The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." WEDNESDAY. MAY 20, 1914. "CONSIDER THE OTHER FELLOW."

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20085, 20 May 1914, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." WEDNESDAY. MAY 20, 1914. "CONSIDER THE OTHER FELLOW."

Mr. Homy L. Higginson contributes n thoughtful article to the "Survey" (New York) on the .vital issues*l^tw«e^jCfj>ital and' labour: ;editorr^ridsi .his readers that Mr. Hjgginsoawas founderof the Bostoh'Svmphpny Opfetrs, the donor of Soldiers': Field.to Harvard, suid 'Moor of other signal acts in the; field oi philanthropy, and in the business world,, one of the foremost- financiers of the time." Mr. Higginson. whose views, though directly applicable to the United States, are worthy of the thoughtful consideration of every man who is honestly desirous cf consistently promoting the social well-being of the people, writes: —Just now a prominent Socialist states that no man should have more than so and so much income, naming a small figure. How does he or aaybody know what the earnings or income of anyone should be. and would the wageearnor. of all men, tolerate a limit? Should not the rewards be in a measure governed by the value of the individual to the community? Men are bora with different natures, different powers, differ, ont wishes; some men like to work constantly, and more men wish to ivork as little its possible. Ait a rule, mankind is iazy, and works chisfly to avoid hunger and want; therefore, some achieve great /things, some, achieve little things, and some achieve nothing at all, or just enough to keep the wolf from the door. As civilisation goes on, m-en are moved by their, better feelings to help each other, and to do each ether kindnesses, and this mocd again breeds a further wish to understand the other side, and to giva and to receive help. But a large class of the. community is being trained to hate the rich man, and would strip him of his property, that is, the result of his saved earnings. Yet that everybody craves property is to bo seen by the records of the savings banks, ttl.ere the- deposits of the wage-earner •daily increase, and in our (country largely outstrip the savings in anj other country. For a long time it has bscn recognised that to make a man a ihcr.tjebuldor .goes far to\vards giving him se'f-respoet .^and standing in the community, and the same is true of his deposits in the'savings banks. These ihrags make him a better citizen. Now ho consider the rich men of the country. Almost all of them, starting wMi no money,, have, gained their riches through in.lustry and brain?; they have seen a chance, have used it, have increased it, have gone on with their industry find their ventures*, and in time have reached a high point of power and wealth. Perhaps this result is to be deprecated, but it is the work of men who have made their own way, ami, in doing so, have helped to make the country what it is. More than that, it is what most men would like to do. Perhaps some of these men have done

things which at the time they thought dishonest, and of which they have been h-stoamed. But where is the man who has gone through life and done nothing for which he should and does blush?

After all is said and done, the industry and brains of these men have produced this great pile_of wealth, and as they cannot take it out of the world, it remains here for use., and our country will tiso it and benefit by it. This accumulated wealth is not an end, but a gateway through which material progress marches on and blesses the whole nation. One man builds a -railroad, and a million use it; a few men opened the West, risking thefr earnings, and millions of men. have profited thereby. Without these venturesome wen, oui western lands might be a wilderness to'lay. Of course, it often happens tliat won. of unusual ability and courage, but without money, undertake a risky enterprise and succeed or fail; but to these vory men tho capitalists are necessary. Such work cannot bo don© on credit and hop© alone*. Unless property is treated fairly, unless in case of new inventions, the^ venturers are to receive rewards adequate to their brains, their boldness and their enargy, how can people be induced to undertake all kinds of new work? Many men -working in the markets of the world have tried sundry experiments, have lost much money, and have also made much money. Have you a notion how .a man feels who has invested hours, days, years, and a good psirb of his earnings in risky or gocd enterprises and receives nothing in return? Work does not kill, but worry does kill, or brings paralysis. Has the prosperity of this and many other eounivtes come from legs and arms alone, or from brains, or from both ? The telephone company is a fair case to lay before your readers. The first struggles ox Mr. Bell wore really grievous., and yet he ucd others worked hard, and at last made a macliine enabling people to talk a short- distance. Presently other men took hold of tht> company when it whs m failing condition, helped it, battled for it, risked large sums of money, were laughed at, but, by dint of unusual courage, brains, work, and knowledge, succeeded; and w© have a machine of •tfie greatest benefit to the whole country—indeed, to the whole world. What •should we do now without the telephone? Those men knew that if the venture failed, they would loso all their money and their time. Had they known that if they succeedied, they would get little or nothing for it,, would they .haveso frosly spent their,strength, and time? (The sevoro struggle actually killed three able, high-minded .men.) It is a question; for i»en must be tempted to work and take risks and, atfter all, well-to-do men can easily lose their property by such risks. The early history of many enterprises would reveal the same sort of facts: and if coa^?orations which byo and bye may become successful^ are the subject of attack or of severe criticism by a. powerful magazine, is it likely to forward the civilisation of our country? Inventors and bold investors go> hand in hand in developing new processes in electricity and mJachinery, in; treating soils and crops, in handling metals, in treating ores, and in many other ways; and it is indeed due to them that we have such available supplies of iron and copper ore, let alone gold and silver, winch we could not have got without the help of the'chemists and tha metallurgists; and they in turn could not have done their work unless they had given their time and such money as they could b?g and borrow to treat the ores. And all these men need the capitalists. If the daylabourer alone is to be considered, or if he. is tlie chief:; thing, pfc if" he, is Io guide and limit experiments, it will" be hard £a fiat# jwori£lsotf:&'im£ ai^l,h.ak|er-.' to li-efp^im'^"ii'.W^r-<KHi^tio»^WeH-. to-do men and-ramen are thinking of and helping their less fortunate fellcAvs : more than formerly, and are using their means freely for public institutions like galleries, playgrounds, concerts, and libraries. Everyone % needs wholesome j amusements and refreshment, for life is ! painful as well as joyful, and, while many painful as well as joyful, and, while many amusements are within the re.fch of Avell-to-do they are beyond the roach of poorer people. Galleries, orchestras, playgrounds, and the like, .which simply educate or solace, cannot exist without subsidy. I am grateful for this fact, for we would' far better work and worry even to aching, and go without thus or that, in cur tffort to help other people. Otherwise, why live at "all? But whatever people have done, they must do much more. The tide is rising daily, and will cleanse some ugly places; for morals, religion, and common sense require a higher, broad«r national life. Mutual understanding and trust will foster kindly feelings. Ignorance snd abuse will chill them. "But 1 get back to the arms and the legs and the brains, and the fact i that, however the wage-worker suffers, th-a man who leads and risks is- apt to suffer still more. The> truth is that everybody is se-liHh, the wage-worker with the vest of us; the truth is -iliat most men think first of themselves and not of others; and it dcas require civilisation and religion and morals to induce people to remember others. Charity is your cornerstone; charity in its great sense is needed, and the belief that God mads all the other fellows us well as —me." ;