PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G (l.)- 631 



a salary wliicli was a fair eqtdvalent for his work. He would not get 

 work as a favor but as a right, as a duty. He would be expected to 

 do his work as well as he knew how, and there would be no way of 

 living — unless he was old or sick — except by working ; and if he wished 

 to rise to some higher position he would strive to achieve excellence 

 in his business. 



As for the law of the " survival of the fittest," in one sense civilisa- 

 tion itself is an interference with the operation of this principle. Every 

 law is such an interference, as is every custom and every act which 

 restrains the exercise of mere brute strength or cunning. Society is a 

 protest against it. No form of government known to men tolerates 

 it, unless it be that negation of government — anarchy. 



What is understood by the majority of those who use the ex- 

 pression as the survival of the fittest is, however, something very 

 difierent, and merely means the maintenance of such conditions as 

 favor the existence of a certain type of individuals, which type is, by 

 those who use the expression and belong to it, considered to be desirable. 



I do not think it will be contended for a momet that the " fittest to 

 survive " under what is known as " private enterprise " are really the 

 best citizens. That they have certain desirable characteristics may 

 be admitted, but, on the other hand, they have others which are most 

 undesirable. They may act up to their code, but it is obvious that 

 that code leaves much to be desired. 



It is assumed that energy and independence of character will not 

 be developed under State ownership. But where these qualities are 

 valued they will always be found ; and it is not true that the present 

 system is favorable to their development. 



Independence of character is certainly not developed under existing 

 conditions. The individual is, in the majority of cases, quite helpless : 

 he is dependent for his daily bread upon the favor of a limited number 

 of employers. He must not, at his peril, offend these persons, or he 

 will no longer secure employment from them. When the industry 

 is controlled by a " combine " he has but one employer, and he is 

 absolutely dependent upon his goodwill. There is surely no creature 

 on earth less independent than the wage-worker under private enter- 

 prise. His individual characteristics are crushed out of him. He 

 ceases to be a man and becomes a mere " hand." He has neither 

 leisure, nor opportunity, nor inclination to cultivate the best that is 

 in him. 



What is true intellectually and morally is also true physically. 

 Were it not for State interference the race would inevitably degenerate 

 under private enterprise. The story of the effects of the factory 

 system prior to the introduction of restrictive legislation makes sad 

 reading. Nearly every improvement in the lot of the individual is 

 due to the interference of the State in his behalf ; and while such 

 interference has this efiect it will and ought to continue. 



On the other hand, I do not think it can be shown that State con- 

 trol has caused any degeneracy of the individual physically, mentally, 

 or morally ; but it has prevented degeneration consequent upon the 

 operations of private enterprise. 



