Management-

Has produced capital in the necessary amount of nearly $5,000 for each person employed.

Has invented, improved, and organized machine production and applied power to make labor thirty times more productive than would be possible by hand methods.

Has standardized and specialized manufacture, created research laboratories in science and chemistry, thereby establishing a large number of new and profitable enterprises.

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY EACH STUDENT IN WRITING

1. Name four contributing causes in the economic development of America.

2. What is the source of "capital"?

3. Would there be any Fords, radios, railroads, comfortable homes, insurance, without "capital"? If not, why?

4. What can you do to assist in the further economic development of America?

30. LESSON 6.—Individual Initiative

(a) Introduction: Two forms of government; collectivism, individualism— socialism kills individual responsibility, respect; ambition; demoralizes national character.

(b) An American institution: Constitution guarantees freedom from restriction, eliminates class-aristocracy of brains.

(c) The four "I's": Individuality, Independence, Initiative, Intelligence. (d) Price of success.

Introduction. Gazing into the heavens on a clear, dark night you behold the vast solar systems of the universe. Astronomers tell you that beyond the visible twinkling stars are myriads of others, and that back of the range of the strongest telescopic lens there are in all probability still greater fields of planets that go to make up the mighty handiwork of God.

To all these the Great Intelligence has given form and order with motion so perfectly timed that man, in his lesser intelligence, regulates his own life by the rising and setting sun, and in other ways is slowly comprehending and evaluating the mysteries as revealed by the delicate scientific instruments of his astronomical laboratories.

Among other things, he has learned that, however great the mass, however hot its burning flame of gases, however distant from the earth, the composition of all is alike. In the final and minute analysis they are only masses of atoms throwing off electrons into infinite space.

In like manner psychology and social science are making a study of that other mystery of God's creation-humanity-finding with growing emphasis as progress is made that mankind is made up of a con

glomerate mass of individual egos, each one throwing off similar sparks of instincts, idiosyncrasies, and manifestations of selfish interests which we call "human nature "-in the control and ordering of which his intelligence has developed forms of government.

From earliest childhood self-assertion, self-determination, selfpreservation manifests itself. It is only the weakling who is not aggressive, and in proportion to his power he will have his way. Lacking physical strength, he finds his power in the exercise of his brain. His brain responds to exercise as readily as do the muscles of his healthy companions to their physical action, and he finds himself not only able to hold his own but he masters situations by reason of developed intelligence.

It is human nature for the strong to take advantage of the weak, whether it be strength of body, strength of mind, or strength of a group; that group may be a minority in numbers, yet all-powerful by reason of the forces under its control. It follows that the chief purpose of government is that of controlling this instinct and directing it into channels through which society will gain the greatest benefit.

Two forms of government.-One form of government gives the state the supreme control and places all its citizens upon a common level of "equal condition"; the other recognizes the rights of the individual as greater than the government which is created as a servant of the people to do their will, its chief function being to promote and guard the interests of the individual and exercise such police powers as are conferred upon it by the people. Under this latter form of government "equality of opportunity" is emphasized, as expressive of "individualistic" government, in opposition to "equality of condition," which is expressive of "collectivistic" government.

Collectivistic government.—In this system of government stress is laid upon the proposition that "all men are created equal," meaning that no man has a right to that which is denied to another; that any system of government failing to recognize and conform to this "ideal" is wrong, and therefore an enemy of society and a foe of mankind. The ignorant, illiterate, physically and mentally deficient, the lazy, improvident, and reckless have equal right with the alert, aggressive, busy, educated, high-minded, orderly citizen who aspires to the best and is willing to pay the price of attainment through self-discipline, hard work, and careful management. The answer to this doctrine of government is the simple test, "Will it work?"

It is not in human nature to recognize "equality of condition," which is at the root of collectivism in government, any longer than the time it takes to acquire a personal advantage. One may be will

ing to divide another's property with the third and forth individual providing the share remaining to him is something more than he formerly possessed; beyond that he will go only when he has developed a "spiritual" nature, to which his "human" nature has become subservient. There may be now and then one of that type. Socialism is a doctrine the aim of which is to save individuals from the difficulties or hardships of the struggle for existence and the competition of life through calling upon the State to carry the burden for them. When the citizens of a nation seek comforts and pleasures, finding no joy or satisfaction in hard work, the years of that nation are numbered. Free bread and the circus marked the declining days of Rome. A surfeit of food, clothes, comfortable homes, and much time for idleness can easily become the first step to the overthrow of civilization.

Just what does "collectivism" stand for and what are its results? First, it is the denial of personal rights. The State (community) becomes the chief concern of all. It would make you believe the "law of equality" once applied would destroy every human desire for individual dominance, making society safe and content, comfortable and happy. Without application of force? No; you are not supposed to reason that far. Should you do so, you are met with the statement, "It will be necessary at first to enforce the will of community interests until the people become educated and submissive to the new order." Who will enforce? The leaders. Then it is necessary to have leaders? Has there ever been a time in the history of mankind that it found its way without leaders? No; only in the case of collectivistic government you will have little voice in choosing your leaders. Denied all personal rights collectivism gives its "instructions" where to live, where to work, what to do, what to think, what to say, for the State is the law.

Its next objective is confiscation of private property as a necessary step in slaying the evil monster "capital." It reasons that the possession of property has developed protection of property through governments, courts, police power, and public opinion, making it difficult for one to acquire private property except by work. Granted the privilege of working for one's self ambition is fired, initiative is encouraged, labor is not restricted, and the hard thinker and hard worker get the reward denied the lazy and indifferent, creating thereby classes, caste, poverty, and wealth. Therefore private property must be abolished so that all will live on a plane of "equal condition." As a matter of fact, the emanations from the ego of mankind called "human nature" will see to it that the "equal condition" will very quickly become an equal condition of misery, want, and discontent, for no one cares enough about work to do much of it for the other fellow.

Having deprived the individual of personal rights and private property, the collectivistic government proceeds to the next step against "imperialism" by outlawing the church. Has not the church at the behest of capital "fed the people the opium of religion," making them willing slaves to do the will of their masters? In the interest of the new order there must be left no place for prayer, lest the people gain courage to throw off the yoke of their new-found freedom.

With personal rights, private property, and the church abolished, to make subjection complete "the state" declares that in pure collectivism there can be no family ties, for children, like all other property, are an asset of the community and must be robbed of family love and obligation as a necessary step to loyalty to the state. Marriage may be practiced if conscience insists, but is not demanded in the interest of the new society, for with the abolishment of personal rights, private property, church, and home, society no longer possesses a moral, ethical, or spiritual code.

Socialism kills.-Collectivism tears down the social structure, weakens individual responsibility by subjection to or reliance upon the state in all material, social, and political matters. It compels the thought that at his best man is no better than the worst; he loses his self-respect and his keener sense of moral and ethical values. Ambition is nullified by restriction of choice in occupation and reward of attainment. Initiative, the very backbone of all progress, is smothered in the morass of impersonal service, mass servility, and mob inertia. "Equality of condition," the ruling law of "collectivism," is the death knell alike to individual liberty, justice, and progress through the destruction of individual and national character. Individualistic government.-Attention has been called to what may be expected if the principles of socialism and communism are permitted to be introduced into our present form of government. "Collectivism" is based upon the conditions which for centuries obtained in large measure in the governments of the Old World, conditions which built up a fixed caste system, created an impassable barrier between certain groups of society, gave exceptional advantages to the favored, and denied to the masses all but a bare existence. To be sure the man of exceptional strength often found the means of breaking through all barriers, becoming an outstanding figure; yet full "equality of opportunity" was unknown prior to the independence of America. To state that such Old World conditions obtain now in America to a degree that warrants the charge of "imperialism," "class and economic slavery," and like terms is to go far beyond the truth in an endeavor to weaken the social, economic, and political structure of our country in order to give greater

strength to the struggle against "capitalism" in those countries where such abuses have existed in the past and in some measure still

exist.

An American institution.-The early settlers of America, who came to escape the oppression of this order of society, at first incorporated into the local governments of the Colonies the policy of religious intolerance and class rule. It required 150 years of local experiment in colonial government before the inalienable rights of mankind were sufficiently understood and evaluated to develop the necessary public opinion and power to change the prevailing form of "State" government to that of a "Republican" form, under which "equality of opportunity" became an American institution. "Individualism," an experiment in government, has proved its worth by its marked achievements.

It tolerated no restriction, recognized no exception, and demanded that the son of the farmer or frontiersman have the same opportunity as the son of the merchant prince or land-owning aristocrat.

Constitution guarantees freedom from restriction, etc.-The American citizen knows that he and his children may attain any goal to which intelligence, courage, and ability may lead. No overlord will ever bother or hinder their advancement. No succession to power or property is vested in titles of nobility to be transmitted through succeeding generations to favored families. The rich of to-day may be the wage earners of to-morrow, while the story of the rise of the exceedingly poor to affluence and power is as common as it is true.

The young American's future depends upon himself. He may inherit a fortune; his sense and ability alone will enable him to keep it. He may be born in the cabin of the miner or the shack of the mountaineer, yet if within him there burns the unquenchable fires of ambition, courage, and indomitable will there are none who may stop him on the road to success.

Aristocracy of brains.-The only aristocracy that America will ever recognize is that of "brains "-" the tools to him who can handle them." The tribute in honor and the reward in wealth accorded to brains in this land of opportunity is not equaled in any other country. Brains asks for no "equality of conditions," wants only "equality of opportunity."

"Equality of opportunity" carries with it the absolute right of every man to keep what is his own. There can be no confiscation of property without due process of law and just recompense to the rightful owner. Upon this foundation have been based most of the great accomplishments of the past as well as assurance for still greater achievements.