In the name of a cautious, statistical Christ."
But what are we doing for that other great class of poor, those who work but do not receive a just compensation? What are we doing in the way of preventive philanthropy, to keep these men from becoming utterly destitute? It is for the sublime struggle of the underpaid workman that our sympathies need now to be aroused. No Crusader ever fought for the Sepulcher with more heroism than many a poverty-stricken laborer to support himself and family. Day after day he takes up the hopeless task, while nearer and nearer yawns the slough of pauperism where four million human beings who were once self-respecting workmen like himself, now crawl in lethargic content.[99] No waving pennons and blare of trumpets, but a factory whistle at 6 A.M. and a chimney puffing black smoke summon him to battle with powers stronger than Saladin in his might. What Robert Southwell wrote of himself during imprisonment might to-day be applied to millions of wage-slaves:
I die, but such a death as never ends;
My death to end my dying life denies,
And life my living death no whit amends."
Yet notwithstanding the workman's almost superhuman efforts to avoid pauperism, once he reaches that abyss he loses all desire to rise from it. You cannot drive him back into that industrial war which is daily crushing better and stronger natures.
Such being the situation, is it not an inspiration to the Consumer who longs to do something for humanity to feel that he is contributing his mite to keep some workmen from becoming paupers? There are persons, I know, to whom their utter helplessness in the face of all the social evils oppressing us to-day, has been the keenest suffering. To them this doctrine of the responsibility of Consumers and the plans of fulfilling it have come as a gospel of good news. They have felt that they could now find rest from their tortures of conscience: they have felt that they could now have a purpose in life worth living for.
And what if in our sober moments we must admit, that the good we individually accomplish as regards the workman be small? What if we are tempted to look upon it as useless? Let us take courage from the fact that we are members of an organization, that everything that the group accomplishes is in some way attributable to us. One hundred men associated together can accomplish much more than those same men working separately for the same ends. This fact is evident in the case of a religious community. If the members of these communities were scattered as individuals over the earth, how paltry would be the results of all their self-sacrifice and devotion compared with what it is to-day. And so each individual Consumer, banded with others in an organization, can feel that all the work of the whole body is to some extent his. His powers of doing good are multiplied, and the mere fact of his association with others multiplies their capacities too.
But even if this were not so, the mere fact of realizing this principle and co-operating with other noble-minded persons in its fulfillment will be an immense gain to ourselves and will finally result in unexpected good to society. Simply to know that we are accomplishing some little mite in the field of preventive philanthropy will be an inspiration in our lives.
To ask ourselves, not whether a hat be exactly the latest style, not whether it be absolutely the cheapest we can get, but how it was made, what effect is our buying it going to have upon the workers and society in general, will beget an invaluable spirit of self-effacement. A social conscience will be generated and grow until it becomes a dominant note in our lives. And from us this gospel of charity and justice, this good news to men of good will, will spread until it becomes a mighty force for social amelioration.
We have passed through ages of autocratic tyranny; the individualistic democracy of the last century is waning; there is approaching an era of social effort, social morality, a recognition of social interdependence. "The quick and sensitive ear," to quote Miss Scudder, "hears the beat of a new music, to which men begin to rally.[100] It is a concerted harmony, no mere solitary bugle call; and those who march to it are more or less consciously swayed by a new rhythm. For it is notable that the rhythms of life are coming more and more to connote harmony rather than melody, or rather to weave many melodic phrasings into one complex whole. Association—or to use the fairer word, fellowship—becomes a term of increasing modern cogency."
What matter, that to any but the superficial observer, the situation looks dark. It may be that the more we study it, the blacker it grows. As we look back upon the history of man's strivings for some better social organization, the conflict may seem hopeless. We may be tempted to reflect with William Morris, "How men fight and lose the battle, and the thing they fought for comes about in spite of their defeat, and when it comes it turns out not to be what they meant, and other men have to fight for what they meant under another name."
But it is nobler to say with Mrs. Browning:
Men take for ruins, He will build into
With pillared marbles rare, or knit across
With generous arches, till the fane's complete.
This world has no perdition if some loss."
FOOTNOTES:
[93] Father Cuthbert, O.S.F.C., "Catholic Ideals in Social Life," p. 211: N. Y., 1904.
[94] Bulletin of U. S. Bur. of Lab., Jan. 1, 1911, p. 869.
[95] Cf. Mrs. Florence Kelly, "Some Ethical Gains through Legislation," N. Y., Macmillan, 1905; Bulletins of U. S. Bur. Lab. giving resumé of labor legislation.
[96] The next few pages appeared substantially as here given in The Month, March, 1911, under the title "The Consumer's Opportunity." The author thanks the editor of this magazine for kind permission to reproduce this matter.
[97] "Historical Sketch of the Pioneer Consumers' League," p. ii, Consumers' League of New York City, 1908. For further information address Mr. V. P. Kellogg, 105 E. 22nd St, New York City.
[98] Cf. The Survey, Dec. 17, 1910.
[99] Cf. Hunter, "Poverty," New York, 1906.
[100] Hibbert Journal, Apr., 1909.
APPENDIX
1 Constans et perpetua voluntas jus suum unicuique tribuendi; voluntaria laesio et violatio juris alieni: De Lugo, De just. et jure, Disp. VIII, Sec. I, n. 1.
2 Debitum rationale ex necessaria connectione mediorum cum fine necessario resultans: Theologia moralis fundamentalis, ed. 2a, Bruges, 1890, p. 188.
3 "Quoties aequalitas non servatur ut venditor ultra supremum pretium, vel emptor emat infra infimum ... injustitia commititur." L. c., Tr. VII, n. 380.
4 In hac re cooperator est, qui simul cum alio est causa damni, sive immediata sive positiva sive negativa. Non enim in omnibus eadem est ratio cooperationis, sed hoc est omnibus commune, quod cum alio concurrant ad damnum seu injuriam damnosam.
Ballerini L. c., Tr. VII, n. 128: cf. De Lugo, L. c. XVII, II, 37.5 Praeferendum est enim commune bonum privato. Pt. I, Tr. III, Tom. IX, Sec. IV, p. 1171.
6 Cum enim unus homo sit pars multitudinis, quilibet homo hoc ipsum quod est, et quod habet, est sicut et quaelibet pars id quod est, est totius; unde et natura aliquod detrimentum infert parti, ut salvet totum: 2a 2ae, Q.96, A.4.
7 Haec potestas est necessaria ad bonam rei publicae humanae gubernationem.
Op. cit., Pt. I, Tom. V, Lib. III, Cap. 21.8 Ex damno et periculo, quod bono publico publicaeque securitati inferretur si impune id agere liceret.
Theol. Mor., Pt. I, Lib. I, Div. II, Par. 4, n. 761.9 Tota difficultas consistit in assignanda ratione hujus veritatis: nam licet turpitudo haec statim appareat, non tamen facile est ejus fundamentum invenire: unde (quod in aliis multis quaestionibus contingit) magis certa est conclusio, quam rationes, quae variae a diversis afferuntur ad ejus probationem. De Just. et Jure, Disp. X, Sec. I, Num. 2.
10 Fatendum est esse aliquas practicas vertitates humano convictui necessarias, quas homines instinctu quodam rationali percipiunt et sentiunt, quarum tamen rationem prorsus demonstrativam, cum eam iidem analytice quaerunt, difficulter inveniunt. Videtur voluisse natura sive auctor naturae hujusmodi instinctu aut sensu rationali supplere defectum rationis se exercentis: ... Inter hujusmodi veritates haec quoque forte, qua de agimus, invenitur. Theologia Moralis, Tr. VI, Sec. VI, Num. 119, Vol. II, pp. 727-728.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
J. Kelleher, Private Ownership, Dublin, 1911.
Capecelatro, Cardinal, Christ, the Church, and Man. St. Louis, 1909.
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, secunda secundae.
De Lugo, Cardinal John, De Justitia et Jure.
Bouquillon, Theologia Moralis Fundamentalis, ed. 2a, Bruges, 1890.
Liguori, Alphonsus, Theologia moralis.
Noldin, H., Theologia Moralis, 3 vols., 8th ed., N. Y., 1911.
Ballerini, Antonio, Theologia Moralis.
Cuthbert, O. F. M. Cap., Catholic Ideals in Social Life, N. Y., 1904.
Cunningham, W., Christianity & Social Questions: London, 1910.
Clark, J. B., Essentials of Economic Theory, 1907.
United States Bureau of Labor: Report on the Condition of Woman & Child Wage-Earners in the United States, 19 vols., 1910-1912.
Charities Publication Committee, The Pittsburgh Survey.
Minneapolis Vice Commission, Report, 1911.
Chicago Vice Commission, Report, 1911.
Seligman, E. R. A., The Social Evil, N. Y., 1912.
United States Bureau of Labor, Industrial Hygiene, 1908.
Kelly, Florence, Some Ethical Gains through Legislation, N. Y., 1905.
Hunter, Robert, Poverty, N. Y., 1905.
Le Play, F., La Reforme Sociale, Tours, 1878, 3 vols.
Missiaen, Berthold, O. M. Cap., L'Appauvrissement des Masses, Louvain, 1911.
Clark, J. B., The Distribution of Wealth, N. Y., 1889.
Woods, Robert A., ed., Americans in Process, Boston, 1903.
Bliss, Wm. D. P., ed., New Encyclopedia of Social Reform, N. Y., 1908.
Clark, Sue Ainslie, & Edith Wyatt, Making Both Ends Meet, N. Y., 1911.
Streightoff, Frank Hatch, The Standard of Living among the Industrial People of America, Boston, 1911.
Butler, Eliz. Beardsley, Saleswomen in Mercantile Stores, N. Y., 1912.
Ryan, John A., A Living Wage, N. Y., 1906.
Devine, Edw. T., Principles of Relief, N. Y., 1904.
Bousanquet, Helen, The Standard of Life, London, 1908.
Chapin, Coit, The Standard of Living among Workingmen's Families in New York City, N. Y., 1909.
Journal of Political Economy.
Economic Journal.
Quarterly Journal of Economics.
Journal of the American Sociological Society.
Annals of the American Academy of Political & Social Science.
The Survey.
International Journal of Ethics.
INDEX
Accidents: 90ff.
Alphonsus, Saint: See Liguori
Aquinas: 11, 18, 28, 29, 46
Ballerini, Antonio: 22, 27, 28, 29, 45
Bouquillon, Thomas: 11
Bowen, Louise de Koven: 98
Browning, Eliz. B.: 132
Butler, Eliz. B.: 4, 43, 51ff, 67, 96, 101, 102
Capecelatro, Card.: 9
Capital punishment: 28
Carlyle, Thomas: 35f.
Carver, T. N.: 60
Chapin, Coit: 43
Charity:
Consumers' obligations of, 31ff;
duties of, 11
Cheapness: demand for, 58ff.
Chicago Vice Commission: 95, 100, 101, 104
Child-Labor: 93f.
Child-Labor Committee, National: 100
Clark, J. B.: 65
Common good: Scholastic conception of, 28ff.
Competition: 19ff, 47ff, 55f.
Compulsory Arbitration: 112
Conscience, Social: 131
Consumers:
Duties of, 13ff, 16f, 129ff;
individual action, 107, 109, 114;
organization among, 109, 110, 130;
responsibility of, 5ff.
Consumers' League: 110, 111, 114ff.
Consumption (disease): 88ff.
Co-operation in evil: 13, 23
Costs of production: 60ff.
Crawford, Hanford: 60
Cunningham, W.: 20, 58, 63
Cuthbert, Father: 108
Dance Halls: 97f.
Dangerous occupations: 86ff.
De Lugo, Card. John, S. J.: 25, 26, 44
Department Stores: 100, 103
Devine, Edward T.: 66f.
Dust: 87f.
Duty:
definition of, 11;
devolution of, 13ff.
Employers:
duties of direct, 12;
liability of, 17
English Poor Law: 62
Expenses of production: 59ff.
Food, Insufficient: 78ff.
Goldmark, Josephine: 127
Green, T. H.: 32
Gury, J. P.: 10
Hibbert Journal: 131
Hours of work: 4, 84f.
Housing conditions: 77ff, 95f.
Hunter, Robert: 128
Industrial Commission, U. S.: 68, 87, 94
Injustice, definition of: 11
Innocent, indirect killing of, lawful: 28
Interest: 15
Interest-takers, duties of: 15
Justice:
Consumers' obligations of, 13ff;
definition of, 11;
duties of, 11
Kelleher, Rev. J.: 9
Kelley, Florence: 114
Label: See White List
Labor, N. Y. S. Bureau of: 68f, 74ff, 88
Labor, N. Y. S. Commissioner of: 82, 91
Labor, U. S. Bureau of: 16, 42, 43, 52ff, 61, 68, 70ff, 77ff, 89ff, 96, 97, 113
Labor, U. S. Commission of: 84
Law: binding force of civil: 28
Lehmkuhl, Aug.: 29
Leo XIII: 8
Liguori, Saint Alphonsus: 18, 23, 27, 28, 29
Living, Standard of: 9, 38ff, 66
Lowell, Josephine Shaw: 117
Maistre, de: 111
Mazzini, Giuseppe: 5
Mercantile Employers' Bill: 122
Middle Ages, Medieval system: 19f.
Minneapolis Vice Commission: 54, 103
Morris, William: 132
Mouth, The: 116
Necessity: definition of, 33
Neighbor: meaning of, 31
Night work: 84f.
Noldin, H.: 29
O'Reilly, John Boyle: 127
Packingtown: 96
Paine, Thomas: 5
Pittsburgh Survey: 51, 52, 66
Pius X: 8
Poisoning: 86f.
Poverty: 127ff.
Price: 18ff, 57f, 60
Property:
justification of private, 29;
superfluous, 1, 33
Prostitution: 95, 101ff.
Rent-takers: duties of, 14
Right: definition of, 10ff.
Ryan, John A.: 15, 42f.
Saloon, The: 99
Scudder, Vida: 131
Seager, H. R.: 61
Sidgwick, H.: 61
Social argument: 13, 27ff.
Southwell, Robert: 105, 128
Speeding-up: 85f.
State: authority of, 28
State-Insurance: 112
Suarez, Francisco, S. J.: 27, 28, 46
Subsistence standard: 39
Suicide: 29f.
Survey: 67, 98, 101, 104, 123
Thomas, Saint: See Aquinas
Thorold, Algar: 97
Title, just: 22f.
Tuberculosis: 88ff.
Ulpian: 11
Unemployed: 66
Unemployment: 68f.
Value: 13, 17ff.
Ventilation: 79ff.
Wage, Minimum: 42, 46, 112, 113
Wages: 4, 48ff, 62ff, 66ff, 70ff;
right to living, 9;
standard of living, 8, 9
War: 29
White List: 55, 118, 124, 125
Williams, A. B.: 98
Women:
conditions of work, 4;
hours of work, 4;
wages, 4, 67
Work:
conditions of, 4, 51ff;
right to, 9
Working Women's Society: 117, 119
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