Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-04-23
A DEBATE ON SOCIALISM
Orators Meet In Wordy Contest at
Opera House Saturday.

the opera house on Saturday evening
to listen to the debate ON socialism
between the socialist orator, NJ. W.
wilkins of Lorin, Cal, and r. G..
Smith and A. @. Hough of Grants
Pass. ]. W. Ingle, the socialist
candidate for congress, was also pres
ent, but Mrs. @. b. Harritt, the lady
speaker for the socialists, did not ap-
pear as expected. Marcus W. Robbins
officiated as chairman for the evening
and introduced the speakers
Prior to the debate, the candidate,
]. w. Ingle, was presented to the
audience for the purpose, as he ex-
planned, of allowing the voters to see
what kind what of man they were
going to vote for in the Jnue election.
Mr., Ingle spoke for some 10 minutes.
He believes in woman suffrage and
that the feminine sex are a down.
trodden class of creatures. He thinks
that the solution Of the liquor evil
is for the government to furnish
liquor to the consumers at cost. We
should then get good whiskey at least.
He stated, however, that he himself
was not consumer of liquor, neither
of tobacco, and asked if that was not
q pretty good kind Of man to send to
congress He dwelt somewhat ON the
unfortunate condition Of the working
classes and told a story of Dutchman
and his dog as illustrative of his
argument.
Mr.. Robbins then introduced the
socialist speaker as Hon. NJ. W.
wilkins, This brought forth protest
from Mr.. wilkins, who insisted that
the "Hon' be left Off. Too many
men, he said, went around with
Hon. tackled to their names who
ought to wes "Dis. " before the
"ITon. Mr. wilkins is forcible
and rather oombative speaker, with n
good voice and an easy delivery. He
talked against time and far too rapid
ly to be effective. He dwelt mainly
ON the evils Of the present industrial
systom and declared that the wage
worker was IA wage slave. He ad-
vocated the socialistic remedy but
failed to explain either the manner of
its application or of its operation.
70 those who expected to bo onlight-
ened on the subject of socialism, his
speech was a disappointment.
r. G. Smith then took the floor to
speak from the democratic standpoint.
Mr.. Smith believes in socialism
ultimately but not in the present
socialist party, and does not think the
socialistio system practicable under the
present conditions. He thinks the
competitive instinct is part of
human nature and not to be eradicated
by mere change in the system of gov
ernment He criticised the socialists
for not advancing specific remedies
for the evils which they decry and
asked Mr. wilkins TO explain the pro-
posed methods of introducing the
system, particularly as to the manner
in which the government would gain
control Of the railroads, telegraphs
and like utilities. lncidently, Mr..
Smith took the opportunity of throw
ing shot or two into the republican
camp and criticised the tariff and
republicanism in general Mr.. Smith
made very able speech, full Of keen
and penetrative points.
In his reply, Mr.. wilkins devoted
some time to ridiculing the presumed
incongruity Of Mr. Smiths position
as believing in socialism and yet
opposing the socialists. He expressed
keen disgust at the arguments brought
TO bear against him, stating that he
had heard them over and over again
in more than 20 debates and he wished
they would bring up something new.
To illustrate this disgust, he marred
his speech with coarsely proiane
story which was an atfront to the
refinement Of the audience. AS Mr.
wilkins closed his speech, he was
reminded by Mr.. Smith that he had
not made the requested explanation.
Mr. wilkins regretted having forgot
ten It and was granted further time to
90 ahead aud make the explanation
lie said there were many details yet
to bo arranged and probably the
change would be gradual. He thought
the owners Of the railroads and similar
institutions would probably receive a
reasonable compensation for their
property. Very little light was shed
on the subject by his remarks.
Mr. IIough spoke very briefly from
the republican. standpoint and made
short defense Of the tariff and OF
repubicanism in reply to the attacks
Of Mr. Smith. In regard TO socialism,
ho considered it thoroughly i'm
practicable in present day conditions.
If all men were honest, it might
work. He made plea for indiyidu.
alism and thought man should have
the right Of improving his opportuni.
ties for his own advancement.
In his closing remarks, Mr.. wilkins
respected the patience Of the audienc,
and made his speech brief
County TreosureT's Notice
There are funds in the treasury tc
pay all warrants protested to January
9Th, 1891.
Interest will cease from this date
! April 22d. 1903