The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-25

Malone, deliver his much discussed leo
ture ON 'socialistic Fallacies." So
great was the demand for admission
that hundreds were turned away, and
for the benefit OF those who were unable
to hear Father Malone tonight, he has
consented to deliver his lecture again
next Sunday night.
Father Malone's criticisms OF the nu-
merous theories at present advanced for
the betterment of mankind were well
and favorably received.
Father Malone said in part: 'The wild
and senseless attacks which the dema-
gogue makes upon capital and legiti-
mate corporations In behalf of the la
boring man are to be deeply deplored by
honest law-abidlng citizens. It Is unfor-
tunate for labor that irresposible blath-
erskites are allowed to inject them
selves into labor difficulties, and to mis-
resent the position Of honest labor to-
make It appear that class IL naturally
hostile to class; that the rich and poor
are Intended by nature to live at war
with one another Both the rich and
poor must be made TO understand that
capital cannot do without labor nor la
Dor without capital.
II am opposed TO socialism, first, be-
cause It's votaries chiefly engage them
selves In unjust, unreasonable and
Benseless attacks upon corporate
wealth; and, second, because II Is unten-
able from q religious, philosophical and
economic point of view.
Intelligent citizens should firmly OPP
pose system that would destroy estab-
iished institutions solely for The purpose
of arranging more general distribution
of wealth.
'In entertaining these convictions,
am not unmlndful that great corpora
tlons, representing as they do millions,
and sometimes hundreds Of millions, OF
dollars may use the power this capital
gives them 10 the injury Of particular
classes OF private individuals or smaller
corporations, but this, am satisfied. ia
the exception, not the rule. When cor
porations have been given unjust priv
fiegcs then these privileges should BE-,
curtailed. II Is because the masses OF
the people fail to distinguish between
privileges that are just and those that
are unjust, md that corporations in
general are confouned with trusts and
monopolles, and made the object OF the
demagogue's rantings. 40 long as
competition is free. 1t as senseless to rail-
at corporate wealth as at individual en-
deavor Corporations owe their exist
ence to the law that governs them. They
are rs amenable to existing lnws as any
individual In the land. To assume that
those who execute the laws are all dis
honest, and that the governments SER
wants. once the government has as
sumed control of private industry
would be honest In the administration
of the governments business, is pre-
posterous assumption. To argue that
laws cannot be enforced against corpor-
ations is to argue that the race is de-
PRAYED, and to admit that there is no
hope for civilization.
A PERTINENT INQUIRY.
"If It be impossible to elect honest
representatives and Judges, would It
not be the height of folly to place the
vast interests involved in corporations
ut tho mercy OF men who are said to be
lrreclaimably corrupt? But, It is ar
gued that wealthy individuals and pow
erfuf corporation corrupt our legisla-
tors and debauch the peoples represen-
tatlyes. This, indeed, is q most serious
charge. Think OF 1t. Our manly, pure
and spotless representatives, men
whose integrity and honesty are as
immaculate as a virgin, are led astray
by the agents OF corporations so that
they become forgetful OF the peoples
interests and are willing to barter them
away for q few paltTy pieces OF silver.
Really, don't know what punishment
should be meted out to the corporations
and men OF wealth who soil the pure
and spOtless doves that compose our
city councils and average state leglsla-
lures. It must be an awful power that
these men wteld. that men who have
never tarriod in the primrose path OF
dalllnnee, should forget suddenly their
Sunday school teachings, and for bit
OF shining gold betray themselves, their
state and their country.
but what are the facts In the case?
The facts are that generally speaking,
the corporations are forced In self de-
fense, to keep legislation within proper
limits and defeat the schemes Of un-
lobbyists and wire pullers,
whose main object Is to fleece both the
public and the corporations.
"If corporations have their agents TO
ward of legislation In their affairs that
might be productive of serious conse-
uucuccs, Il must not be forgotten that
legislators have their agents and go
bOtweens. who serve the purpose Of
carrying the Doodle TO the lumbllke and
Bputicss creatures whom, We are told,
capital dehnuchcs and corrupts
HoLD-UP LEGISLATION.
every session OF the average state
legislature witnesses the Introduction
OF bills of a purely "hold-up" ohurac-
tor--bllis that are introduced solely for
the purpose Of teFTofl2lng capital, cor
poratlnns and private individuals 10
that they viii Nlvc up money IN con-
alteration OF said bills being killed or
gmoibprcd By those having thom Ia
charge. Bills are introduced to reduce
the ptlco VI the tclcErnph,thc telephone,
freight, passenger aud other charges,
tho lighting OF Our cities, the cost OF rid
Ing ON pirget railways, to Increase OK
clge ldNnton, (u limit the hours during
which iluunra may be sold, TO hamper
In their business, and In a
thouannf WAYS to Interfere with private
mduelfv. These bills have their Orlnln
In the minds of legislators themselves,
and nrc Introduced FOR the purpose of
forcing tAe parties IN lniorcAt to dis
rorpo money that tho bills may be XIII
oi. In self doton8c ana to prevent tho
utlor ruin ot their bunlnogs individuals
M vol na corporations, yloll to un-
eefupnioue Legislators ana then the cry
ropa forth that wealth aud capital are
with bribery and couup-
ton
"Whcn houoat mon nrc elected 10 ut-
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