The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-29
HOW TO UPLIFT THE RACE.
w. r. Stokes Advances New Plan
to the Socialists.

w. r.. Stokes Advances New Plan
to the Socialists.
The regular Sunday meeting of Section
ST.. Paul. of the Socialist Labor party.
was addressed yesterday afternoon at
Assembly hall by W. r. Stokes. Els
subject was Human Functions: Indus
trial-Economic." The speaker is not a
socialist. He has a plan for the better,
ment Of the human race. however, close
ly allied to socialism. 1t consists in the
subdivision of all the land in the vari-
Gus states into homesteads for the pee-
pie.
Mr.. Stokes said that he approached
the subject of his discourse under a
great sense of encouragement. Society
was divided into two classes, but, re-
CARELESS of this fact, nine-tenths Of the
people were wholly unconcerned as to
existing economic conditions. There ap
peared to be no favorable outlook for
their getting together. The other one
tenth were trying to do something in
the way of progress. Even they were
divided into different schools of thought.
They were socialists, anarchists, COM
munists and single takers.
There were, or had been two resources
open to mankind. One was natural, the
other artificial. Natural resources con
sisted in land: artificial in employment
by owners of land. Some thought that
a man had a right to choose his vocation
and also a right to be employed by 9TH
ers at that special vocation. For one,
the speaker denied this latter claim Of
right He did not believe that any man
was in duty bound to employ another
But every man was in duty bound to
provide for himself, If capable Of SO
doing. Now, then, what must then nee.
~essarily be the existing condition? A
man must have an opportunity to provide
for himself. What was involved In this
right? First, we must consider natural
environments. No man can do better
for himself than by availing himself Of
natura, resources. lie cannot find them
but in his immediate locality. He CAN
not step up or down or laterally.
Now when a man. has acquired of these
natural resources, land, more than ha
can work HIMSELF he them employs 9TH
ers to help him. This work is classed IS
artificial resources. If he can avail him.
self of another mans labor, he hires
HIM If he cannot. he is under no obli-
cations to do So But when natural re-
sources cease, artificial resources cease
also Is this not true in this country
and in Europe?
CA voice, "No.")
Some one says no. Perhaps 1 am uu-
Stokes ut was my impression that
there was want and misery in the world
Common repute is to the effect that there
are many who cannot find employment
wherewith to support themselves and
families / am told that there are many
people who cannot secure natural OR ar.
tificial resources. hope am mistaken.
But we will assume that there are such
people in the world. What are the COLI
sequences of this loss? Want. BY deduc.
ton we arrive at the conclusion that the
loss of natural resources has made
corresponding loss of artificial resources.
IF we supply the former We renew the
latter.
..From 1888, at the time this govern
n,ent was formed, down to 1883 100 years.
there existed favorable opportunities for
people of all classes. In that 100 years
there was the greatest progress and most
intense struggle ever seen in the world.
Men had an opportunity to provide rot
their present and future wants me
changing Of public. lands into private
hands came to a close, practically, in
1892 Then trampism developed. The
year following we had a panic. That
which had been giving artificial resources
to the unemployed came to close
The remedy suggested for this condl,
ton Mr.. Stokes outlined as follows2 ile
would have the state legislatures of all
the states pass laws authorizing the d.
viding up of all the land into equal por-
lions, the number of acres he did not
mention, which lands should be thrown
open to homestead entry. This work
would be done by commissioner. An.
other commission would appraise the
value Of the lands taken and pay the
present owners. Then the natural re-
sources would be restored to the people,
and the restoration would revive the ar
tificial resources employment.
D. A. Potter, an advanced socialist.
replied to Mr.. Stokes. He said that as
legislatures were now constituted it
would be impossible to secure the pass
age Of such a BILL And, were 1t possible
to do so, there would be then a demand
unsupplied, for tools and machinery with
which to work the land. On the other
hand, socialism proposed to take all the
land and all the machinery, and give to
every man the full worth of his days