The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1898-05-21
Socialists Bitterly Denounced
as Enemies Of the Re.
: public
At the Lyceum Thursday Even
ing by Alfred Nc.
CaDlum.

Workers" at the Lyceum
Thursday evening. E. r. Cobb
acted as chairman and intro
duced the speaker. There
was singing by Miss Farrell,
Mrs. McAuliffe and Mr.. Evans.
The speaker started out to
prove that trades unionism and
not socialism will bring about
the reforms sought by the
working classes. He also
claimed that the socialist did
not herald the inventions of
the brain of mankind as a ben
eft to the race and sought to
prove that the working classes
are better off today than at any
previous time in the history of
the world. The socialists are
a set of knaves and fools who
are trying to tear down what
the trades unionists have built.
He said in part:
"Among the organizations clamoring
most persistently for recognition is the
socialist labor party, whose claims on
our serious consideration I propose to
Investigate this evening. In doing so I
will defend the trades union against it's
invidious attacks. I do not intend to
take up much time in defending the
trades union for it's long line of victories
in raising mon to that broad plane on
which humanity should dwell is it's own
defense. Il intend rather to attack the
socialist labor party and divest it of it's
scanty raiment Of hope and show it up
to the working men now in my hearing.
will leave it to them to judge whether
they wish to have their names enrolled
on the roster of such an un-American
organization. whose rottenness and cor
ruption smells to heaven. .''.f
II will treat the subject under num-
ber of heads. In the first place the
membership. The socialist labor party
has not enrolled as it's members the in
telligent socialists of the country. Its
membership is composed rather of the
ragtag and bobtail of all the advocates
Of reform that do not reform. A large
percentage of it's members cannot speak
the English language. They know
nothing about American institutions and
care less. They are the pauper and
criminal classes of Europe, which ha 70
focked to our shores. The able social
lists are not members of the ghost dane
ing, day dreaming, moonbeam chasing
organization. ~ = !
'Their declaration Of principles is the
collective ownership and control of all
the means of production and distribu-
tion. This Is to be brought about by
Independent political action. 70 accom-
plish this would be necessary to re-
construct society from the very founda-
tion. Society is like constitution, it is
one Of the things that cannot be made,
it must grow. Before a cooperative
commonwealth is possible you must
have cooperative man. A co.opera-
tive man is an unselhsh man. Now the
motive that prompts the members of
this party to declare for a cooperative
commonwealth is nothing except selfish
ness. Sel6shness. this and nothing
more, and therefore, actuated by the
most selfish motives they want to divide
with those that have. They would
make the creation greater than the
creator. '.s..
"The oft asserted statement that labor
creates everything is a beautiful fiction.
Can labor make two blades Of grass
grow where one grew before? Labor is
purely mechanical. 1t fashions, weaves
and moulds after nature has provided
the raw materials. Ability plays a
prominent part in everything that is
produced. The members of this organ
ization wear a red button bearing
an arm and hammer and If you
we're to ask one of the wearers what
it signi6ed he would say that
it meant determination to strike blow
after blow till the wage slave was eman-
cipated. I have another definition of
what it symbolizes. 1t is that the wearer
will strike blow after blow at the foun-
dation of trades unionism till the struc.
ture falls. They would then erect on the
ruins the ydra-headed structure of state
socialism.
"Ihis organized band Of incompetents