The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-14
Millionaire J. 6. Phelps Stokes
Makes Announcement.
RenOunces Membership in tue
independence League.
CAN Do MORE GOOD.
Has Been . Long Time Learning
his Lesson He Says.
Declares There Are Many Pau
pers Among the Rich.

New York. July III. q. Phelps
Stokes. millionaire, formally an
nounces that he viii cast his lot with
the Socialist party. in a letter to the
Independence league. which was given
out today. Mr.. Stokes was candidate
for borough president on tho leagues
last municipal ticket, which was head
ed by william r. Hearst.
For years Mr.. Stokes and his wife,
who was q. factory girl. have devoted
themselves to work in the slaxms OF. the
city. For years also Mr.. Stokes has
believed IN the doctrines OF the So
cialists. but has not until now publicly
gone over to them.
In the letter A1r. Stokes declares that
while he regards capital as necessary
at present to the public welfare, he
considers it 80 harmful when used
sel11shly that its com plete control by
the people, collectively, Is essential
The so called capitalist system. he de-
clares. Is indefensible ethtcally and
disastrous industrially through the In
escapable wage slavery to which it
leads. and that It must be supplanted
by more righteous system of CO.
operation and mutual aid
Held Back by Bitterness.
In his letter. which is dated from his
home in the east side tenement dis
trict, Mr.. Stokes says:
Hitherto I have refrained from CO.
operating with the Socialist party,
owing to the intense bitterness and Ill
will manifested by many Socialists to-
ward nearly all persons who approve
and support the capitalist system. I
failed to see that this bitterness and
Ill will were in no way chargeable to
the Socialist philosophy, but were the
result Of monopoly, extortion, and op-
preston. habitually practiced by
prominent benef1ciaries Of the capital
ist system.
Tt has required a vast amount of ac-
cumulated evidence to convince me that
1t is, and for long has been, inpessi-
bic for the average worker to secure
such material things as are necessary
for his welfare and advancement in
consequence of exploitation OF his la
Dor by privileged persons who take for
their own enjoyment a large portion of
the product of his toll.
Two Glasses Here.
Il have been long in perceiving clear
" that there are two chief economic
classes in America. as elsewhere-those
whose poverty compels them to pro-
duce more than they require for their
own maintenance, and those whose
wealth enables them to control and
consume more than they produce and
more than they render proportionate
service in exchange for; that the re-
ward of the former class Is invaria Div
less than the value of their product
whereas the reward or income Of the
latter class is greatly In excess OF the
value Of it's product and bears no pro-
portionate relation to the value Of the
service It renders
Il have learned but gradually the
injustice of the situation which con-
fronts the average worker. Honest
and earnest men and women by hun
dreds Of thousands suffer privation
and want, although surrounded by
! prosperity and plenty, and owe their
su1erings chiefly to the monopoIiza-
ton Of land and OF the machinery OF
production by the few exclusively for
the purpose of private gain; access to
the land and machinery being denied,
unless the workers Will produce
enough not merely for their own sup
port. but for the maintenance of the
idle and luxurious as we'll. This is
to my mind a great injustice and one
that demands early remedy Person
ally I can no longer refrain from max
ing every endeavor to arouse reccs-
milton of it
Paupers Among Very Rich
incidentally, I have observed that
under our present Industrial system
| pauperisn prevails as widely among
| the rich as among the poor: a pauper
being one who. through disability or
dissemination for self-support by uss-
ful service. Is supported at the expense
of the people.
Il would not have It thought that I
disapprove of capital. On the con-
trary, / regard capital as necessary at
present to the public welfare; but as
so harmful when used selhshly that its
complete control by the people, col
lectively is essential.
Il know how difficult 1t Is to arouse
recognition Of the praeticability OF
such collective ownership among per
sons who derive benefits from the pres
ent system, and especially among such
as labor exclusively for personal profit
Of others toll. I am. furthermore
aware that the majority of those who
i uphold the present system do so in the
belief or IN the assumption that il is a
fair and just one.
II believe that I can aid many to see
that capitalism las distinguished from
the collective ownership of capitaD Is
that its cost in needless human suffering
is stupendous j belleve also that I can
aid in pointing out better and fairer
| way Of supplying the needs Of humanity
Socialist party Either with them or as
wholly Independent citizen I shall strive
| to promote recognition OF the fact. IN
which I believe, that the so called capital
! ist system as such is fndefensfble ethical
! H. and disastrous industrially through the
inescapab1e wage slavery to which 3
1 leads, and that it must be supplanted BY
a more righteous system Of cooperation
and mutual aid.
II am not unnindful Of the responsible
sty which I assumed toward the indie
pendence league when * -co-oper7ted Win
YOU IN its organization. r For time pc
lieved that in the Independence league lay
nv opportunities for largest service.
believe that now see opportunities for
still larger service Through cooperation
with the Socialist party.
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