Then someone in the audience rises and announces himself a bolshevist and moves that the United States retain title to all these wonderful resources until they attain their maximum value. He proposes that we tolerate no “land hogs” and permit no one to exploit the resources of America or make profit out of iron or coal or oil or even a waterpower.
Then a socialist declares this to be a concise statement of his creed and seconds the motion. Non-partisan leaguers from North Dakota, and single-taxers from California, also favor it. An anarchist joins to say that while his people are opposed to any laws, yet if laws are to be made, they should each prohibit something and none should encourage anything. Then an I. W. W. declares that this will suit him, provided he be not required to work. But the proposition is lost.
Then a preamble and resolution is offered to this effect: “Whereas, the All-wise Creator has decreed that man shall derive his greatest happiness from his achievements, therefore, with faith both in God and man and believing in America, be it resolved, that we emblazon upon the sky where all the world shall see, the great announcement that the Stars and Stripes shall forever stand for Opportunity!” This is carried by acclamation and amid applause.
Then another moves that we give notice to every citizen, and to every person who may desire to become a citizen, that in the pursuit of guaranteed happiness, each shall have guaranteed liberty to look over our broad domain, select the biggest thing he dare undertake and, if he makes it win, it shall belong to him. This motion is carried by a rising vote.
Then a third man moves that in the development of our resources, the government shall foster everything, and father nothing. In his speech supporting the motion, he suggests that if Mr. Hamilton’s prediction concerning the ultimate greatness of America proves true, men will engage in commerce; they will build ships and they will build them too large for our harbors. Then the government, in fostering commerce, will deepen and widen our waterways, but it will not father commerce and take over the ships. It will leave to the citizen the right to own the ship, to fly his flag at its mast and to get the thrill that will surely come from sailing the biggest ship that cuts the waves of ocean. Achieve and be happy! This motion is also adopted.
After these hopeful and courageous souls have thus formulated a progressive policy, a man announces his fear that he does not possess the necessary vision, and certainly not the requisite courage to accomplish any great thing and, therefore, intends to become a wage-earner, and asks the assembled citizenship of America what they propose to do for him. Being honest with ourselves we are compelled to admit that we can promise little for the present. We tell him frankly that if he is simply seeking wages, he might as well remain in the country of his nativity. We assure him, however, that if he can endure pioneer hardships until the lands have value, until the mines are developed, until means of transportation are afforded, until the unearned increment begins to appear, we will give him better wages than the world has ever seen. Have we kept faith? Let us see.
RELATIVE REWARDS OF CAPITAL AND LABOR
As late as 1840 men worked twelve hours per day for twenty-five cents, payable in cornmeal or meat, for there was no money. I can remember when fifty cents per day was a good wage. Then, when property began to have value, we started up the spiral stairway of more wage and more wage and then more wage.
What effect did this have? The world took notice and immigration increased as wages advanced. In 1907 over one million immigrants landed on our shores, and more than half with less than the required $35.00 in cash. The next year 800,000 went back. Some of them had been here several years and others only a short time, but, in addition to what they had sent home, they took with them from three hundred to five thousand dollars each.
How about capital? For nearly one hundred years, foreign capital sought American opportunity. Foreign capital built our first railways, established our first banks, erected our first factories. But about twenty-five years ago it largely ceased to come, for it could do no better here than elsewhere. Even American capital sought employment in Mexico, China and in Canada, simply because these countries offered better rewards for capital. The records of the Immigration Department contain positive proof that for more than twenty-five years labor in this country has been relatively better rewarded than capital. Otherwise capital would have come as labor came.