The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-09-17
OUR LABOR COLUMN.
Rev. c. L. Brown en- Social.
ism.
workinsmen and the Citizens Movement
Labor News The World
Over.

EEofkinsmen and the Citizens sToyemen
Labor News The World
Over.
Rev. Mr.. Browns third sermon Il
workingmen WAS on "Labor and Social
ISM The speaker began by stating
that there was a real labor question. L
is-not all the talk OF agitators, nor can i
be explained as simply envy Of the rich
The ostentation and pomp Of the ricE
may exasperate the poor, and his tone o.
arrogance increase the feeling of bitter
ness, but something is wrong when sc
many are dropping out of the race, foot
sore and weary. While pauperism is de-
cteasing in England it is increasing here,
and panics are growing in frequency
Carroll d. Wright said at the last panic
amlllion men were standing for a year
without work, which meant three or four
million people in need. There are men
in our own city. said the speaker, who
wonld be glad to find work
but cannot. He then gave ex-
tracts from the speeches OF a number OF
rJCAcOuf db Bn6 kICdb iHCCb1uG VI tLC Ill
employed in Chicago few weeks ago.
showing the strong socialistic tendency
OF the meeting. He then explained the
difference between tie anarchists and
socialists. The former would abolish all
law and government, and out of this con-
Gltfon of individual freedom reorganize
society. The socialists, or the other
hand. would have government be the
boss, employ all labor and have entire
charge OF production and distribution.
he thought the theory OF pure compen-
ton was largely responsible for the rise
If socialism.
Among the errors OF socialism was the
assumption that labor was the source of
all value. He thought the mind and the
brain were potent factors. Another error
was in assuming machinery to be accu-
mulated labor. The socialists also
place too great an estimate on
the the effect of an equal distrl-
button OF property. II all wealth were
equally divided it would only make a
very modest amount to each person. The
specialist undervalues the individual man
and he undertakes the power OF morals
and religion. Socialism could only be
carried out by physical force, and the
speaker did not care to trust government
10 carry out the stupeudous programme
OF the socialists until far more sufficient
civil service was in operation. He
thought the way 10 convert the socialist
from his error was to convince his reason
and touch his soul. The personal en-
ligktenmeat of each znan was what was
needed.
It has always been q marvel to me that
those who complain most bitterly OF the
corruption of government, Of the abuse
OF government patronage and power,
and the extravaganza and iucompe-
no better remedy than that of
placing still greater power in the
hands Of Congress and greatly en-
lsrging the functions of government. If
the people cannot now elect congressman
and legislators who will be uninfiuenced
by railway corporations, trusts and other
aggregations of capital, how can they
elect men who can be trusted TO run the
railroads, the telegraph, the express bus
mess or similar enterprises which many
men, not socialists, believe they should
undertake? Legislative bodies, from Con-
gress down TO city councils, are represen-
tRtives of the honesty and intelligence of
those who elect them, and the remedy for
bad government is not in giving greater
power to the governing bodies, but IN
putting different class of men IN power.
Every Socialist ard Populiss points to
the government might safely enlarge its
work as q public carrier. Yet is the post
Office department q glittering success?
It's expenses exceed its income by many
millions. 3U owns none of the facilities
- transportation They are furnished by
private enterprises. The government sp-
points a costly and superfiuous staff Of
officials 70 collect, separate and pouch
mail matter. To Go this it pays its Wash
lngton force nearly q million dollars, to
gCstmasters and their clerks over twenty
million, for free delivery above ten mil
koH, railway mail clerks seven million-a
tctai of over forty million, or five million
mere than the entire amount paid railroads
ard stea mshiDs. BY whose ENTERPRISE chean
ard rapid postal service is made possible.
The government is always the worst
served OF all employers. Its salaries are
higher. hours OF labor less, and there are
more fiat iobs' than in any private
enterprise. The government is not re-
sponsible 5or loss through theft or care
lessness, as is a private company. As
Ingalls, wei says, no private citizen
could deal with his customers as the
government treats its patrons IN the post
office department without being IN bank
ruptcy ons-haif the time and IN the peni-
tenJiary the other half.
Yet it cannot be denied that belief in
socialism, either IN a limited or a more
extended degree. as remedy for labor
troubles, is becoming more widespread.
The Socialist party of Germany unoer
Iiebkrecht is now a power in the reich
stag. The Social Democrats of England
have a widespread organization and
numerous papers. In America the nm
.precedented circulation OF Belamy's
sI.ooking Backward. y and the formation
III many Bellamy clubs, show that
thousands OF people are in sympathy with
the Socialistic idea. Readers OF 5he
Cosmopolitan, who have followed W. /
y. Howells in his ''Traveler from
Altruria' Will note that SO practical
writer as he, attributes the perfection OF
Aitruria to the reign of socialism. Evi-
IDENTIFY something more is needed than 10 |
simply point oct the errors of socialism, !
for it's leading advocates lack neither
education nor enlightenment. A more
reasonable and practical plan Tor the So
luton OF the labor problem must be |
pointed ont, and I trust that Rev. Mr.. |
Brown will explain some such substitute
in his next sermon.
The worSingmen Of Salt Lake are likely !
70 put a labor ticket IN the field this fall. t
There seems to bs a good deal of dissatis-
faction among workingmen over the way !
the Citizens movement is being handled |
How much is based upon principle and |
how mucn upon the agitation OF those |
who have an axe 10 grind do not know. |
While one may not entirely agree with |
the proposed plan of nominating a citi- |
zens' ticket think ] would quite as
readily trust the citizens committee to |
pick out good ticket for me as l would |
trust a LABOR convention, or q convention
OF Republicans. Democrats, independents |