develop can exist only where free choice makes the individual worthy through the triumph of good desires. Though each one is made to realize that he is but a steward over something which belongs to God, that he is a part of a big effort to achieve not only material well-being but also equality and brotherly dealings in all the affairs of life, and that the turning in of an honest surplus is absolutely necessary to the success of the plan, so that a refusal would place him out of joint with the whole system, still, each time he turns over to the treasury his surplus he realizes that he has had dealings with the God whom he worships and has dealt honorably with Him. Herein lies at once the strength and the weakness of the plan--the paradox-which makes it at the same time both strong and weak. Strong because great accomplishments are possible only where "perfect freedom" prevails, and weak because the selfishness of man is given the opportunity to do great damage. Through warranty deed ownership of his stewardship the individual can take any attitude toward the system that he desires and, in the final analysis, the Order is powerless to enforce its basic stipulations. Only a seasoned religious body of relatively high spiritual attainments would be well suited to bring about its establishment.1 Clearly a great administrator would be needed to couple with the idealism of Joseph Smith the machinery necessary to put the plan into actual operation. In that case habit, custom, and precedent, backed by powerful public opinion, might be depended upon to enforce compliance.

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1 The practical-minded Brigham Young appreciated this difficulty later when he gave the reason for the delay in starting the effort in Utah: "I say to the Latter-day Saints that the only reason why we do not take up the subject and enter into the organization of Enoch or a city of Enoch, is simply because we have not yet been able to find every item of law bearing upon the matter so as to organize in such a way that apostates cannot trouble us.' Journal of Discourses, (Liverpool, 1854-55) vol. 16, p. 182.

CHAPTER XXI

CONTROL OF THE ORDER

The United Order as planned in the Doctrine and Covenants appears to be based to a considerable extent on democratic principles but there are particular features to be considered concerning the treasury into which the surplus is placed. Certain characteristics of Mormon Church government also have bearing. Let us examine the treasury first.

"There shall not any part of it be used or taken out of the treasury only by the voice and common consent of the Order.”1 This kind of a provision would provide an effective check and insure final control of the treasury. One exception to this arrangement, however, is made:

And this shall be the voice and common consent of the Order; that any man among you, say unto the treasurer, I have need of this to help me in my stewardship; if it be five talents (dollars) or if it be ten talents, or twenty, or fifty, or an hundred, the treasurer shall give unto him the sum which he requires, to help him in his stewardship, until he be found a transgressor, and it is manifested before the council of the Order, plainly, that he is unfaithful, and an unwise steward; but so long as he is in full fellowship, and is faithful, and wise in his stewardship, this shall be his token unto the treasurer, that the treasurer shall not withhold. But in case of transgression, the treasurer shall be subject unto the council and voice of the Order.

Just how important this exception would be in limiting the control of the members over the common treasury, experience alone could determine. At first reading it appears to be an astonishing arrangement which could not help but bring confusion and destroy control. It is quite apparent that, giving due consideration to “human nature," common control would soon be very seriously interfered with, unless, in practice, rules were established which in some way limited the right of the individual to make demands on the treasury. The terms "unfaithful" and "unwise" steward suggest the line along which such limitation was probably intended to be developed.

Let us consider the situation under four headings: 1. When the steward is an able financier. 2. When the steward is of average capacity. 3. When the steward is below average capacity. 4. When social needs demand production in other lines.

1. Steward in possession of unusual financial ability. If the stewardship expands and grows the able steward will necessarily have to make frequent requisition on the treasury for funds for purposes of improvement. This will be clear when it is remem bered that he must turn over to the treasury all the surplus over

1 Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 104:71-75.

and above his family needs. There is, therefore, no place other than the treasury where he can obtain the money needed. In his case, he, no doubt, will turn into the treasury more than he takes out for improvement. As long as he is a "wise steward" and his improvements are fruitful, his judgment is to determine, and the treasurer is not to deny his requests. Considerable scope is thus given to free initiative on the part of the individual producer, and the community may expect to soon discover its natural born "captains of industry" and to reap the benefits of their superior ability.

In view of the important place which "superior ability" has in production, the arrangement in practice, providing the officers of the Order are men of wise leadership, appears to have decided advantages. Under present capitalistic conditions the training of children for a place in the economic structure is very largely in the hands of parents who receive little or no return for the money invested in such training. The result is a vast waste of potential ability, because the poor cannot invest capital in their children's training. The establishment of a higher approach to economic equality that the Order contemplates would tend to lessen. appreciably the artificially wide margin between abilities that exists today. Certain it is the number in the lower levels would be greatly reduced. The common phrase, the hundred thousand dollar men are scarce, finds its explanation here. Under the United Order any man who succeeds with his stewardship and remains faithful, has a splendid opportunity to develop his talents through his right to ask for funds from the treasury for improvements. The industrial organization itself would thus tend powerfully to sift out and draw into suitable service those possessed of differential ability.

The incentive which operates among men of this superior class to draw from them their best efforts is simply this. They provide for their families a living which is of a standard that has been, under the general conditions of the Order, socially determined as a proper one. Beyond that success means standing and reputation in their chosen vocations of life. As time goes on and "credit standing" is built up at the treasury, its possession becomes of increasing value. As the well-being of the community is enhanced through the intelligence and insight of these men their position as "public benefactors" comes to rest on a sure foundation for they have in a "most real" sense worked for the public welfare. Theirs is not the giving for philanthropic purposes of wealth which may or may not have been obtained in questionable ways, as is so common a method of achieving the position of a public benefactor today. They form the class which enriches the community, defends it from poverty, and directs productive force into the channel of progress.

It is difficult to see how, in practice, since there would be a

considerable number in this class,' the treasurer could satisfy all the requisitions that would be made on the treasury and have funds to take care of calls in other directions. The "Counsel" would soon find it necessary to inquire into the "wisdom" of particular improvements, and would have to take into consideration both the situation of the individual steward and the needs of the community. In order for the steward to remain a "wise steward” his requests for funds for improvements would have to be in harmony with the condition of the treasury and the social requirements of the community. Hence in practice control by the Council would no doubt soon become the established system.

2. When the steward is of average capacity, he will, in the main, turn nothing into the treasury for, since the stewardship is intended to be just large enough to provide for the needs of the family, it will be the average man's capacity to produce which will determine the size of the stewardships. Nevertheless, as an individual, he has just as much right to call upon the treasurer for funds for improvement as those of superior capacity. But, here again, the conditioning phrase "faithful and wise steward" will find big application in practice. The steward who can show no surplus to put into the treasury would not likely be given large sums for improvement. If he makes a good showing with what is given him by the treasurer, his credit standing will increase and he can expect more. In some seasons of business prosperity, or of good crops, he will have a surplus. But, in the main, it seems a legitimate conclusion that he will have about all that he can do to make a comfortable living for his family. He will neither turn anything of consequence into the treasury nor will he expect to make extravagant demands for improvement. It is likely, how

ever, that some part of the treasury funds will be devoted to the improvement of the holdings of the average man. It is inconceivable that he should have full liberty to call upon the treasury for any amount that he might happen to desire. Social needs meriting as they do big considertion would in practice come to have such a place as a determining factor. The right of the steward to call upon the treasurer for funds for improvement would remain a very important right, but he could expect to get only such amounts as social considerations and his past record made it the part of wisdom for him to use. The Council and the Treasurer, being the custodians of the group or social viewpoint, would tend to exercise a limiting effect on extravagant expenditures.

1 In a community of fair size the normal curve of frequency distribution would apply fairly well, and it may be expected that as a working proposition from 10-15% would have unusual capacity, from 70-80% average ability, and from 10-15% would be under average.

2 See Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 51:3; also 42:32.

3 Note: The phrase "in the main" is used because it is recognized by the writer that abilities vary to a considerable extent in any class. But the variation will be confined within relatively narrow limits and for practical purposes the average man will be found to be a good representative of his class.

Here too, then, it appears that the Order, through its officers. will in practice retain control of the treasury.

3. When the steward is below average in capacity, the income from his stewardship will not be large enough to provide as good a living for his family as the average man provides. In cases, he may find it necessary to obtain help from the bishop's Storehouse.1 He, however, has the same theoretical right to make the demand on the treasurer for the improvement of his holding as any one else, but, in his case, the limiting condition, "faithful and wise" would operate strongly and treasury funds would not be wasted in large amounts in making extensions. It is to be remembered, however, that even the least gifted learn from experience; and if a wise policy, in harmony with the obvious spirit of this unusual provision, be followed, he will be encouraged by being granted larger amounts in proportion as he improves in his efforts.

As we approach the lower level of abilities it becomes increasingly important that control over the treasury by the officers of the Order be maintained, for, if the community's capital were to go indiscriminately into the hands of the ignorant, waste and retrogression instead of progress would be the inevitable result.

4. When social needs demand production in other lines, a series of most important questions arise and confront the officers of the Order. The whole question of planned production presents itself, and the supreme importance of social interests in comparison with the desires of a single individual comes at once to the front. A dairyman wishes to build a modern dairy barn. The improvement would add a little to his capacity to produce milk and butter and somewhat to his convenience. There is no shortage of either milk or butter. The manager of the flour mill wants an elevator in order to store the farmers' wheat and sell it at opportune times and get the advantage of a good market. The condition of the treasury is such that both requests cannot be granted. The elevator is built and the dairyman is asked to wait. The cotton producers have perhaps fallen short of supplying a rising market. Their requests must have preference over the requests of the hay producers who are supplying feed for cattle in a glutted market. An enlarged grocery is needed in a growing section of the city. It must have preference over a request to enlarge a furniture store where the need is less urgent. Plainly group needs must condition and in a large measure determine what requests can be granted and what must be denied.

Inevitably, if the movement succeeds, control must remain in the hands of the officers of the Order. A different interpretation might be placed upon the passage which instructs the treasurer to

1 Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 42:53.