The Delta independent., 1903-07-03
DEFENSE OF SOCIALISM

OF some ability and no doubt the article
will prove OF interest to those who be-
Iieve in the Socialistic doctrine.
A reply was published in the News to
MIR. Miller's article which we will re-
produce next wrek.
The discussion in The News regarding
Socialism and it's adoption by the West
Urn Federation Of Miners and the Ameri.
can Labor union as political program
has called forth many expressions Of
opinion. AS private in the ranks Of
organized labor. / desire to state a
workingman's position.
The question Of party affiliatioh is one
Of expediency. Our right to support
the party Of our choice is not to be
questioned. A declaration OF adherence
to the principles Of a party b, a union
signifies that in the opinion Of the men,
bership the principles Of that party will
do most to promote the interest Of the
membership and that education to be
directed to that end.
The well wisher Of his kind need not
fear the wider education OF the workers
in the principles which underlie society
and his relations to it. History dates a
new epoch with every advance.
To secure to lis membership the full
product of their toll is the goal set by
tho Western Federation Of Miners. The
right Of the individual to the fruit OF his
effort lies ut the foundation OF the right
Of property. The highest incentive to
effort 10 given when that right is secure
He who needs moro 10 arouse his jaded
energies ought not to be counted in with
the respectable class; he Who 10 satisfied
with lees Is not man.
But the workers cannot secure the
full product OF their toll % long - the
land and mschioes are owned privately.
In other words, the private ownership
Of the means Of production givss to the
o sper the power 10 take from the work
er all but subsistenc snd thus violstes
the very principle upon which the insti-
tuition os property il founded.
The worker u is . dilemma. He must
choose bstveen perpetually, surrender +.
ing part OF what he produces OF take
foe society the land. which may bs pre-
sumed to b the hesilsgs of Ill. and the
machines which his osn labor has
created. Viewed in the light Of his own
interests, he ought to be able to make
the choice without any great exertion.
From the standpoint Of justice but little
eau be claimed for . system that can
only exist through, tho perpetual contri
buttons Of the WORKERS and their epdur-
snce OF such sufferings ss the sturted
body. the dwaried mind. the empty
life. Every thoroughfare is eloquent
with their tragedy.
Under the present system there can
be no relief. and to be candid. we are
not seeking it. Our ambition is wider.
We would not simply make life endur.
able: we would make it enjoyable.
Tho wage system is in conflict with the
further development OF society. II can.
not find nor make an adequate market
for its products. Itcannot give employ
men, to all the people under it. Itgives
90 security Of support to its victims in
old age or accident-more cruel than
slavery or serfdom in this. 1t is based
upon law as dire in its import to the
workers in this life as the legend which
Dante read over the portals OF the infer
nal regions: Abandon hope. all yc who
enter here" is to the future.
The Law is: THAT wages always tend
toward the lowest sum that will enable
the laborcr to subsist and reproduce his
kind" That is the Law which our civ
iliziStiou has written over the entrance
TO every shop and mill and mine. You
need not visit foreign lands to witness
it's effects; you need only to look around
you. The full strength OF the unions
eau only partially reetrain its brutal
operation. Citizen's alliances are formed
to hasten its action.
And what can be said for the old
parties whose solicitude Tor our welfare
is only exceeded by their desire to ill
ofiices! II their performances had been
equal to their promisee, separate politi-
cal action would ut least have been long
delayed. but the performance has been
left to tho militia 20 frequently that the
statute book has seldom been reached.
The eight.hour law 10 In evidence. The
calling out OF the militia at Colorado
City 10 rcleveut. Cleveland ignored the
rights Of . state that he might destroy
the A. r. U. Our president dispenses
advice aud riot cartridges; the one to be
used by us, the other on us.
Judges OF both political parties are
taking lessons from recent English do.
cisions and mulctiug unions 10 cases Of
boycotts aud strikes. Independent
action Is the price Of self preservation.
Socialists do not expect the dominant
political parties to mako promises to
them. But tho Socialists do. expert
them to make promises to the working
men which will be kept In the same old
way. II they should stop making prom.
isss Ne should b NO worss od. Il they
should b perfectly candid once and tell
The workiusmsn just what thsy intended
70 do. soclslssn would receive . mighty
impulse.
The ohieotions 70 Socislisu srs lions