While the competitive system seems to set mere men at the whim of imponderable elements beyond their ken or control and give free rein to huge competing combines that must, by their very nature, reach the point of saturation, obsolescence, and final destruction, a survey of present day democracy gives pause to those who wish to believe that in public ownership or control there lies a solution for periodic industrial collapse. Legislatures composed of individuals apparently forced to spend as much as possible for the delight of local constituents make the trusteeship of common welfare a grisly political farce.

Taxation per capita is tremendously on the increase. To decrease expenditures, even when deficits are inevitable seems impossible, even to check the giddy rise of state spending is a problem of the greatest difficulty. One of democracy's remaining anchors to windward is sensitivity and consequent self-corrective possibilities. When demand for a product ceases, the producers soon discover the change and production is curtailed. The public as a whole does not continue to pay for unwanted produce as it must in a rigid Communistic system, where wants are dictated. When politicians or business leaders of a certain type are found incompetent to deal with the industrial or social elements confronting them, they are replaced in an almost automatic process by those more fit.

Capitalistic democracy is far from the ultimate goal of mankind, but there are some who believe it possesses, more than any other system, the material from which may be made the next advancing stage of civilization's politico-economic progress. Professor Carver will discuss this hope in a lecture titled, "Sensitivity as the Quintessence of Democracy," in Emerson 207, at 11 o'clock.

Today

9 o'clock

"Satires of Persius", Professor Peterkin, Sever 14.

"The Character", Mr. White, Emerson A.

"Ruskin: 'Fors Clavigera' and summary", Professor Rollins, Emerson F.

10 o'clock

"Hume. Introduction". Professor Eaton, Emerson D.

"German Political Parties after 1871". Professor Fay, Harvard 1.

"Stowe, Holmes, Alcott, and Aldrich", Professor Murdock, Sever 11.

"Seneca", Professor Rand, Sever 13.

11 o'clock

"Sensitivity as the Quintessence of Democracy". Professor Carver, Emerson 27.