The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-31
THIS IS WHAT THEY BELIEVE.

Seattle, Jan. 30, 1900.
TO the Editor The editorial on the
Socialist Labor Platform In yester-
days Observation-Disclosures contains some
statements that are unjust to the So
oialist labor party and attribute to the
Democratic party more virtues than 1t
possesses. You state that the platform
adopted by the Socialist labor party in
Seattle Is European in construction and
sentiment" and without the slightest
application to any condition whic hexists
application to any condition which exists
In this country two classes with opposing
interests, viz, the capitalist class. owning
the machinery of production, railroads,
factories. mills mines. etc.. and work
ing class, owning nothing but It's labor
power. which II Is forced to sell to the
owners of the machinery and for which
1t receives price called wages; II this
Is not TRUE. then the Socialist labor party
platform is worse than foreign, 1t Is fool
ish. The United States census reports
OF 1890 show that 81 per cent. Of the peo-
pie (wage workers. own AZ per cent. OF
the wealth-not capital but kitchen fur
niture, clothing. etc.: that 8 per cent.
own II per cent.-capital railroads, tele-
graph lines. factories, bonanza farms.
department stores. copper. gold, silver
and coal mines. II these reports are re-
liable, then there IS a capitalist class
and a propertyless wage-working class.
We claim that this condition of things
produces an irrepressible class struggle
About 10 per cent. Of the wealth Is owned
by the middle class who comprised, In
1890, 80 per cent. Of the population Their
wealth consists Of small farms. small
stores. out-of-date machinery, ETC., and
their politics Is of the free silver. trust
smashing type. essentially noisy, foolish
and reactionary. They want city owner
ship SO as to reduce their taxes; to smash
the trust so as they can fleece the work.
ers in Its stead; free silver, so as to pay
their debts In cheap dollars. This class
is a division of the capitalist class,
whom the more powerful per cent. are
rapidly crushing out of existence. Be-
tween this middle class and the Socialist
labor party there Is no affinity. We
know that their struggle is hopeless and
we long for the day when they will have
sense enough to get out OF our way and
allow us to grapple with the party Of the
powerful capitalist class, the right wing
of the capitalist army, the Republican
party.
To say as you do that every man
who has acquired a home or lot on
which to build home Is capt.
talist" savors very strongly of the infant
economies Of Henry George or Gene
Way. Capital is wealth produced by hui
man labor, used in producing more
wealth, privately owned and able to COM
pete. A capitalist Is one who owns capt.
tai. do not care to discuss the possi-
bility OF wage workers becoming inde-
pendent. as that would take too much of
your valuable space. If you will kindly
allow me at some future time l would be
glad to do so.
The Socialist labor platform was writ
ten, voted on section by section and
adopted by American citizens and elect
ors: we mean to enforce every provision
- - f,f1 mr. nj ~
of property" Foreigners nor freaks.
AS the party of the working class we op-
pose the Democratic, Republican, Popu-
list. Citizen any and every party. but the
Socialist labor party. Yours for fair
fight, u. 8. DALTON.