society AS .
whole. The population OF this country
today could not be supported In the
state OF comfort to which II Is accus-
toned without the modern. specialized
organization.
BoIshevlsm In Russia
"Tho extremity OF social disorEan-
ixation has boon seen In Russia, where
has been enacted the greatest tragedy
n the history OF the world. What hap
pened there will happen everywhere
unless there is a development OF tho
capacity OF people to work together
and understand each other.
I'm It's final form the revolution In
Russia was against what Is called the
capitalistic system. or the private own
ership Of property and direction OF in
dustry. The results of the revolution
are 30 calamitous in Russia as to give
. check to revolutionary tendencies In
other countries. Yet the economic
principles OF Bolshevism are influence
Ing public opinion more OF hess every
where
THE motive behind all this asita-
ton is the desire TO establish equality.
The social struggles Of the past have
been for political equality. Now the
demand Is for equality In possessions.
equality In incomes, equality In the
of Industrial AFFAIRS.
There Is no argument against the as
pirations Of men for better social con-
ditions, but radical ideas result from
certain economic fallacies. One re-
lates to the employment and service
Of private capital. Men read about
vast sums Of wealth belonging to indi-
viduals. and think Of these sums ~
devoted exclusively TO the owners. In
fact wealth employed in production
for the public market Is rendering
service to the entire community, NO
matter who owns II.
Tho whole radical argument Is like
that nobody ever got any
oenent from the development Of the
,team engine but the owners Of steam
Engines. OF course. the theory only
leeds to bs stated for the fallacy to
70 apparent. The man who works for
wages Is benefited by every investment
Il capital which increases and cheap
ms the supply of the things for which
lis wages are spent.
The Service Of Capital
ut is a fundamental truth that all
Productive property although privately
wned. Is part of the equipment Of So
iety, by which Its wants are supplied.
THE progress of the past has been
under the individualistic
ystem. The theory Of this system Is
hat every one shall have for his own,
$ nearly as may be. that which re-
ults from his own efforts. II Is q sys-
I'm calculated to stimulate the initia.
we. call out the energies and develop
he ability OF each individual. He Is
zee az to his undertakings; there are
o restrictions except that he must
eek his own gains by activities that
70 rerviceabie to tho community as
hole. and he Il inspired to labor, not
imply by the desire for personal ad-
antage, but by the desire to provide
,r loved ones. by the impulse to self
rpression, to realize and develop his
atural abilities. and by the ambition
} achieve. to win distinction and to
,nder service.
ut does not promise equality. I'm
~ there is equality in production. In
'rvice, In effort, in resolution and in
'lf-denial. why should there be equal
y In the division OF results?
The Justification OF indiviGualism.
,wever. is not merely in what II al
ws TO the superior individual, but Ia
70 results that inure to all II is Ia
% interest OF all to secure the most
'ec,ive organization, the most effsc-
~ management and the largest pos
BILE production. These cannot be had
; adopting the fiction that ali have
Iusl ability fo- any position. or by
y other system than that which