The like obsolescence of the sense of equity in ownership is visible in the attitude taken by strikers in the large, mechanically organized industries, outside of the ranks of avowed socialism. These strikers are less and less deterred by considerations of vested rights, property rights, owner's interests, and the like. The principle that a man may do what he will with his own is losing its binding force with large classes in the community, apparently because the spiritual ground on which rests the notion of " his own " is being cut away by the latter-day experience of these classes. Abridgment of proprietary discretion, confiscation of proprietary rights, is growing gradually less repugnant to the industrial populace ; and the question of indemnity for eventual loss is more and
1 more falling into neglect. With the socialistic element the question is not, what shall be done in the way of readjustment of property claims, but
1 what is to be done to abolish them.'
< Wbera membera of the well-U>Jo elane* avow BociallsLic sentinienta and ideaia It commonly turns out to be a merely hnmanitaTian
CIVILIZATION AND THE MACHINE PROCESS 343
The question of equity or inequity in the distribution of wealth presumes the validity of ownership rights on some basis or other, or at least it presumes the validity of some basis on which the claims of ownership may be discussed. Ownership is the major premise of any argument as to the equity of distribution, and it is this major premise that is being forgotten by the classes among whom socialistic sentiment