Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1907-07-18
REPLY 10 UNCLE GID'S ARGUMENT
AGAINST SOCIALISM OF JUNE 81.
Editor News:

Editor News:
| will endeavor to give a brief an
swer to this letter, and also make a
few remarks on his letter of July A.
Being one of the unfortunate of earth
and compelled to sell my labor for a
bare subsistence, have but little time
to read and had overlooked this article.
He says my article is an old song.
That is right. 1t is also fact that
some old songs improve with age, and
the song of Socialism will ever grow
sweeter until it triumphs the world ov-
er Sure! 1t has policy that is both
feasible and practical.
For instance: The P. o. Depart
ment of the U. S., is operated on
Socialistic plan. And no one with
horse sense doubts that our postal SER
vice is much better than it would be
under private control. As early as Ju-
ly "a, 1866, there was Federal law
passed, which gave to the Government
power to purchase all the telegraph
lines, but they are still in private
hands, because our Government is run
in the interest of the monopolies, and
there are fortunes in the telegraph bust
ness. Who doubts that the people
would get better and much cheaper
service if ''Uncle Sam" owned the en-
tire system?
He says that | am bound to admit
that Socialism is pauper at present.
If he means poor in dollars | will ad-
NIT that most of us are, yet there are
at lease two millionaires in the U. S.,
and many mobiles of Europe, seeing the
justice of our cause, have joined our
ranks. If he means poor in numbers,
| am not bound to admit anything of
the sort. We are the greatest political
party in numbers on Earth. The So
cialist movement is International. We
almost hold the balance of power in
Australia, New Zealand, Norway,
Germany and France, and have made
pretty fair showing in several other
countries, Including the United. States
In 1904 DebS received 426, 400 votes
Last fall a number of state representa-
tives wisconsin was in the lead) in
several states, elected the Socialist
! ticket
The policy of the Socialist party is
the same the world over. Briefly stat
ed it is this: ITO every worker be-
longs the full social product of his
toll" Surely no one will deny the
justice of this but the main question
seems to be, How are you going tC
get it, | will make a brief answer
In the first place, when the Socialist
party comes into power it will do 81
with government ownership" as the
foremost plank in the platform. Th'
initiative and referendum will b.
} important factors, and will make i
easy for the majority to decide by bal
lot what means shall be adopted. Ma
ny different plans have been suggest
ed, any of which would be burden
lightener to the toiler One is T
pay for the properties with bonds is
, sued by the Government. The great
est drawback to this plan would be t
get the moisture squeezed from tn
stocks. Another is the competitiv
! plan. That is, for the government t
t launch forth on the industrial field
| and through its natural advantage
t and proper legislation, gradually al
sorb the other industries | do not fl
5 vOr either of these plans, though eitht
is practical, and could be accomplish
] ed.
r / am radical who does not beliey
y that it will be more dishonorable fl
g our government, which under Soci;
b lism will be the people of this nation
y to take possession of all public inst
y tuition, that they themselves have Il
: bored to make what they are, than
: was for the thirteen original cOlOni
e to take this land of our fathers {
e their whiskers 1t is very old pro
s erb. ITO the victor belongs q
II spoils. | do not hesitate to- say tn
!. it would be right for "a burdened pu
e lie, overtaxed by merciless corpor
s tions, whipped to the severest tasks
z under the cold and cruel necessities
n bare existance in the world, fore
e to poverty, degradation and death
y the corporation of industry, until I
a the one side we see the masses of pc
20 pie, some tottering with age, widow
It orphans, infants. sick, MANNED, &C
5. and upon the other those who are su
rounded with wealth and luxury, tn
It would shame the crowned heads
{. the East, for a change TO be made.
d repeat that il would not only be rigf
At but very prominent in the service
y God, for the Government TO take p,
s. session of all the great industries a
he surplus land, and use them for (
II benefit of all. Mark these wOrt
n Great Industries and 'Surpl
re Land "
d The Socialist policy is not to depri
III people Of private industries, nor prI