Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-01-07
Calamity Howler.

IN.~N,~N>-N>-N.-o.~n>~N.-
NNmy opinion, anyone who persists
in writing christmas" Xmas"
is no Khan, but / may not be a
IL very good authority upon tie
ethics of Xianity.
Gen. Merritt says it is the man
with large means who will reap the
richest reward in the Philippines. 1t
is, however, the man with no means
at all who is your very rankest expan-
sionist.
1t is my opinion that the time is
approaching for constructive, rather
than destructive, effort. The chaotic
old competitive system bids fair to
fall to pieces of it's own weight faster
than anything can be furnished to
take it's place.
Some of the leading journals of our
country, which see the unmistakable
trend of public opinion, are beginning
to hedge. They are trying to prove
that socialism is not socialism. Well,
] don't care. A cabbage by any other
name would make just as good kraut.
Don't tie to a mechanical evolution,
brother. Though inventive genius
multiply the application of machinery
until the touching of button supply
all human wants, your capltalistic
gardian will still own the button and
. YOU will touch it on his terms or not
at all.
Expansion has already proven one
thing, and that is that constitutions
are for the people to obey, and not as
check upon the rulers. The band
PLAYS Hail Columbia, the machine
gun rattles, and the newly hedged
American citizen streaks him for a
sheltering rock.
That individualism which consists
of a proper pride i'll being a use
full part of harmonious whole, will
be promoted and protected by social
ism. The kind which feeds with both
fore feet in the trough is product OF
the competitive system and will perish
with it's downfall.
The latest argument against pub
lie ownership advanced by the pluto
cratic press is the miserable condition
of the telegraph lines in Cuba under
Spanish government ownership. [
feel that my country don't need to
take Spain for an example. Who is
your deputy Spaniard" now?
With all due respect to Bro, Nj. w.
Wilkins, of the Class Struggle, as a
forceful advocate of class-consciOuS
socialism, | must dissent from his
conclusion that the eX-colonist is a
tough customer to convert to social
ism. When the hand is once placed to
the pillow of associative effort there is
no turning back and no logical stop
ping point short of national, yes in
ternational, cooperation.
| will venture to observe (while the
boss has his back turned, which gives
me chance to quit minding my own
business few minutes) that the ac-
tive agents in the field could give some
good pointers on extending the circu-
lation. If anyone should be allowed
suggestion to the chief it is the men
in the field who are the mainstay of
paper. They get to know the feat
ures that bring long lists, and why it
is the dogs are set on them.
The government equips and orga-
nizes men for the destruction of life
and property, but it would be just
awfully paternal to organize a regi-
ment, yes even corporals guard for
the purpose of construction. 1t pro-
yides battleships and big guns to
blow our brethren across some mag
mary boundary line into the sweet
subsequent; but 'twould never, never,
do to provide machinery to shoe the
barefooted or clothe the naked OF our
land, for that would be socialism.
If anyone is disposed to call me a
coward because | am not shouting
for an armed revolution | see no way
to prevent him. The smell of powder
is not particularly obnoxious TO me
but admit dislike for the flavor pf
lead either cold or hot. Still, | might
he induced to hght-at long range
if there appeared to be anything in
it; but there doesn't. If my sangui-
nary friends, who advocate the pur-
chase of Winchesters rather than lit
erature, see their subscription lists go
glimmering they can blame themselves.
Without education and organization
we are powerless given them, we huve
no need of force.