The Delta independent., 1907-02-22
SOCIALISTS DEBATE
AT COAlBY.

about of late, came off at the school
house Saturday night, Feb. 10th. The
Socialists were we'll represented as they
had three champion debaters from out
side, one being Professor of much ex-
perience from Denver, the other the
man who ran last fall on the Socialist
ticket for state representative. The
school house was we'll filled and all lis
tened attentively as the following ques-
tion was discussed: Resolved, That
the People Collectively Should Own the
Sources of Wealth from Farm to Fac
tory"
Mr.. Fry led out on the affirmative by
saying that the white man of today was
as much slave as the black man was
before the war. The wealthy dictate
hours. amount Of pay, what fare paid
on K. r., price of supplies, etc. The
various corporations recognize no law
because the courts are bought. The
government is now paying five times
as much for carrying the mail as the
Express companies would carry it for,
etc.
Mr.. Watson led out on the negative
by saying whatever abuses existed the
people were to blame for. They have
the power in their own hands to make
changes; our present system of govern
ment gives the masses the right to
make whatever changes are necessary.
The trouble is the masses do not now
existing wrongs through the ballot and
if under the Socialist plan an officer
would not carry out the will of the peo-
pie and an election was called to put
him out and elect another it would be
just the same and few would 60 to
the polls. Sharpers would go among
the people and get those out who would
do their bidding. Our troubles would
not end under Socialism. What is
needed is education of the masses, for
the poorer the people the poorer the
laws; SO educate them. In Bible times
Socialism was failure for soon AMMAN
las tried to get in with the disciples by
putting in half. So it would be now for
there would be worse fraud than under
our present system of government.
Mr.. Tallicott, of the Humane Society,
then gave very interesting talk. show
ing how in 1850 the wage Garner had a
much better chance and how changes
had come until the capitalist gets near
ly all that is earned by the laboring
classes. Socialism proposes to change
this government from top to bottom,
II we had the right kind of laws there
would not be any criminals. If Social
ism carried. the government would own
every foot of coal land. There must
be collective ownership.
c. G. States then followed for the
negative. He went on to say that it
was only natural for us all to work as
we have responsibility, and we only
have responsibility when we own. and
success or failure depends on individual
effort. 1t is natural for the masses to
shirk responsibilities. To illustrate.
the people generally. instead of study
ing the Bible for themselves and letting
God speak to them individually through
His word. find it more convenient to
run along the old way of hiring
preacher or priest to deal out our relig-
ious duties to US once a week Govern
mcnt ownership proved failure in the
days of ancient Rome and the little
government ownership we now have
has proved that men working for the
government are seldom promoted
through their own merit but the one
who has the best pull gets the promo
tion regardless of efficiency. 1t is so in
the army, the post Office and all other
departments of government at present
and would be the same under more
government management. Our present
laws are good: all that is needed is to
enforce them.
Mr.. Fry closed the debate. but did
not attempt any reply to Mr.. Watson's
points and the only reply to States was
by saying he had evidently never
studied Socialism, rs his arguments. he
claimed did not touch the question at
issue.
1t was very evident to those who fol
lowed the speakers closely that there is
great lack of unity as to what Social
ism really does want and as the good
book says "in unity there is strength.
so if they expect to reform our present
system of government from top to
bottom it will be necessary to decide
on the great principles by which that
reform is to be brought out and then
all hold to the principles agreed upon.
At the close of the debate Mr.. Dale