Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17
U. S. Plight Declared
To Be Moral Problem

To.he Editor OF The Star:
Considering the woeful plight IN
which America finds herself, it seems
lamentab!e that The Star, with its
far-reaching influence, made so con-
spicuous the caption to Mr.. Leigh's
article in the Sunday issue. In dis
play. it read: Present Form of Gov
eminent Has Outstripped All Others
in Providing Equality of Opportunity, -"
and Mr.. Leigh said: We gave to every
man a chance to 60 as far as his
talents warrant"
Twenty years ago Woodrow Wilson
said, contemplating the workingman
the public. anybody: They know
that America is not place of which
it can be said. as it used to be, that
man may choose his own calling
and pursue it just as far as his abil-
titles enable him to pursue it." and
Mr.. Leigh's contradiction is absurd.
Men are born very much alike. with
few far above the average and few
far below, but social conditions defy
tabulation, with a few at 100 per
cent plus and millions at zero minus.
They suggest a biological difference
in men not to be found in all crea-
ton, and thoughtful people must adj
nit that among the ten or twenty
million of jobless. dependent men
there are thousands who could fill,
with credit and efficiency, any posi-
ton SO administered.
His criticism of Socialism, likewise,
has nothing to recommend it. Social
ism conflicts with our belief that
every man should have in proportion
to his education, his skill, industry
and frugality, with poverty for those
who deserve poverty. That those who
contribute much should acquire much,
and those who contribute but little,
absorb but little, with spontaneous,
graceful charity for any unable to
contribute, but We assail the sugges-
ton that Socialism is the revolt of
the unfit" because the jobleSs, de-
pendent millions are not less fit"
than the affluent in any ethical I'M
dertaking.
His statement that eve did away
with all the ancient devices for hold
ing down the underprivileged" Is in
complete. He should have added, EEK
cept the effective privilege that pre-
vents them from employing them
selves-from applying their own labor
in their own behalf to the inexhaust-
able storehouse of sustenance and
wealth provided for that purpose"
When nature says one thing, wis
dom never says anothers and nature
said, once and for all time, Here you
are, and there is room and oppOr-
tunity and plenty for all. You are
here with equal permission and with
equal right to the use and enjoy
mentS of the elements supplied. Your
labor will fill all your needs and sat-
isfy your reasonable wants. Be indus
trious and find happiness" The leg
islation that permits the hereditary
privilege" of holding land. on which
men could establish and maintain
themselves as did Adam and Eve, the
Pilgrim fathers. the pioneers and the
Red Men before them, idle, vacant
and out of use, conflicts with natural
law and is therefore unwisa and
wrong. Because neither the individ-
ual, nor society, can evade the law
Va SoAScquciCco, we nave cAlotiilS COii-
ditions, with few men controlling
wealth almost beyond comprehension,
while millions are submerged in hope
less poverty and tens of millions with
barely sufficient. clinging desperately
to the edge of responsibility.
We are so accustomed to poverty
that We regard it as the natural lot
of great masses of the people, but the
well-to-do are not better equipped,
mentally or physically, to earn a liv-
ing than the poor. The difference is
not biological, but moral, and lies in
the perverted disposition of compare
lively few to deceive and impose on
the many. Altogether 1t seems to pre-
sent . problem Of impossible solution,
but. like other bewilderinz puzzles, 1t