The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1904-10-21
1 T,,, Associate Editor
TOR watson ana lIDDleS... Nebraska Independent
Nebraska Independent

say. but it can easily be imagined that
they would rise up as one man and say,
GA. Atlas, give us back the earth.
Now. this. asert is typical of this
earth and it's institutions today. Land
monopoly has capital and labor by the
monopoly that lies at the bottom OF
every human curse. 1t is this system
that affords opportunity to few to
hold the many in subjection. 1t is this
between capital and labor as well as
between nations. 1t is this crime OF
crimes that establishes contests be-
tween starving men for chance TO
toll, pulling down wages to the very
cotton poi,.t. 1t is the recognition of
this helplessness of laborers to relieve
themselves in any other way that
forces them into labor unions and the
like. Every time you pay rent to any
private person for the mere use of any
spot OF this earth, your wealth is being
confiscated, and you are paying tribute
to land monopoly. And every time you
pay taxes upon the products OF your
toll. either directly, as when you step
you are forced to pay the same tax
with interest when you buy a suit of
clothes or eat a mouthful of food. you
are paying further tribute to land mo-
nopoly.
So at bottom it is land monopoly
against which we are really at war,
whether We realize it or not. And l
desire to ask any intelligent thinking
man whether he seriously believes that
the powerful interests OF this land;
whose base is in land monopoly. would
be contributing hundreds of thousands
and millions OF dollars to the election
of both Roosevelt and Parker. if they
thought that either of these candidates
would jeopardize their graft? Have
these interests ever in any age OF the
world honestly endeavored in any way
to establish system of society that
would afford all men an equal op-
liberty or happiness? The Rcckefellers
and Morgans, the Belmonts and money
sharks are not contributing to the
election cf Mr.. Watson. That is very
fair reason why you should.
Mr.. Watson is the only candidate in
the field in this campaign who really
cspouses Jeffersonian democracy. And
what is Jeffersonian democracy? 1t is
just that which l have been endeavor-
ing to illustrate in this article. 1t is
the sovereignty of the people. 1t is
tie proposition that "all men are born
equal; that thev are endowed with GER
tain inalienable rights, among which
are life, liberty and the pursuit, of hap
piness." And this means that every
living thing, by the very fact OF its
existence, has an equal right with
every other living thing to enjoy an
opportunity to get at natures store
house and produce it's quota of the
worlds wealth. that it may enjoy lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness.
These are the principles for which Mr..
Watson has waged the manifest cam
paign for the people that has been
wased since the days of Jackson. with
but one possible exception.
Mr.. Watson. as we'll as his running
mate, is a son of poverty. He has
Known the trials and sufferines OF
those who toll. He has ''toiled and
sweated in the sun, according to the
curse" His life, his entire life. has
been one long. eeaseless struggle with
adversely, and these facts make it pos
sible for him to understand and be
affected by the struggles of those who
are forced to wiring from monopoly ev-
cry little consideration, as though they
were very slaves. There is no monop-
olists backing his campaign. For him
there is no hope of Office or other
reward. In his great speech a few
days ago before the labor unions Of
New York. he stated what he hoped to
gain by his campaign in these noble
words:
talk to me Of reward? What more
do | need than that having unfurled
the standard of Jeffersonian demo-
cracy in its darkest hour, when those
who had promised to die for it had
deserted? 1t is an honor to cham
pion a great cause, no matter how
heavy the task may be. There is glory
in defending the right. no matter how
goes the tide OF success. There is
inspiration in working for the plain
people when they cheer you on as
they are cheering me-"
| | have no quarrel with those, who
ever they may vote for, who are ready
and willing to throw their votes
away" for any candidate other than
Roosevelt or Parker. Whether they
vote for Watson or Debs or Swallow,
they are casting vote against present
Iiniouities They are registering their