The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-07
RWatson's Theories

Watson's Theories.
Mr.. Thomas u. Watson, Popullst cam
didate for President, was the principal!
speaker ut a Labor Day picnic an Kan.
{ sas City. He told his hearers, among
other things. that the man who made all
the wealth ought to have q fair share Of
that which he makes. He admitted that
many a, workingman now enjoys in his
Gotta &c convenience of life which a
king could not command some hundred
years ago, but added that the man who
can deny that the working people Of
this country are now suffering from un-s
just conditions is a very bold man. He
said thae the laborer had a right toscon-
plain u t too much of the weight Of
taxation fell upon him when the greater
4 burden should be borne by the richer
men J; that labor had a just cause to COM
plain that the hours for work were too
long that labor had a ri ght to demand
that the life Of the workngrnan should
\ be held more sacred than the machine
with which he. works 81 4 the earth ls
only battlefield be concluded, SIN
which the Creator intended that the
strong battalion should always trample
down the weak, then the present system
isNall right. that Is just what occurs;
but If the earth was intended by our
common Father as the home Of his chill
dren. and If IT was The divine purpose
that each of those children should find
food, raiment and shelter in return for
labor. then the present system needs re-
form.
Life is a great battlefield in which men
are struggling for supremacy, and 1t is
SO by divine arrangement. It is struggle
that develops Nature works by storms
ms well as by calm and sunshine. With
out struggle there would be no develop.
ment and no progress. Mr.. Watsons
q hen is to abelish. struggle. He wants TO
@ lave the governmental control of every
lhing anu make 1T the guardian OF the
people, putting all workmen on a dead
level. His theory Of government is con-
trary to the principles Of Democracy,
3 contrary to the laws of nature, and con-
trary to the divine arrangement There
has been great development in the United
q States In many directions since the re-
public was founded. but the greatest Of
all development is American manhood.
Does Mr.. Watson believe, and does any
e sane man believe that we should have
4 had this development OF the independent.
the republic had been founded on the
principles advocated by Mr.. Watson?
\ The American workman is making pro-
gress all the time, and that was abund-
antiy demonstrated during the Labor Day
celebration. He is Improving his condl-
ton; he is making society recognize him.
and recognize his claims. But he Is do
ing this by his own brain and Drawn, and
In working TO this end he is developing
his manhood. He is working independent.
~ of the government and independently Of
Its fostering care. He Is working as 6
man and not as a founding. He is work
n Ing out his own salvation, and II thu
government will only let him alone ant
do nothing more than protect him in hi
nights and give him fair show, hi
triumph win be sure. The worst fat
that could befall him and the sures
means OF his destruction would be for tn
IA government to take possession of hin
and make him Its hrellng as would b
the case under Mr.. Watson's theory o
government. The salvation of the work
4 men is in the reign OF true Democracy