Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-12

uOFnlnS received Dv mail.
/ Here" she said, Us one of the best
and cleanest definitions of socialism
| have ever read
Socialism is common ownership OF
natural resources and public utilities,
and the common operation of all in
dustries fer the general good. Social
ism is opposed to monopoly, that is
| to private ownership of land and the
instruments of labor, which is indirect
ownership Of men; to the wages
system, by which labor is
legally robbed of large part Of the
product Of labor; to competition with
It's enormous waste of effort and it's
weak by the strong. Socialism is in
ment of the people by the people and
stricted sence. but as regards all the
common interests of men. Socialism
is opposed to olgarchy and monarchy,
and therefore to the tyrannies of bust
ness cliques and money kings. Social
ism is for freedom, not only from the
fear Of force, but from fear of want
Socialism proposes real liberty, not
merely the right to vote, but the liber-
| ty to live for something more than
meat and drink.
Socialism is righteousness in the re-
lations Of men. IT is based on the
fundamentals of religion, and Father
hood of God and the Brotherhood Of
men. 1t seeks through association and
equality TO realize fraternity. Socialism
will destroy the motives which make
for cheap manufacturers, poor work
manship and authorizations; 1t will Sc
cure the real utility of things. Use, not
exchange, will be the object of labor.
| Things will be made to serve, not to
| sell. Socialism will Danish war, for
private ownership is back of strife be-
tween men. Socialism will purify poll
| teal corruption. Socialism will make
for education. invention and discovery;
| it will stimulate the moral development
of men. Crime will have lost most Of
its motive and pauperism will have no
excuse. That" said Shirley, as she
she concluded, "is socialism,"
Ryder shrugged his shoulders and
rose to 60.
Delightful" he said ironically, "but
In my judgement wholly utopian and
| impracricable It's nothing but 81
gantic pipe dream. It won't come in
| this generation nor ten generations II,
| indeed, it is ever taken seriously by a
majority big enough to put its theories
! to the test. Socialism does not take
into account two great factors that
move the world-men's passion and
human ambition. If you eliminate am
bition you remove the strongest incen-
tive to individual effort. From your
own account socialistic world would
| be a dreadfully tame place to live in
everybody depressingly good, without
any Of the feverish turmoil Of life as
we know 1t. Such world would not
appeal to me at all. l love the fray
the daily battle of gain and loss, the
excitement Of making Or losing mil
lions. That is my life!"
"Yet what good is your money to
your" insisted Shirley. You are able
to spend only an infinitesimal part Of
it. You cannot even give It away, for
nobody will have any Of IT.
Money!" he Kissed rather than
spoke, II hate money. 1t means moth.
i ing to me- have so much that have
lost all idea of it's value. l go on ac-
cumulating it for only one purpose. 1t
buys power. love power-that is my
passion, my ambition. to rule the world
with my geld Do you know" he went
on and leaning over the desk in dra.5
matte attitude that if chose could
start panic in Wall Street tomorrow
that would shake to their foundations
| every financial institution in the coun-
4 try? Do you know that practically
| control the Congress of the United
Stats and that no Legislative measure
j becomes a law unless it has my ap-
4 proval?"
"Ths public has long suspected as
much" replied Shirley. "That is why
you are looked upon as a menace to
the stability and honesty of our politi-
cal and commercial life
i An angry answer rose to his lips
when the door opened and Mrs. Ryder
entered. 8
u tive been looking for you, John"
she said peevishly. "Mr. Bagley told
me you were somewhere in the house.
4 Senator Roberts is downstairs
i Hes come about Jefferson and his
daughter, i suppose" muttered Ryder.
well I'll see him. Where is he?"
4 "In the library. Kate came with
him. She's in my room"
4 They left Shirley to her writing, and
} when he had closed the door the fin
ancier turned to his wife and said i'm
patiently.
Now what are we going to do about
4 Jefferson and Kate? The senator In
sists on the matter Of their marriage
begin settled one way or another.
4 Where is Jefferson ?"
I, she came in about half an hour ago.
He was upstairs to see me, and
thought ne was looking for you" an
swered the wife.
Well replied Ryder determinedly,
che and have got to understand each
other. This can't go on 1t sban't."
Mrs. Ryder put her hand on his arm,
and said pleadingly:
"Don't be impatient with the boy
John Remember he is all we have. He
wants to please us, but"
"But he insists on pleasing HIMSELF y
said Ryder completing the sentence
I'm afraid, John, that his liking for
that Miss Rossmore is more serious
, than you realize"
l u,