Spencer Heath Archive

Item 2817

Five draft letters clipped together, four typed and one a carbon, from Heath at 102 W. 85^th Street, New York City, to publishers promoting The Energy Concept of Population (later retitled, Citadel, Market and Altar).

About 1942?

 

Dear Sir:

How can PUBLIC SERVICES be carried on by governments with­out subjecting their citizens to violence or force, thus causing insecurity, fear and distress and giving occasion for counter-vio­lence, revolutions and wars?

 We do not consider any seizures of property or imposition of force in any form as necessary for the support of or in the con­duct of any private business or affair—not even permissible.

 Then WHY in the PUBLIC?

 One part of the public business — and that the basic, oldest and most essential part—is carried on wholly by particular contracts and consent and paid for automatically by the values it creates.

 So well is this done, we are not conscious, even of its being necessary. We think very little about it; some think ill of it and would destroy it as an evil, tax it out of existence.

 The accompanying typescript includes full disclosure of what this GREAT AND NECESSARY PUBLIC SERVICE now is, and how it can be PROF­ITABLY expanded to include ALL public business, — without compulsions or compromises of any kind, with enormous advantages and benefits to all — and injury to NONE.

 It is only necessary that a considerable number of publicly articulate persons become aware of this BASIC PUBLIC SERVICE and of how it is now non-coercively performed, even to the finding of its own revenues without taxation, endowments or alms.

 Automatically, and without resistance, its extension will then follow, as a matter of course, — and PUBLIC VIOLENCE CEASE.

 “Until now the kingdom of heaven (civilization) suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. He that hath ears …”

 Permission for this typescript to occupy a place at or near your elbow for a little time is all that is asked. You will like it either very much or not at all. Please do not waste any time on it — unless it interests you.

Spencer Heath

 

Dear Sir:

Here’s your rara avis, a BASIC book, the foundation of a new objec­tive science, a natural science of Society.

 With the charm of a wonder-book it pictures the successive genera­tions of men as a system of energy waves; shows the social organism’s three energy elements precisely as in physics and physiology; discovers the basic social process that liberates individual energies — Society a Divine Agency for the material and spiritual creation of a New World.

 Above all schemes for super-governments, it distinguishes public services from, public rulership; sets services apart from compulsions; shows how all political technique is essentially force, ultimately war.

 But it discloses in our midst a social institution, ancient, non-po­litical, practicing no coercion on the public it so vitally serves and by whom it is automatically repaid — in exact degree as it serves. This in­stitution is shown destined to supersede rulership, “services” by the meth­ods of war — great earnings with high honors its sure incentive to exten­sion and growth. Non-political proprietary administration providing and dispensing community services productively and receiving only voluntary public revenue abundantly, instead of taking taxes destructively by force.

 And in this tax-release of production and exchange — emancipation of the capitalist system from the technique of conquest — it shows, through the profitable administration of stupendous public and private fortunes, a free and open highway to the socialist ideal, the Utopian Dream.

 Former industrialist turned social philosopher, this author thought long BEFORE writing. He now writes only from inner compulsion, with no need or motive of gain. He seeks a publisher with an eye to reputation and facilities of distribution — with or without taking any risk.

 The book is well typed, diagramed, loose leaf, zipper bound. A few moments will suffice to show whether you could become interested. May I present it to you personally for such brief preliminary inspection?

Cordially,

 

 

Dear Mr. Jones:

Here’s a book sui generis in its field. Title: THE ENERGY CONCEPT OF POPULATION. It lays the foundation for a new natural science, the Science of Society.

 With all the charm of a wonder-book, it pictures the march­ing generations of men as energy waves, shows in the social body the same three energy elements as in physics and in physiology, shows social energy without strife liberating individual energy — society the divine agency for the continuous creation and re­creation of its world.

 Above all plans for more government — super-governments — it distinguishes public services from public rulership, all real services from compulsions, shows all politics intimately force, ultimately war.

 But it also shows that right in our midst there now exists a social institution, little understood, yet widespread as gov­ernment, practicing no force or coercion against the public it serves and by whom it is automatically — almost unconsciously — paid in exact proportion as it serves. This institution is shown destined to supersede rulership — services by the methods of war — high earnings, with high honors to its members, being the sure incentives to its expansion and growth. Private management per­forms public services productively, creating voluntary public rev­enues by consent instead of taking taxes by force.

 And in this release of free and voluntary exchange services, the emancipation of the capitalist system, it shows the realization — through the profitable administration of stupendous public and private fortunes — of the socialist ideal, — the Utopian Dream.

 A former industrialist, this author thought for a decade without writing. He now writes from inner compulsion, without any need or motivation of gain. He seeks an aggressive publisher — one who will give benefit of his best facilities — either with or with­out risk.

 

 The book is well typed and diagramed, loose-leaf and zipper bound. A few moments in your hand and you will know whether you could be interested. At what day and hour may I bring or send it to you for such preliminary examination?

 

  Cordially yours,

 

 

Dear Mr. Soandso:

Would you be interested in seeing my manuscript, a book which is original and sui generis in its field? I am anxious to have this published, with or without risk to the publisher, but realize that it would only interest an open-minded editor, one who is willing to take the time to read the book himself and who will recognize its value, even though he may not agree with all its conclusions.

 This book, titled THE ENERGY CONCEPT OF POPULATION, The Foundation of a New Science, SOCIONOMY, the Science of Society, deals with population, society, civilization, deftly from the ground up from a new point of view. From this founda­tion it discloses how society works, not how it fails, and makes obvious how it can work more. A short book but luminous. It visions gradual abolition of taxation, quiet transformation of political power into productive service, the liberation and enrichment of all.

 It is not merely another post-war panacea, super-­power prescription. It exposes the manner of growth, societal growth for all times. Aloof from the fatuous clamor for more government and super-governments, it shows rulership the opposite of service, private or public, all real services non-political, non-compulsive.

 Furthermore it brings to light an institution now little understood, widespread as government, yet prac­ticing no force or coercion against the public it serves and by whom it is automatically paid or penalized in exact proportion as it serves or fails. This institution is shown as destined to supersede rulership, its high earnings and high honors being the twin incentives to its growth.

 I do not want to take more of your time to tell you more about my book in this letter, but I should be glad to call and see you at any time that is convenient to you, or if you would like to see the manuscript, I will be glad to send it into you at once. I am seeking an aggressive publisher, one who would be willing to put all its facilities behind the promotion of the book.

                                           Cordially,

 

 

 

 

Dear Mr. So-and-so:

This /is/ about a book — original — sui generis in its field.

 It deals with population, society, civilization, deftly from the ground up — a new point of view.

 It discovers how society works, not how it fails, and makes obvious how it can work more. — A short book, but many-sided.

 It exposes the manner of growth, social growth, for all times — not mere­ly a post-war prescription.

 Aloof from the current fatuous clamor for more government,  super-govern­ments, it finds rulership the opposite of service,  private or public, all real services non-political, non-compulsive, all politics intimately force, ultimately war.

 But it does bring to light an institution, now little understood, widespread as government, yet practicing no force against the  public it serves and by whom it is automatically paid or penalized in exact proportion as it serves or fails.

 

 This institution is seen as destined to supersede public “services” by rulership, by the methods of war; high earnings and high honors the twin incentives to its growth.

 

 With the charm of a wonder-book, it shows the marching generations of men as energy waves obeying precisely the same laws as the magnetic waves. — Shows in the social body the same three structures, same basic physiology, as the individual body.  — Shows social energy liberating individual energy and will, and society as the divine agency for the continuous re-creation of its world.

 It visions a gradual abolition of taxation, quiet transformation of political power into productive services, the liberation and enrichment of all.

 And in the liberation of services by exchange, the “capitalist”  system, it finds the ultimate realization through freedom of the socialist ideal, the Utopian Dream.

 Would you like to look at this book? It is well typed and diagramed, loose-leaf and zipper bound.

 

 The author seeks an aggressive publisher — with or without risk.