Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-26
mercialism was the evil-socialism the
Competition,

mercialism was the Socialism the
remedy.
Competition.
Mr.. Dewey then proceeded to ex-
plain to his hearers in what was the
proposed new plan for the production
and distribution of the products of la
Dor would operate for the common
good. He declared that the COMPETE
tive system was running nearly every
one engaged in it, from the capitalist
who invests his money to the man
who performs the labor, and that all
We're equally interested in making a
change. All the higher ideals OF life
are now being subordinated to the
greed for gold. He did not blame the
individual but held that it was the
duty of all good citizens to assist in
bringing about better condition Of
things
.tThe competitive system he said,
arrays every man against his fellow
man in the scheme of life There
seems to be no place for the Golden
Rule of our fathers. Competition pro-
notes selfishness and deceit. and de-
stroys the best elements of our ma
courages the employment of cheap
labor in mine or factory, and drives
thousands of good girls from the store
or workshop to the beer halls in the
cities. to become mattresses, or some
thing worse, in their efforts to keep
soul and body together And in that
last day. wher the Supreme Master
Workman of the Universe shall come
To ind ln n,iply thn vln
shall be held responsible for the sin
and degradation in the world? Will
not those who uphold system which
makes sin natural condition have a
place in that last Judgment" Mr..
Dewey here told touching story Of
the downfall of a pretty girl in the
city of San Francisco one year ago
and declared that the individual en-
ployers and corporations employing
labor were much to be blamed for
such conditions all over the country.
Manner of Introduction.
Asked how the new industrial sys-
TEN could be introduced without great
disturbance to social order, Mr. Dew
ey explained that we were already, as
ia people, socializing everything The
postoffice, the public schools, the free
roads and bridges, police and fire de-
partments, We're all cited as proving
thao socialism was a good thing. The
first step would probably be along the
lines of least resistance. and public
utilities, one after another would be
taken over by the people. Those in
Idustries most necessary to the public
welfare would come next and so on,
until all industries would be social
lied. State supervision was declared
to be but short step from state own
ership. And state supervision is al
ready in vogue.
Economic Slavery.
Grant every other reform sought
today" said Mr.. Dewey, land leave
the competitive system of industry,
and the people will still be in econoIl-
ic slavery. The cry against the trusts
lis all folly. They are the only people
who have had the good sense to elm
| mate wasted energy from the plan of
production and distribution. The de.
lrartment store does the same thing
and is the labor saving machine OF
commerce. And, too. these are teal
ing the people lessons which they
must learn if they would be truly
wise. Stop wasting energy and use it
Eprcductively, and thus add to The
store of human happiness.
System Pleads Own Cause.
/ Once show the people that the co
Operative system will promote the
cause of humanity; that it will stol
Istrikes and lockouts by removing the
causes for such disturbances; that il
will lessen The criminal forces by re
moving the incentive to crime; that il
Twill close the saloon and brothel BIZ
Treating within the individual high
or respect Tor himself, thus promot
ling temperance and morality; that i
will make of every man a better citi
lZen, and Of every citizen a better
man, and I believe there are few PEG
Iple who would not assist in an effor
to bring about the desired change
Under the spur of selfish interest thu
liberties of the common people ar,
fast disappearing. 1t was Lord Byrol
who said: "a thousand years scarc'
serve to form a state; an hour ma.
lay it in the dust 1t should be tn,
duty of every good citizen to do hi
part to avert such an ending for tn
fairest republic on earth. ! woult
save the nation, and the nations pee
pie from disaster, and would do tina
too, beneath the sheltering folds o
our own emblem of civil and relig
ious liberty, the Stars and Stripes"
Vision of Victory.
, Mr.. Dewey closed his address wit
, what he called "a vision of victory,
{ in which it was predicted that tn
farmers, mechanics, and business me
assisted by the women, who were il
possession of the ballot, would do bal
: tie with those upholding the compel
, tive system, and would overthrow
{ them, and establish the co-operativ
, commonwealth. The first were con
, manded by Generals Humanity, jul:
, tice, Equality, Industry and Thrift,
! and used argument as weapon, an
! the ballot as ammunition. The latte
were pictured as commanded by "GeI
, erals Greed Avarice, Cunning, Bril-
; cry and Corruption" their weapons
, intimidation, coercion and oppre
: sion;" their ammunition, abuse, slal
der, falsehood, deceit"
Y UNiONiSM HAS WON.
g