Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-12-23
Pollor orth. r.publloau Par.y.

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In order to comprehend the proposed
legislation of the Republican party it
should be kept in mind that after many
years that party stands for one great
theory in politics and government, viz;
Take care Of the rich and the rich
will take care Of the poor"
This is the essence of all that the Re-
publican party stands for to-day, which
can be dignihed with the name of a
principle. 1t is private paternalism-
1t is the survival of feudalism.
Do not despise it. Do not imagine
that a large faction of the American
people are not in favor oft. firmly
believe that majority of the people
of tho United States to-day have no
conception of any government or state
of society in which the great mass OF
the people are not absolutely depend
ent on the prosperity or the benevo-
lence of the rich. The average man
argues like this:
81 must have work. Someone must
hire me. He must have sufficient cap
ital to conduct his business. He must
make profits In order to pay me wages.
The more profit he makes the more
wages am likely to receive. Anything
which threatens his interests threatens
me. Anything which enhances his
prosperity is likely to benefit me. The
interests of labor and of capital are
identical. If it were not for the rich
there would be no work."
That sums up the whole Republican
argument; and for that matter the
whole capitalistic argument. And the
man who believes that the competitive
system of industry is right can take no
other ground. That is why the Re-
publican party is strong. 1t stands for
private ownership and rallies to the de-
Tense of capital. The unscientific OPP
position attacks capital blindly and
offers no remedy.
There is but one remedy, and that is
the substitution of cooperation for
competition; fair division of the pro-
ducts of labor among the actual pro-
ducers, instead of the present system
of scant wages subtracted from private
profits. Under the national ownership
of industries the workman would not
have to wait until some corporation
had deducted enormous profits. The
workman would receive all that he
produced, and not II per cent us he
now does in the United States
Do not laugh at the man who votes
the Republican ticket because it favors
organized wealth, unless you have
something to offer him which will take
its place. Do not denounce trusts I'M
less you have some substitute for the
trusts. II you are III favor or private
ownership of industries vote the way
the owners vote and help them to get
richer, in order TINT you may share to
some degree in the coming Republican
prosperity.
Let me put this SO plain that it can
not be misunderstood. In the develop
ment of modern industries production
is possible only by the employment OF
vast capital. This is now furnished by
individuals who have formed corpora
tions. There is but one alternative,
viz: national ownership Of such indus
tries on plan similar to that by which
the United States now carries the mails.
II you know of any plan by which you
can cripple u trust and at the same
time raise the wages Of the men who
are working as wage earners for the
trust, you have solved at intricate
problem. There is but one solution
national cooperation.