Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-21
ALLUREMENTs OF SOCIALISM.
lrnom A STAFF Correspondent {

iIfOM A STAFF COHHESPONDkNTsi
Mt. GRETNA, Aug. 20-The allurements OF
socialism were placed before the Farmers
encampment this afternoon. This had been
designated as Labor Day" anu A. w.
Wright, OF the General Executive Board OF
the Knights Of Labor. appeared in behalf OF
his order in general and Master Workman
Powderly in particular. MI. Wright is a
residentof Toronto, Ont. and thinks that
while the agriculturss in both sections are
in bad shape, those of Canada have shade
the best OF it. He was the principal speaker
of the day. After some Introductory re-
marks of character to be agreeable to the
grangers in the audience, Mr.. Wright said:
"The labor question, as il is called, is at
tracting great deal of attention throughout
the world at present The reason for this
can be readily discened if we scan the his
tory and developments of the past quarter
of a century. Wealth has enormously
increased, and only one-tenth or as
much physical labor is required to pro-
duce now as comparatively few years ago.
Notwithstanding all this, is the individual
man on the farm, mine or factory any better
off? do not say that the condition OF the
workingmen and even OF the farmers mas
not improved at all, but II it hasn't improved
tentold there is something radically wrong
with our boasted civilization, and the pres
ent Industrial system is q failure.
Distribution of Wealth at Fault.
"The production of wealth in the world to-
day is all that could be expected. 1t il the
distribution which is at fault There are too
many milllonaires and too many tranps.
We are drifting toward a plutocracy on the
one hand and helpless peasantry on the
other. Do not understand me as preaching
the gospel of despair. i believe that this
condition of affairs can be improved and the
disastrous ending preventeh. What we
need is the application of the golden rule,
instead of the maxim OF the devil take the
hindmost' which now dominates the COM
mercial system. Both workmen and en-
pioyers take advantage of circumstances.
The manufacturer finds man who is in
debt or has had sickness in his family, and
he resolves that while the man Is worth
81 30 day he will only pay him 81 90, be-
cause his necessities force him to take Just
what he can get, and. in retaliation, when
the workmen finds the employer with n con-
tract on hand which must be out at GER
tain time, he insists on $3 50 day when
Mr. Wright then referred to the railroad
strike now in progress at Buffalo. but did
not enter into the merits OF the controversy
at any length. He said: cit has been asked
or me how am going to apologize for the
violence during the recent labor troubles.
That task does not fall on me. Our organi-
cation, the Knights OF Labor, never coun-
tenanced nor tolerated violence. We recog-
nize that the only way to better the condi-
tion OF the toilers is by aroused public senti-
ment.
The Winner Never Better OF.
cit makes little real difference in the end
whether these strikes are won or lost. How
much betteroff is the striker even after be-
ing successful7 The vital issue is that the
men who produce the wealth get scarcely
any of 1t. while those who do practically
nothing toward its production get nearly all
of 1t. You ask whether this can be possible
~ ltnA ,,-k.A 40,
live under a republic. A plutooracy rules
here just as it does in Canada, my own coun-
try, and just as it does in the limited mon
archy of England, the more absolute mon
archy OF Germany and the despotism OF Rus
sia.
"The leading parties'of this country are
just now divided upon great issue-the
tariff. The discussion of this question will
be good thing If 1t sets you to thinking,
but it will accomplish no other good. You
will find in free trade England and the pro-
tected United States the same conditions.
rahhd s me WORKERS tTaT 6 she peepaen are
living. A little less or little more tariff is
not the way out Of the woods. You will find
the cause or the evil just as widely extended
and ramified as the evil ITSELF 1t is not
question Of the form of Government, even,
but under all forms as they now exist, the
producing classes are robbed.
Call Down for the Reading Combine.
"Examine the laws by the standard of the
golden rule and you wilr soon ascertain the
source of the evil, as we'll as its remedy.
What right has the Reading combine to put
a tax on consumers of anthracite coal, an
article placed fin the ground by Providence
for the benefit OF all mankind. Corporations
are a new creation, a souIIess monstrosity,
and in themselves constitute one Of the
greatest problems Of the latter half of the
nineteenth century. They They must aust, be wiped
of the methods used by the hotheads at
Homestead, in Idaho, Tennessee or at
Buffalo. This matter must be thought out,
not fought out, and the contest is one for
ballots. not bullets.
Now" continued Mr.. Wright, "there is
need of radical reform in the land system.
OF course admit the right Of one indiv1d-
possessed OF real estate and make use Of it.
But under the present methods there is pos
sibility that some one man or corporation
may acquire all the land IN the the country.
then, to prevent the command: This is
my land; get Off of it!' And remember that
what reforms are good for the workingmea
are good for the farmer.
Govsrnmsnt Control of Railroads.
'The idea that their interests conflict has
long since been exploded, and great ques-
ton that confronts both Glasses is that of
taxation without representation. That is,
q dozen railroad corporation representa-
tives get together in a back parlor, and by
an increase in transportion rates raise the
price of living for millions OF people. The
commerce law has been tried,
and it is only a farce. That is the Govern
ment control OF tho railroads, and it has
proved failure. Why not try Government
ownership
good country roads. After you have such
roads will you permit O corporation to get
hold of them and charge you for their use?
Yet the railroad is just ns much of a public
of the Governments railroads is
made the cry of paternalism Is at once
raised. The average politician Is very much
afraid OF paternalism. when his party is not
in power. Some countries, even under
monarchy, have successfully operated Gov
eminent railroads. Cannot Republic do as
muchf In two States of Germany-Prussia
and BavariaGalI o sme raiways a are go owaea a. ana
tion of life and property in the operation is
much less than on the lines in this country.
"But hear some one say, That's social
ism.' Well, am a socialist. Don't jump.
think would know how to use 1t If had.
You all favor Government management of
the postoff1ce system, do you notf or course
you do, and to that extent at least you are
all socialisttc, and If the postoff1ce, why not
the railroads and the telegraph, and perhaps
later on, even the coal minesf
ExpIanation OF Mr. wrighrs Theory.
'Now, don't misunderstood me. The
things that individuals can do best should
be done by them, and that which can best be
done by the community should be accom-
plished in that manner. The product Of a
mans brain or Drawn should be his, and no
body should be able to take IL away from
him. I believe that nine out of ten employ
ers would like to be fair and would rather
pay high wages than low ones. But the
trouble is with the competitive system.
'It Is the favorite remark of many orators
that the interests of labor and capital are
identical On the contrary. they are abso-
lutely opposed to each other. By that
mean capitalism and the capitalistic system.