The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-10-03
TALK on SOCIALISM.

Howard j. Caldwell, of Philadelphia,
Defines This Party's Belief, Points
and an Anarchist, and Tells What
the Socialist Would Do to Danish
the Trials of the Workingman and
Give Him More of What He Pro-
duces - Small-Sized Audience in
Academy of Music.
The members of the recently organ
lied Socialistic party in this city gath
cred in the Academy of Music last
night to listen to an address on social
ism and wherein It differs from an
archism, with which 1t is so frequently
associated in the public.
The speaker was Howard j. Cald-
well. of Philadelphia. Mr.. Caldwell is
lecturer, or speaker, under the direc-
tion of the state organization of the
National Socialistic party. He has had
connection with trades unions since
his youth, particularly in Philadelphia
where he was an active worker and
leader in the fight led by the labor
unions of that city. He is also gem
eral organizer of the American Feder-
alton of Labor. He is a powerfully
built man, he is intensely earnest and
would impress one as being a man Of
force in organizations to which he
might attach himself.
Mr.. Caldwell spoke for over an hour
to Il somewhat meagre attendance.
After being introduced by F. C. Hert-
Hog, of the Central Labor union, leader
in this city of the Socialist party, the
speaker dwelt for over an hour on the
definition of socialism, of it's opposition
of belief to anarchy and what the
socialists hope to achieve and how
they propose to reach their ends.
Mr.. Caldwell made a lengthy review
of labor conditions, suggesting and af-
frming that the trials of the working
man, the wage slave" he dubbed him.
We're due to surplus of labor, this
being the consequence of the change
from the domestic system of labor of
years ago to the Commercial" system
of today. Tie trade unions movement
was the effort of the workingmen to
meet this condition of under consump-
tion, caused by the laborer not getting
his share of what he produced. The
aim is to remove the competition of
labor by demanding the shortening of
hours and thus increasing wages. be-
cause of the demand that would be
created for help.
Mr.. Caldwell argued that the "wage
slave was getting but Is per cent. of
what he produced, and that he could
hope for no more while the "com-
mercial' system prevailed. the system
that permits of such enormous profits
for the capitalist, while the laborer is
forced to be content with about one
seventh, according to statistics, of
what he has produced.
Trusts are a good thing, said Mr..
Caldwell, that is if they are public
trusts. trusts in the profits of which
the workingman could share to the
extent to which he has produced them.
This could only be brought about by
the public ownership of all industries,
the steel industry. the mining industry
and the rest. The items of rent, inter-
est, etc, would be thus removed what
they represented would go to the
wage slave who produced the money.
He pointed out the success Of the gov
ernment's ownership and control of the
postal affairs of the country as an eX-
ample of what could be achieved by a
public trust. This he affirmed was the
greatest of trusts; and if citizen
could send a letter to the Klondike for
two cents, the actual cost there was
no reason why under the same system
over industrial concerns the working
man could not have the necessities of
life at cost, and thus get back an
equivalent. or nearly so. of what his
cost produced, instead of IL per cent
as now.
AS proof of the governments sue
cessful management of the postal af-
fairs, he pointed to the fact that of the
millions handled by this department
last year. but two hundred dollars
were unaccounted for, while in one
bank alone the loss yearly might be
thousands of dollars.
Uncle Sam, he continued, is a friend
of labor unions; he recognizes them
and in the government printing office
the men are better paid than else
where and the work produced is got
ten out at cost. There is no deduction
for interest. rent, etc. and conse-
quent loss to the producer. There
would have been no steel strikes or
other strikes had Uncle Sam been in
charge of these industries. and the la
Dor unions would not be crying for re-
roGnition as they are at the present
time. The labor unions, Mr.. Caldwell
insisted. Wer" not in an oppressive
movement but a defensive movement
the outsroWth of necessity to preserve
the Workingman's rights and TO see