The Saint Paul globe., 1896-09-21
SILVER is AS GOOD AS GOLD.
THE SOCEALIsfIC PROFESSOR so
INFORMS THE LOYAL BRETH-
RFfN of ST. PAUL.
The Only Thing That Would Imsure
the Welfare of the Working
meh os the Country.

ScolCludS afternoon was nlled with q
large audience gathered to hear DAN
lei De Leon, of New York. discuss
the political situation from the stand
point Of a representative Of the Ma
<tional Socialist Labor party. Mr.. De
Leon spoke for nearly two hours, dur
ing the course of which he arrayed a
mass OF argument against both the
Democratic and Republican parties
which interested and enthused his au-
ditors to that point where at the con-
ciuslon of his address three cheers
were given for the Socialist Labor
party and the speaker.
In his Introductory remarks. Mr.. De
Leon stated that for the sake of argu-
ment he should consider all those with
IN the reach of his voice as wholly op-
posed to the party which he repre-
Sented. 1t might not be pleasing to
be classed as Democrats or Republi-
cans, nevertheless he would so view
MS audience in order that his argu-
ments might be the more readily
comprehended. That the political sit
uatlon OF today. as it related to the
wage Garner, might be thoroughly un-
derstood. the speaker stated 1t would
be necessary to go somewhat into his
tory. and this he proceeded to do by
taking as an ILLUSTRATION of how the
oppression pfthe wage worker began
the time previous to 1910, when he said
there had been no overproductfon. and
every laborer: was able to make com
IortaDle living. The shoe manufacture
ing industry was selected to show the
course of events. and what was
claimed in that branch was also held
to be truea of6 every other. Ten en-
ployers Were sutaken, each of whom
employed ten working men in the pro-
duct1on OF shoes. There were no idle
men. and all received good wages
Soon the employer began to long for
larger profits. He cut the wages of
his employees and they struck No idle
laborers being available, the. EMPLOYER
was compelled to take the men hack
again. and they rejoiced in what they
termed a victory. They saw how thew
had brought the employer to terms.
ana then began planning to strike
again for higher wages The employ
er was also planning how he could
revenge himself upon the men who
mad forced him to come to their terms
Then came the Introduction of labor
saving machinery, and the first unem-
pioyed labofers were thrown upon the
market. From that time ON wages
had been getting lower and lower
until the speaker declared the work
ing man of today was a wage slave.
me socialist Labor party he said did
not propose to- destroy the machinery
which had been responsible for this
condition of affairs, but what it a1yo-
cated was to take it out of the hands
rhAy q
Vate gain, and place it where it would
give the laborer the whole benefit of
the product Of his labor. ser
The fundamental principle Of the
Soeialistic Labor party, Mr. De Leon
said, was that the laborer was entitled
10 the entire wealth which he pro-
duced. Under the existing order of
thlhgs ne received only the minimum
necessary to sustain life and often not
that much. This was due to the fact
that the resources and. machinery of
production were in the hands of the
capitalist. and according to the speak
er, both the Democratic and RepubIt-
can parties We're composed Of this class
One party had declared for a gold
stahdard and the other for free silver,
but it made no difference to the laborer
which won the victory. Both were
working IN the interests of capital and
distinction was only possible by the
question Of degree. The Republican n
party represented the highest form of
capital and the Democratic party the
middle class capitalist 1t was no use
IoG the iaborer to spend any time with
edtnef or these parties. Both were up-
holders of capitalistic system Of pro
ouctfon which was a system where
wages Were subject to supply and de-
mand and where the supply was eyer
increased over the demand BY the self
1sh use made e1ef the agents Of produc-
ton In the effort Of a few to enrich
themselves sat the expense Of many.
Destroy theOcapitalistic system of ur1-
ductfon. said the speaker, and when
natural resources and machinery of
prCductfon are In the hands of the peo-
PIE the wage worker will cease to he
a wage slave
Inc kindiof money the laborer re-
eaVed, according to Mr.. De Leon. made
no dineTence. It was the proportion
or the wealth which he created which
ne was to receive for creating 1t that
concerned the laborer, and as ta
Wnetner ne received his share In gold.
SILVER. brass or iron. YVES a matter of
nttie consequence. The substance Of
tne whole matter was that the misery
In this country had no connection what
ever with the financial question. It
was simply who should control the ms
chinery of production This question
settled, and settled In the right man
ner, meant the liberation of the WAGE
WORKER and prosperity of the nation
Ihe Socialist Labor party had grown
rapidly in this country. where at the
tasf election 1T polled 10000 votes. and If
the Iaborfng classes would forsake the
oid parties and cast their ballots with
the new organization. the speaker de-
ciared that the children of thu. newt
generat1on would enjoy all Of their
rights and a prosperity heretofore nm
known. $50 -.
w y. Hammond, of Minneapolis. the
candidate OF the Social Labor party for
governor. preceded Mr.. De Leon in a
orler explanation of the aims of the
party and the benefits which 1t pro-
poseo 10 oesfow. upon the laborer.