The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-10-02

tended that all should divide evenly
Mr.. Thayer replied that this was not
the intention, as the cooperative system
would prevail, and the government would
own the wealth.
Prof. U. 0. Cox asked how it was pro
posed to get upon the other basis.
Mr.. Thayer said that there was no cut
and dried plan, The Socialists would
first capture the United States govern
ment and the whole world, and when
they got the whole thing it would be
time enough to prepare way to adopt
the new order of things. There would
be plenty of good men who love God and
who would plan how to make the change
There is no use in talking about how
to do it until we get the power. That
is what we are after, and that is what
we are going to GET declared the speak
er.
Replying to question from Fl. A
Patterson, Mr.. Thayer said that man
should not take rent from the ground
who owns the land is an extortioner and
cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
w w. Smith asked what remunera-
ton men would be offered for progress
sive ideas, if the world was going to con-
tinune to progress.
Mr. Thayer, in reply, asked what was
the incentive today that makes men
work hard to invent things or help man
kind. Is it for his own benefit or for
others? If it is for himself, is he not
covetous? Have the greatest benefac-
tors the world ever saw done it for re-
muneration? Socialism does not pro-
pose that man shall not be paid. 1t
believes that every man should be paid
according to what he does. 1t will be
to his own interest to invent something
or to in some other way advance man
kind, as he would share in that advance.
Mr.. Currier asked who was to decide
what the remuneration should be.
but that it would represent time
spent in the production of any article.
Prof. Cox asked whether this would
not be an inducement to laziness, that
men might get pay for more time.
Mr.. Thayer explained that it was pro-
posed to allow for the average time re-
quired to produce the article.
Prof. Cox asked whether it would not
result in that case that some people
would have more money than Others,
the same as now.
Mr. Thayer said that there would be
no income from interest, rent or profit.
A man could have all of the private prop
erty that he could buy, but he could
not spend his money for anything that
would breed more property and income.
Rev. f. E. R. Miller asked for a def
milton of what a Christian is, as the
whole matter in his opinion rested upon
that. The debate had drifted away from
the subject.
Mr.. Thayer said that Christian is one
who believes and follows Christ. This
was the definition that the dictionaries
gives The Book tells us that if we be-
lieve in Christ we shall be saved.
Mr.. Miller referred to the story of
the prodigal son, even in his wanderings,
was still the son of his father. The
question is one whether, the child shall
be thrown out because he is unloving.
There are thousands of men in the Unit
ed States and hundreds in Mankato who
are doing business according to Christ's
teachings as they look. upon it. Gods
spirit is in our hearts to develop~and will
develop according as the hindrance is.
Mr.. Miller said that he believed that the
question resolves itself to one of individ-
ual Interpretation of Christ's law.
Mr.. Thayer asked who gives any man
the right to interpret the Scriptures.
E. L. Patterson moved that adjourn
ment be taken, and this was carried.
Many of the audience had already de-
ma rted