GETTING DOWN TO FACTS.

Shannon News, 5 August 1927, Page 3

GETTING DOWN TO FACTS.

W.E.A. LECTURE.

Tin- Levin Branch of the W.E.A. met in the Bandroom on Tuesday.at 7.30 p.m., Mr. W. Plaster presiding. The subject was "Get?*down to the facts" and the lecturer (Rev. J. D. McArthur) stated that we cannot speak about the duty of work, the problem of wages, the inequalities of wealth without, recognising that there are certain facts beyond the control of either capital or Labour. We can no more reiliire this Universe to the level of the Employers' Federation or the Labour movement than we can imagine the god of a million suns to be the sole monopoly of any one religious sect. The problems of Capital and Labour, of society and the race, of commonwealth and empire, arc in the last resort all spiritual problems. There are such marked congenital dift'crciiecs even in men of the same blood rh:ii the dictum of Emerson: "The gate vi gifts closes on us at birth," has much to support it. There is a tremenih;u, inequality in physical powers, in mental capacity, and in moral endowment. No social programme will ever destroy these essential distinctions. When'men shall have finished their levelling processes there will still remain mountains and valleys in the menial and moral worlds. Huxley was ;-;;..h;, when he said: "Practical life is a i-iiio of three sum, in which your duty multiplied by your capacity, and divided by your circumstances, gives a fourth lerni to the proportion which is your diverts."

Communists too often forget the community—this 'is their fundamental weakness. It is the community that gives land, labour, capital, and management their value. Spiritual priority and social utility have to be destroyed before communism can ever hope to succeed. There are inequalities in the distribution of wealth because _ there arc inequalities in the distribution of ability, in earning power, in power of management, just as there are inequalities in responsibility. However, we may sympathise with the aspirations and claims of either labour or capital, we must do our utmost to come to a conclusion for ourselves as to the facts of the whole social position. There is no other way of qualifying in these matters than by spending time and mental energy, If we will not take the trouble to think for ourselves then we may expect to be led into all kinds of social trouble. As a matter of habit we must recognise that the other fellow has a right to his point of view. So many men to-day—because they do not think for themselves —and this applies to both sides of the question—see light only through the keyhole in the door of a class-conscious- dungeon. Until they open that door and step outside the bickering's and unrest must continue. Men must get down to the facts.

So many persist in putting the cart before the horse. "Money first and men afterwards." "Wealth first and then; welfare." But the path of progress is just the other way-round..'This is the eternal principle of evolution—"manhood first." Both capital and labour have too long persistently ruled out the moral aspect. As long as God endures all who do this must fail. in the business world facts must be respected. This is so because facts are stubborn things and have a habit of bowling one over unless they are respected. The facts of yesterday were the parents of the facts of to-day. Prejudice and truth are enemies and if Ave come to any social question with our minds filled" with prejudice then truth is kept outside. There is nothing more remorseless, just as there is nothingmore helpful than truth. We do welt to be on the right side of truth. The truth is not affected by what men think about it. . It is a stern, although kindly, standard that is set against our judgment. And if we fail to meet that 'standard, it docs not hurt the standard—we are hurt.

The lecturer pointed out one realm in Avliich bias and prejudice are rampant—that of public affairs. Debates and speeches' in Parliament and in local body meetings are full of inaccuracies because of party bias. If these speakers were genuinely desirous of arriving at truth it would be excusable but often —too often —the "axe to grind" is the chief consideration. To get the facts is not easy. It involvesthe abandonment of- certain mental habits, forsaking preconceptions, re •ilraint from too hasty- conclusions, a definite call for effort, and when we have secured the facts we must think clearly through them to right conclusions. ' So many resent facts which do :iot concur with their preconceptions. It is not good to be content with a partial truth —sometimes this is worse than a whole lie. Party slogans, catch cries and phrases need to be placed .occasionally under the searchlight and examined. What was good for last generation may be now outworn. "New occasions teach new duties and time makes ancient good uncouth." I may say in extenuation of a certain view that I was taught that this was right. But was that teaching correct? Thorough thinking will destroy many a false ideal. Instance medical practice —patients we're "tiled" indiscriminately. Fre.,h air in the sickroom was at one time —is even yet by some—regarded as "cranky." The merits or demerits of the slave trade —all these and other things were placed under review and straight thinking settled the matter. If men would only go to the trouble to get the facts and think truly then many of the ills of the body social would be settled very quickly.

Public opinion—which is nothing more than multiplied individual thinking—is more powerful than governments or parties. When public, opinion says "No," no earthly power can easily say "Yes." When Public Opinion is based on facts no power in the universe can 1)0 found to quarrel with it. When we get the facts and think clearly the new earth will soon come.