The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-19
STREET CORNER MEETING.
A Spirited Debate between So
enlist md n Single Taxer.


John r. Pepin, the Chicago Socialist.
spoke at the corner of Meridian and Wash
ington streets last night to a crowd that
varied in size from twenty-five or thirty to
100. The speaker was introduced by Frank
Jordan. of this city. His remarks We're
of a conservative nature, while those of
Mr.. Pepin were radical in the extreme.
He talked for an hour, but his language
was so radical that his address was not
appreciated as much as it would have been
otherwise. In abiding to both political
parties he called them robbers" and said
both are exploiting labor for greedy per-
sonal gain. After espousing the funda-
mental principles of his cause he took up
the old political parties and expatiated at
length upon the personnel of their members
In showing up alleged Inconsistencies of
the parties he referred to the Democratic
party as the trust busting party and
then applied his remarks TO Chairman
James X. Jones, Senator Clark and BOSS
Ice' Croker and their trust affiliations. He
referred to Colonel Roosevelt as having n
'club" with which he intended to 'crack
somebody's head
The most interesting part of the meeting
was after he had finished speaking and
announced that he was ready TO answer
any and all questions. Presently q. man
spoke up: You say you are here in the
interest of labor Now. then, does not
Bryan stand for the cause of labor? Does
he not represent the laboring man? They
say he is arraying class against class That
il Just what you have been doing and have
a right to do and If it is right for you TO
speak, why is it not right for Bryan also?"
II am not arraying classes" quickly re-
torted the speaker, II am simply trying to
create a better understanding of the wage
slave condition..
The questoner then began to make a
speech himself and answer his own ques-
tions without letting the Socialist do it.
He told how Bryan loved the people, how
his party was fighting trusts, etc, to which
Pepin smilingly listened with his arms
folded. When the Bryan man had finished,
Pepin said: Now / will show you how
much Bryan loves labor. You know the
butcher loves the OK, the hawk loves the
dove"
Hold on there" yelled the questioner,
you're getting away from the questions,
and then he began on another line to divert
the attention of the crowd from the ques-
ton the Socialist started TO define. The
Bryan man wound up by saying that all
the wealthy men We're in the Repubican
party, to which the speaker said: How
about Clark?
The Bryanite said he was all right, and
that Clark had a hope that conditions
would be different. DO you mean TO tell
me-" said Pepin, that you sincerely be-
lieve Senator Clark hopes to see the day
when his trust is confiscated?' The rest of
the argument on this question was lost in
laughter from the crowd Later it became
known that the Bryanite was single
taxer. "Ho no." laughed Pepin. now L
see the delusion into which you have
fallen. You would equalize everything with
land
Yes" said the single-taxer that is the
solution of the labor problem.
o,,I ova1 f1,a nj c1rn
mo, land without the tool" said the
single-taxer.
well, then. will make you this propo-
sition. There are great tracts OF land in
the West undeveloped. Why don't you so
out there and make manufacturing indus
tries, build up mills with magnificent ma
chinery like we have in the East-simply
go out there and make anything you want.
There is plenty OF land"
There was again a loud burst or laughter,
and the single-taxer gave way 20 another.
who said: Now. / want TO ask a question
in all sincerity. You have studied the ques-
ton; you say both parties are robbers, and
tell me which is the bigger robber, the Re-
publican party or the Democratic party?'
well, the bigger robber-or, might say,
the most successful roberts the Repub-
lican party" Then he stopped, and the
single-taxer raised his head as a ray of
hope overspread his countenance. But
the Democratic party, the bust the trust
party is the little, sneaking porch climber
always clamoring for something some
body else has been more successful in get
ting than himself
What, then, is the difference between
the two Individuals asked the IN
quirer.
..,rhe difference is this: The Republicans
have been successful, or If they have not
been they take their medicine, while the
Democrats, who had ar equal show 10
start with are grumbling and kicking be-
cause the other fellow got more than they
did"
This about ended the argument, and with
a few other questions the meeting closed.