Workmen's advocate., 1890-12-27
PtNTECOST'S PLATFORM.
It i. overhsuled by an old Socialist.

mean to say It.
 Approved, But as none of us are in fallible, it may be observed there is danger of excessive speaking, irsomuch as we are all liable to say something that is not flor the happiness of the world"
 2-'G believe in free speech, free press, and free trade"
 stammerer, or mute, must desice free speech, and many impecumious persons would like a "free press" This is not a mere quibhling criticism, but IS intended to display the incompleteness of the second article. We have to un derstand that freedom from Government interference is meant by the term free, and, therefore, suggest that free mo- ney, free religion, free marriage, free divorce, free justice, free labor, and other items are unacoonntably omitted from the list
 3-"I believe in security in the occu- pancy and use of land, but not in exClu- sive property in va3ant land"
 What sort of ''security;" Not in the form of title-deed? Not any kind of Governmental security-municipal or other? Mr. Pentecost-a an Anarchist cannot advocate any authoritative secu rity. and, hence, some explanation of his meaning seems necessary.
 Al believe that all persons should be allowed to compete on equal terms with the Government in the manufacture of money, in carrying mail matter, in teaching school, and in transactlng any other kind of business"
 This is really more puzzling than the third article. If Mir. Pentecost believes that all persons should be "allowed to compete on equal terms with the Gov ,ernment,' he must believe in Govern ment for how could anyone compete with something that had no existence? This article is not in agreement with ar ticle ii.
 5-"I believe that no one should be pro. hibited by physical force from practicing medicine, law, or any other profession; or from carrying on any kind of busl. ness"
 What kind of force have human beings got besides physical force?" And how would the theory of this article apply to the business of burglary, Or of piracy?
 G-"I believe that no one should be taxed to support the Government against his will
 As Mir. Pentecost says, in article 14, that he does not believe in the Govern ment, this 9th article is quite superhU ous. Of course, if he believes the Gov ernment should not exist at all--for dny purpose-he cannot believe it should, or should not, be allowed to do dnWhing.
 7-'I believe the Government should grant no such monopolies as are pro- duced by copyrights, patent rights, and charters"
 Here again'-I believe the Govern ment should grant" How cdn he believe a thing should not exist and yet believe it should do something?
 S-"I believe debts should not be col lected by physical force.'
 By what other "force", then?
 9-"I believe that rent, interest, profits, md taxes are robbery"
 That demands longer criticism than this brief review will permit,
 10-"I believe the only just way to ob tain wealth is by wages or by free gift"
 There cannot be wages without wage payers; but this article cannot be justly dealt with in the few lines now at my disposal.
 11-"I believe that wealth should not be held in common or equally divided, but that each individual should be secure in the possession of what he justly ob- tains."
 Of course Mir. Pentecost must believe that people should be "allowed" to hold wealth in common if they wish to do so. As for wealth being 'equally divided, has he ever heard or read of any Social st or Communist advocating such non sense? If not, the introduction of the words "or equally divided" was as su- perfiuous as it would have been to say, belieue no person should S,cdilOtc coal mine.
 12-"I believe that women should be as free as men; that they should have com plete control of their persons
 I approve the first clause, uncondi- tionaIy; and the second, as regards the meaning intended by Mir Pentecost. K13-"I believe that divorce should be as free as marriage; that men and women should be free to arrange their relations to each other to suit themselves, with out the interference by force of the Gov ernment."
 Approved, internationally, But "the Government" Is again used superhuously by our Anarchist friend.
 14-"I believe in government, but not