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Show SOCIALISM. The most superficial observer cannot help but see the progress the world is making in every department de-partment of mechanics and arts. Human capacity has not reached the limitations placed upon the race and. we cannot believe the forces already discovered dis-covered constitute more than an introduction to those which lie just beyond our knowledge. Thomas A. Edison has determined to quit the field of com mereial invention, to which he has given many years of thought, in ord.er that he may devote his time to continued study of some of the mysteries which developed while he was working in his laboratory lab-oratory and which he was compelled to put aside that he might accomplish his set purpose. The field he is invading seems a limitless one, and his efforts ef-forts no doubt will result in new discoveries and new inventions of benefit to the race. Knowledge, ia the incentive which keeps this man at his work. He wants to know things, but the whole world will profit by Any 'c?iscoveries he may make, as it has by hia former inventions, It is interesting ,to note the inventions which have been given to civilization by individuals in connection with the growth of theories which would disarrange the present system of rewarding genius or ' take from individuals the incentive to excel. Industrial centers seem to be the stronghold of I these theories centers where extremes of wealth I and poverty come in closer contact than in agricultural agri-cultural communities, especially in manufacturing centers, where the owners of plants seize upon any invention made by a workman, patent it and give the genius a paltry prize and flattering praise while the proprietor makes thousands of dollars on the patent. It would be idle waste of words to deny the growing popularity of these theories. Thiy represent the ideas of thousands who, not through any desire to upset altogether the governments of the earth, but to procure the rewards attached to individual effort, would reduce all to a common level and share equally the products of labor. In the main this theory of socialism is not based on any sound axiom of political or social science. It is contrary to all the theories which have been proven productive of progress. Whereas it seeks just compensation com-pensation for labor performed, it removes the very incentive to doing any extraordinary labor. Everybody Every-body recognizes that wealth is sometimes held in unworthy hands. But that only proves that unscrupulous unscru-pulous men take advantage of others, and brings before the theory of socialism, and equality one of the insurmountable barriers over which, or around Or under which we cannot get. It is the struggle for things we do not possess but feel capable of get- ting through honest effort which keeps us moving on. We cannot mount the hill without effort, and we would not expend that effort if we had no incentive, in-centive, Frankly, we believe it is not socialism which socialists so-cialists want. Perhaps, the lazy and thriftless want it, but we do not believe any honest worker would be satisfied if the socialistic theories were suddenly instituted in the world by some magic transforma-I transforma-I tion. Human nature is much the same wherever you ! find it. We like to be commended for our efforts. We like to receive recompense for what we do. If we ip.vent som ;thing we want the rewards, and we don't want sor ie one to steal our invention. Most of those men iho claim to be socialists are socialists social-ists merely because they see injustice in our present pres-ent system of individua.lism and they turn to the newer theory s: mply because it seems to offer a remedy rem-edy for that . i njustice. They know equality does not exist in individuals and they know, absolutely, that the inaug ur ition of the socialistic theory would result ii s ich chaos as would render orderly and wholesome p -ogress impossible. Learned trt atijses for and. against the fallacious philosophy of aquality and communism will never settle the question. Discontent is. the fuel which adds to the fire The growth of socialism goes hand in hand with he growth of discontent, The doctrine doc-trine of pr: vate wnership and property rights is as old as history. Men will fight for what they have created with their own hands. They will fight for their borne and their family, and they will fight for the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of their own efforts. And that is juat what socialists will fight for. They don't want socialism. They want a more general gen-eral application of the golden rule. |