The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-10-25

from printing the open charge of his
enemies that he was in this thing for a
graft. etc Neither did it publish his
statement that his associates were in.
competent to do this work, nor his
personal celebrations with the county
officials, aud other complications he has
fallen into over this affair. IL is hard
lines for newspapers 20 be charged with
unfairness by an official whom they
have sought to protect against his own
folly.
So far as the Marion county officials
are concerned, or the present admins
tration Of county affairs it needs no de-
fcnse as whole. Individual ollic als
may have done things that are censur-
able. 1t would be strange il it were per-
feet in every detail, but as a whole it
will beai comparison with any few years
OF county government ever given to the
people of any county. 1t is a model of
good business management for other
/ counties, and for the whole state. IL has
put the county where it has not been
financially for many years, and for
about elk months Of the time these
county officials did not have the benefit
Of Mr.. Scott's personal co operation.
As young man, he should be willing to
cooperate with an administration that
has made such a record.
= 4 z
THE JOURNAL gives space for another
letter from John Robertson, who writes
from the headquarters and free reading
room of the Socialist Labor Party at
San Francisco. lie is a leader of the
above political propaganda which was
presented with great ability at Salem by
Rev. J. Stitt Wilson, formerly a Meth
odilt minister of the Rock River con-
ference. These gentlemen seek to build
up political party to accomplish what
they are pleased to term the emancipa-
tion OF the working class from the ,
economic despotism of the
capitalist class, "to relieve the workers
from cruel exploitation and wage
slavery" In thiu profession those !
propagaudists are perfectly honest and
sincere, or at least as much so as others
who are building mp political party for ,
a distinct purpose. The Socialist Party ,
says 70 the laboring man: "Vote for the ,
right to produce and to own what you
produce" That flatters the unthinking
who do not go beneath the surface. They
say to the city laborer abolish labor
saving machinery or own it yourselves
But the farmer who owns his labor saw
ing machinery and gets all the product
OF his labor is not moved by this appeal.
The professional rant about wage.
slaves is more of mouth habit than
anything else. Nine times out of ten
the one who works for wages sleeps bet
tel, lives longer and has less responsi
bility than the man who has TO meet
the payroll. Large bonuses are raised !
to put industries on their feet, and then /,
with the best management are able to !
pay their employees. They have to en-
counter competition, industrial depres'
sions, financial panics, and the ups and
downs Of the law of supply and
demand. On top Of all this, the capital !
lists are called blood suckers, slave !
drivers and liars-by the unthinkihg. !
Mr.. Robertson, like many others, is a
professional agitator and as such he fills |
a place in the divine purpose Of social ,
evolution. The JOURNAL is not be.
levet in denouncing capitalists or any
class Of citizens. The socialists have a