Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1906-10-11
Letters he !: Editor
Wants Socialism Extended.

your paper seems to be fair to all polit-
ical parties, therefore am embolden-
ed to write again. Beinga subscriber
and formerly lived at Whitwell, Tenn,
makes me anxious to the conditions of
the working class of that state. In
my other communication / remarked
that was socialist and gave a con-
densed form of the fundamental prin-
ciples of socialism, but don't see by
your paper of the socialist party hay
ing any representatives in Tennessee
for candidates for Office. Now, note
in the issue of Sept. 81, the democra-
tic party held convention at Cross
vile and nominated Judge e. G. Toll
lett for senator, and endorsed John l.
Cox, for governor. Now, fellowswork-
ing men, / wish to offer few remarks
The same old thing has been accom-
plished. You have gone to your prim-
aries and nominated lawyers to repre-
sent you in the different positions of
trust. Will they do It'll Invariably not.
In the first place they are as ignorant
as mules as to what legislation is need
ed, in the interest of labor. In the
second place they are tools of the CAPT
talist class and their sole object is to
legislate in the interest of the capital
list class, giving smatterinrg of a
semblance of fairness to each law,
enough to institute suit by labor,
and furnish few lawyers with work
for plaintiff and defendent. Third,
they have, as rule, never produced a
pound of wealth by labor. Therefore
their unftness to legislate in the inter
est of labor. Note E. G. Toilet ex-
preston of thanks and pledge of his
best efforts in behalf Of his constituent
cy. Well he will apply himself dill
| gently to the task of benefitting his
constituency But, brother working
man, who is that constituency? Not
you. Oh, No! Mol No! He means
the capitalist class. The corporations
and trusts is what he meant by con-
stituency, and he told you the truth
when he expressed himself willing to
use his best efforts in their behalf
When will labor get wise to her inter-
ests and nominate men from the ranks
of labor to legislate in the interests Of
labor2 Not through the old democrat
ic and republican parties, because in
fuence is brought to bear upon the
good man who falls in the meshes of
the old party machines, which renders
them helpless, but get into a class
conscious party. The socialist party is
the only class-conscious party for the
laboring man. 1t stands uncomprom-
isingly in the interest Of labor, and is
the avowed enemy of the capitalist
class ''and seeks to overthrow the sys-
tenn of greed and graft, or grab and
keep, by revolutionary methods, viz;
the ballot We are strictly opposed tc
bloodshed Therefore the ballot is the
weapon to be used and the national CO.
operative common wealth will become
fact, but the slaves should begin tt
understand that they are slaves, and
learn to become class conscious, and &c
to the polls, and vote as you strike an6
if you vote as you strike you will vote
straight socialist ticket, and when
You vote for democratic or republi
can, you vote to tear down the house
you STRUCK TO BUILD. Now, fell
low unionmen, get busy. Do not sup
port John /. Cox for governor or any
of the rest of the capitalist henchman
Miners and brothers, have you for
gotten the judges who are asking yol
to push them into a fat salary by your
vote They are part and parcel o
the machine who issued injunction
against you at Tracy City and Whit
well while you were making your pro
test by strike against tyranical condi
tions imposed ON you by the coal oper
ators. Who was it who ordered GU
the troops to force you to submit i
not some of the very same men whom
you have nominated.
, | OOu leu butiu uANcIb yOul hOU6hblO
from the only goal worth having, viz
freedom, and that can be secured whe
You own and control your own jobs
and own the tools OF production an
distri button facilities, for withou
freedom a man can not serve God COZ
rectly. Why? Because he hasn't til
time nor opportunity to educate hin
self, OF herself, so that they may /
able to analyze Nature slaws and CON
D pare them with the teachings of jest
so that they may draw the proper d.
. ductions. You see at present we al
depending on the ministry to lead l
into the limelight of Reason and W
r are no better off. Why7 Because W
have to slave so long under our pre-
ent system that it is next to imposs
BILE to retain that which is true. OF
brain does not get the rest it shoul
: have. Brothers. wake up
s Yours for Humanity,
e THE CRANK.
3 MarvviIle I'll Oct 1904