mine the income
which they think they ought to have, and, not receiving it, may cease
to carry on their industry and may invest their capital in non-taxable
securities. While under our present system there is no way of
preventing this, it would be a great boon to the public, and a new
factor in progress, if they were willing to be content with a smaller
margin of profit and a slower accumulation of wealth. At least some
change must take place or the people of small incomes will be obliged
to give up many {498} of the comforts of life of which our boasted
civilization is proud, and gradually be reduced to the most sparing
economy, if not to poverty. The same principle might be applied to the
great institutions of trade.

_The Political Outlook_.--In our earlier history the struggle for
liberty of action was the vital phase of our democracy. To-day the
struggle is to make our ideal democracy practical. In theory ours is a
self-governed people; in practice this is not wholly true. We have the
power and the opportunity for self-government, but we are not
practising it as we might. There is a real danger that the people will
fail to assume the responsibility of self-government, until the affairs
of government are handed over to an official class of exploiters.

For instance, the free ballot is the vital factor in our government,
but there are many evidences that it is not fully exercised for the
political welfare of the country. It frequently occurs that men are
sent to Congress on a small percentage of voters. Other elective
offices meet the same fate. Certainly, more interest must be taken in
selecting the right kind of men to rule over them or the people will
barter away their liberties by indifference. Officials should be
brought to realize that they are to serve the public and it is largely
a missionary job they are seeking rather than an opportunity to exploit
the office for personal gain.

The expansive process of political society makes a larger number of
officers necessary. The people are demanding the right to do more
things by themselves, which leads to increased expenses in the cost of
administration, great bonded indebtedness, and higher taxation. It
will be necessary to curb expansion and reduce overhead charges upon
the government. This may call for the reorganization of the machinery
of government on the basis of efficiency. At least it must be shown to
the people that they have a full retur