The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-13
SPEECH OF A SOCIALIST
FRED G. STRICKLAND DISCUSSES
THE COAL STRIKE.
The Subject OF His Talk Was ''The
Trusts and the Labor Problem"
Views Advanced.

Fred G.. Strickland, organizer Of the So
cialist party In Ohio. delivered an address
In Masonic Hail yesterday afternoon on
'"The Trusts and the Labor Problem" AL
though he made several direct illusions to
the economical features of his subject, he
devoted much Of his time to discussing
the coal strike. At the conclusion OF his
address he made an appeal to the audience
for aid for the miners. Now / want
testimonial of what we stand for by each
of you going down into your pockets, he
said. "I see many Of you are wearing black
clothes and white collars; you look pretty
good. Say, brothers, let's divide up" Fol-
lowing this statement there was jingling
OF coins and a total of SIS was dropped
into the hats that were passed.
up TO a little while ago." said he, $50
ciaists were called cranks; yes, little
while ago. we might say six months ago.
Fifty years ago and even later Socialists
were called Anarchists. But II is not so
now. 1t is clear to every one that the
present system OF commercialism is in its
last stage and that private ownership must
give way to collective ownership and ad-
ministration. The prophecies of Karl Marx
are being fulfilled. We don't need to prove
that there will be trusts. for the trust is
here now. Its advent has caused chaotic
movement in politics that to-day the
Socialist Is about the only man who can
keep talking continuously and not be in
terrupted. The Socialist no longer has to
do the teaching. The other man Is now
doing the figuring and demonstrating. j.
P. Morgan has actually condescended to
allow an emissary from the President of
the United States to enter his yacht TO
talk over a labor contest. Morgan Is a
smart man, he is intelligent and Is fully
able in his way to make the demonstration
the Socialists desire.
DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE EAST.
"Such conferences as are now taking
place in the East are demonstrations. You
may ask: When do you expect to install
socialism? We answer: we don't know.
No man knows how and when socialism
will be installed, but we do know what
will be the fruit. If you will tell me wher
the Morgans and the Rockefellers and the
Vanderbilts give up, then Eli tell you wher
socialism will begin; as to how, that de-
ponds on what immediate remedies are re.
quired. What we are trying to do now is
to get the minds of wOrkingmen ready
so that when 1t is thrust upon them they
sentiment embitter you. We don't neeC
TO get bitter, we don't need to drive. Lei
the man with the whip do the driving.
"Of course / am revolutionist, but no
of the tea-chest kind. You know abou
our forefathers dressing themselves up a:
Indians, boarding the ships that lay IN
Boston harbOr, breaking open the chest.
of tea and pouring Ii into the sea. Tha
was all very well for the Boston tea party
times, but times have changed, and with
Ii methods. l don't want you to go on
WIT a Il ~
ballot. / don't want you to resort to an,
other power, because the ballot Is the mos
effective. Why, If men were to take VI
arms we would soon shoot each other of
the face of the earth. What do want is
change, a change of minds of men,
change that will indorse and revolutioniz
| government.
I'VE don't need to write imaginary storie
now. On the east coast Of America a grea
scene is being enacted. There are mel
there who have not the moral sense t
| know when they have had enough Nor
| gan holds little piece of paper. which i
the key to the great fuel supply of thi
country, and he put 1t in his pocket whel
he went across the pond, there to buy vi
| great transcontinental steamship lines ii
order that the people of the world Nigh
course, there is nothing to arbitrate witt
| the key in his pocket. Now he has re
turned with the key still lin his pocket. an
| when he goes out walking the coal mine
| go out walking with him.
THE SITUATION POCKETED.
| I'm other words. he has pocketed tn
situation. II the President wants to sen
an emissary to see him. he must seek hir
out and be told, I have right to sa
who shall rule me- The President sum
mons the coal magnates and representa-
tives Of the miners before him. MI
Mitchell says he is willing to have tn
miners return to work and leave the mel
| it's of their grievances with the Presider
| or a board of arbitration appointed b
| him. The operators come in and say, M
| President, we recognize that you reoueste
| US to not present sides in this matter I
| you, but We will give you our side any
way. We understand, Mr. President, whs
| your duty is and we wish to impress
| upon you Now comes Baer, God & G,
Qaughter). and ordered that the contest /
i settled by sending United States troor
into the strike region and forcing the mir
ers to work. / believe the firm would
| better of If Mr.. Baer withdrew
What the outcome of this strike will
/ cannot say. We who are called Radical
rag-chewers, Anarchists, or any 9th,
name that is handy; who are made III
targets of abuse, as was Mr. Mitchell h
the mine operators, will, IL the cras
comes, be the men hanging on to n
brakes trying to hold humanity down
fear socialism Is coming too fast We 4
not want a vote for socialism from a ma
simply to show his discomfort and pr,
test We want him to know that ha