Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-26
A STRONG SPEECH
A. M. Dewey Talks on the Social
istic Scheme.
PRESENTS A GREAT MANY NEW IDEAS
The Government Agent Tells an Of
tumwa Audience About the Bene-
fits of Socialism and the Good it
Can do in the World.

Can do in the World.
[From Thursdays Daily.l
One of the most interesting ad-
dresses ever heard in Ottumwa, prob
ably in some degree because of the
subject treated. and also owing to the
manner in which it was handled, was
the lecture given last evening in the
council chamber of the city hall by
Adelbert NJ. Dewey, of Washington,
d. c., special agent of the national bu-
reau of labor, who was in the city on
official business yesterday.
Spoke on Socialism.
Mr.. Dewey is Socialist man who
believes in this doctrine as the only
sensible solution for the labor ques-
ton, and he takes occasion when offer
ed, to explain his views on this mat
ter. He is sincere in all he says, tho
he is not of the ranting class which
works against the interest it processes
to up hold. He is thoroly sane, SEN
Sible man, able to see the force of an
argument, and prepared with argu-
ments to make good his assertions as
teal questions of the day.
The SUBJECT
The subject selected for last even
ings address was "a Scientific Solu-
tion of the Labor Question" DR.. N.
A. Baker, of this city, acted as chair
man for the evening. The attendance
was small, but was very creditable,
nci1 nrin bn hat hn N O
was not announced until yesterday,
that it was advertised only meagerly
then, and that the weather was very
unfavorable. Those who were pres
ent, however, heard strong speech,
which carried with the words an idea
that the speaker meant every syllable
he uttered
The speaker began by saying that
il it had been Sunday evening on
which he was speaking, he would have
taken for his text a passage from the
book of Genesis, "In the sweat of thy
face thou shalt eat bread" He pref
aced his remarks by the statement
that, ever since the creation of
the world, an attempt has been
made by the few to enslave the
many; and that, whether in the reign
of Solomon in Judea Or the admins
tration of Mckinley in the United
States, the result had always been the
same. He denied that he is a pessi
mist but declared himself an optimist
of most pronounced type, saying that
he has the fullest confidence in the
ability of the American people to dc
what is right in the matter of sell
Z government.
A Great Problem.
"The industrial problem" said the
speaker sis the greatest question q
x the age; the greatest because with it,
solution would come the solution of a.!
i other problems. We are living in the
most remarkable age in the history O
the world. 1t is the electric age, the
age of inventive genius The las
century has witnessed the most won
derfIl progress in mechanics, the sci
ences, literature and art. In ever,
department of human endeavor thu
possibilities for enjoyment and ad
vancement to a higher civilization
have been multiplied many fold ant
yet, under the spur of commercial &C
tivity, there has been constant ten
dency to SO manipulate all thes
blessings as to enrich the few, Will,
the many are still in want and dark
: ness"
Progress of the Times.
Mr.. Dewey then briefly reviewed tn
changes in methods of industry whicl
have come to the people of the Unite
States during the last one hundre
years. Machinery was declared to b
a gift from the Creator for the use Q
man, and was never intended to b
used as is oppressor. AS the worl
progressed, and the need for the cor
troll of the elements and resources @
nature became pressing, it was the
that an all-wise Providence put int
the brain of man to invent that, o
discover this, which should be of sci
vice to humanity. But the clearly ev
dent will of the Supreme Maste
j Workman of the universe has beel
SsubVerted by man for his private gair
AS they were demanded by the ex
gancies of their time, there were re
cefyed by society from Fulton, tn
8 steamboat; from Stevenson, the Loco
motive, from Morse the telegraph
from Edison, a myriad of wonderfr
electrical devices, from Howe the sew
ing machine, from Walters, the web
printing press, and, in their order, a
necessity required, came the cotto
gin, the power loom, the rotary engin
and pump, the screw propeller, tn
roller and stamp mills, and the thous
and and one other devices to do tn
will of man. and to promote the we
fare of the human race
The Man With the Hoe.
But" said the speaker, chow fare
the man with the hoe the toiler, tn
producer of all wealth, in the mids
of all this wonderful progress in sc
ence and invention? AS we conten
plate the uses made of modern appl
ances, not only to the exclusive ben
fit of the few, but to ensla7e the man,
S&NJiJA.NIG.NNJlG.g.NI gNJNIG-N,AIlG.yNJNnG.!N,