The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-02-06
THE SOCIALIST POSITION.
,D1ToR ABERDEEN DEEocRAT:

position presumably Dc0duoe uues viii
not come en- mass and vote the demo-
cratic ticket trusting them to give
us socialism a drop at a time, only so
fast as is absolutely nessessary to keep
them 1.-THE democratsl in power by
holding u votes.
We socialists believe the democrats
as well as the republicans would
make a bungle of our measures be-
cause:
LIST. They do not believe in cooper
alive government, only cooperative
exploiting Of those with less intellect
and opportunities.
2nd. The great majority of them
are elected by spending much time
money and as d selfish business tran
saction, expecting to fill their pockets
and consequently are unsafe TO trust
with socialist laws and measures
among such Hobbies as are common j II
the halls % Congress.
Bird. Judging by the records made
in states where the democrats have
been and are in full control and also
when Cleveland waSin command with
his democratic Congress.
We Socialists don't believe their
promises and platforms are any more
to be depended on than the republi-
cans. and while you are mistaken
about the grea. leap, as you term it,
atlticipated by the socialists, we do
believe it best to elect men to office
on a socialist platform first and then
begin the evolution you refer to. We
are only too glad so acknowledge good
laws passed either by democrats or
republicans but we have decided not
to give our votes for empty campaign
promises. 1t would result the same
as it has where prohibitionists have
succeeded in getting prohibitory laws
passed against the manufacture ard
sale of whisky, and have whisky otfici-
ais TO enforce the laws:-So many
"b,iud-pigs' that many people became
disguised and blamed prohibition
principles.
Fusion killed the populist party and
lost her principles. and Just SO sure as
the socialist party follows the same
course the same results will be at
taiIed. She will give up her princi-
Piles for the sake of placing in Office d
new set of "pie grabbers." The aim
OF the majority of men elected in the
democratic and republican parties is
self at the expense of everyone else.
The same men elected under co-opera-
tive conditions would act with en-
tirely different motives.
Let the democratic party show a
little evolution towards what the
socialists want before they set up to
a1vise US how to vote. There is no
difference between democratic and re-
publican parties to is, their moLi,u is
sell. Their promises are ;iiiJ ny to
get elected, to be evaded and forgotten
after election.
WILFRED BAKER,
Columbia, S. D., Feb. 2, 1903.
The above letter of Mr.. Baker is
given a place of special prominence
in this issue of The DEMOCRAT for at
least two good reasons, one of which
is that Mr.. Baker is a man of coed
judgement, whose opinions are enti-
tied to consideration; and the other
that his letter proves the contention
Of The DEMOCRAT that the man who
joins the socialist party must pledge
himself to oppose every measure to
better the condition of the people
until his party comes into power.
MI. Baker will find himself atvariance
with the socialist party leaders when
he says that the EVOLUTION of the
new order must take place after the
socialist party comes into power.
That is by far too deliberate a process
70 De tolerated for a moment by the
fierce and fervid reyolutionist. MI.
Baker, it is true, is only one of yery
many old time populists who do not
Share with the writer his firm faith.
held for years, in the Inevitable re-
generation of the democratic party.
They have no warrant in believing
that the heretofore least progressive
Of The two great parties must become.
by force OF circumstances, the most
progressive. Yet, certainly, the Demo
cratic party under firm farsighted
leadership will win by something
more than promises, the loyal support
Of the masses who under its banner
nanst win the fight for industrial
freedom.
-