Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-03-29
THE SECOND
The Competitive System Analysed and
Impeached by Mr.. Wilson,


Rev. j. Stitt Wilson delivered the
second address on socialism last night
at Colombo hall. The house was pack.
ed to the doors. His theme was, 1.-THE
Competitive System Analysed and I'm.
~peached."
In opening he reviewed the points
of the previous evenings address, es.
pecially pointing out that in the evo.
lutionary process man, by virtue of his
intelligence, has the power to change
modify, reform or revolutionize any
social or industrial conditions that are
not conducive to the highest human
welfare.
GAS socialists. then" said the speak
er. we contend that the present com
petitive system. when analysed to its
foundations. is found to be unjust in
its basis. %unchristian in its operation
and positively inhuman and criminal
in it's results and its inevitable out
come. Therefore it is our business as
intelligent men and women to abolish
It. to overthrow it. and to establish in
its place a social system based on JUS
tice and adapted to an age of mighty
machinery aud practical brotherhood"
Mr.. Wilson then proceeded to show
iiht lOui tbcthtidl titLiChto vi lut Jim
petitive system as follows:
/. Under the present system-or
struggle for existence as now organic
ed-every man must seek his own in
dividual welfare, push his own bust
ness, and seek to extend it. hold his
own joD against all competitors.
2. And every thing by which all of
us live is open to the limitless private
axrrpnrchin nf INV man or urnfn of
men. and trusts, monopolies or combin-
ations. which have the business ability
to secure them under the lawful meth
DDS of trade or business.
8. In the struggle for existence, the
struggling m%ultitudes show vast in
qualities in their industrial and finan-
cial ability. Psychologists have proved
that about 80 per cent of the people
have an average capacity for labor,
industry and getting a living. Only
about 2 per cent are geniuses in any
respect. Only about 2 per cent possess
unusual ability as financiers.
4. Now the whole struggle may be
compared to a huge game, played for
bread and for life by man of vastly
differing powers. by women also. and
even the little children. And since
GNt1ltulnS 10 opth " II v o"h
ership of the best player, n since
only about 2 per cent are expert play
ers, it inevitably follows that the 2 per
cent eventually become the owners. or
ganizers, and controllers, of the mean
by which the rest live. The game of
the competitive struggle is now almost
played. Already 10 per cen of the
people control more than all the rest,
while 40. 900, 900 of the people are prop
ertyless in the census meaning of that
term. Thus the capitalist class are the
private owners of the means of liveli-
hood, while the producing classes must
work when the capitalist class permit
them. and at what they offer them,
and then in turn the producing classes
must buy back the stuff their own
hands made, at trust ana combination
prices. Thus labor is robbed of it's
produce both as producer and consum-
err. Is it any wonder. in such a game,
that 1000 ~millionaires in the east now
control SO, 900. 900, 900 of the organized
capital of America? Is it any wonder
that the working classes. the producers
of America. the vast army of the com
mon peaple are waking up to ask them.
selves whether this competitive game
Is a huge tragedy or not. based on fun.
damental injustice. and ending up in
vast social oppression of the weak by
the strong?
Mr.. Wilson will complete his argu-
ment tonight. and show how socialism
will solve the problem.