The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-22

is rule or ruin. admit that am de-
spondent, but not for the reason Mr..
Dye urges. belong to the small mid
die class. it is true, but do not fear
being forced INTO the ranks of the pro-
letariet. have been there. The far
mer and average merchant is Just as
much wage Garner and worker as the
wage slave. l work Shoulder to Shout
der-with Iny hired man. l. eat at the
same table,. and 1t has often happened
at the end Of the seasons work, that
my hired man carried off more profit
than was left to my share on the farm
Mr.. Dye says THE Socialist never
desPonds. The Individual Socialist is
like his fellows. Temperament must, de-
eide mans hopes and fears. l know
that the class struggle is near" and
should welcome the struggle IL it could
be an honest struggle Ct ballots; but my
despondeEcy comes from the fact that
the fool workers in cur cities (many of
them) sell their ballots to perpetuate
their own servituda. Should not de-
spair Of the republic if every individual
voted his principles, because I have
faith to- believe that men will not long
persist in an evil course-unless they
are paid fer It. Again:
Mr.. Ccx' should study these figures,
NCtC1S anu ClGSS6S.
Wage workers. ............ 10, SOC. 900
miouie class: ............... $500, 236
Caritalistic class. 847,015
Keeping the venal voter in mind, Mr..
Dyes figures have no significance what
ever.
The Populist is as big a snob as the
Others, says MIR. Dye. Possibly, but
that does not make the Socialist saint
THE average Populist would not vote
for genuine wage Garner for congress- !"
Other things being equal, think
many Populists, myself included, would
vote for genuine wage earners to fill
every office in the gift of the people,
from chief magistrate down to coroner
And now friend Dye, in conclusion,
permit me to say that I have no preju-
dice against Socialism per Sc. l am in
favor OF every reform, and just as much
OF 1t as we can get; but being something
OF sportsman, and practical man be-
sides, do not believe it is good policy
to overcharge rifle, and strain the bar
rel trying to shoot around a mountain
to kill game out of sight, nor is it good
policy to let go plank at sea to swim
toward ship on the horizon.
Mr.. Dye seems to think there is moth
Ing worth. voting for save Socialism.
The wage Garner has a perfect right to
sell his ballot to the highest bidder,
and vote for the plute, the Socialist,
Populist, or the Devil That is his own
business. There Is no particular crime
In getting pay for his ballot, provided
he does not deliver the goods; he is
only spelling the enemy.
But Mr.. Dye gives away the whole
matter in dispute when he says:
1T is true that large numbers of the
voters in the cities are debauched by
the politicians who use whisky and
money, but the past experience of these
voters has been that whisky and money
would be more than they would receive
from legislation
Provided Brother Dye is fair expo
nent of Socialistic thought, aims, and
conditions, what then? Every man can
draw his own conclusions. eff past ex-
perience has taught the wage Garner
that whisky and money is more than
they would receive from the legislation"
l imagine that the Socialist would de-
spair of coming into power before the
Second Advent. In closing, I will say
that I have no quarrel with the wage
Garner, the honest voter, or the Social
list. EDWIN D. COX.
Marquette, Mich.