The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-06-25
CLASSES ARE ALL WRONG.
Declared George r kirkpatrick in Talk
on Socialism Last Evening.


Prof. George Il. kirkpatrick Of New
York, speaker under tho auspices Of
the national Socialist committee and
former professor Of economies at Ripon
college, Wisconsin gave a strong and
graphic talk on Socialism at the city
park last evening. Mr.. kirkpatrick Is
man Of strong personality, an eloquent
and fluent speaker and while be re-;
Trained from slurs and mud-slinging at
tine Other political parties he succeeded
in keeping an audience of nearly 400
people interested for nearly two hours
The speaker was introduced BY John
Carson ~ thel ocal Socialist club, candi-
date Oh the Socialist ticket for lieutcn-
In opening the speaker said that while
all political parties were not agreed on
all things, all were agreed on some
things They are not agreed because
the method is all wrong. A method that
divides men into two classes Ia wrong.
No one man is good enough to be anotn-
er mans master The method that does
not permit the worker to get his share
OF the prosperity is wrong, and under
the present industrial system the work
ing people do not get their share Of the
prosperity. He mentioned the fact that
in one year S40l 900, 900 worth Of food
products we're shipped to foreign coun
tries and Of this most was Of the best
quality, for the reason that the Ameri-
can workers do not receive enough in
wages 70 give but a FAIR share Of that
which they produce
More than one-half Of the people Of
the country live in hired homes, one
eight in mortgaged homes. Thirty-six
per cent. of the farms are hired and 20
and Socialists are agreed that social
ownership Of some things ought 10 bel
as it is. For instance, the public owner.
per cent, are mortgaged. All Socialists
ship and common use of parks, Libraries
ana schools.
And 1t Is also conceded by all that the
private ownership Of some property does
not make man 3 master, as the owner
ship OF home, horse or an automobile.
But some forms OF private ownership
make individuals the absolute masters
Of other mems lives, as the owners OF
the coal and iron mines, the mills, rail-
roads and oil wells.
4r..<f<.s 4l.. .,rrssssf af.1.Ifttnna fforr
are two classes, the owners and the
otherwise capital and labor;
and the great wrong is that society Isl
cut into these two classes. Capital owns
the means of prodnctlon and the jobs
and therefore is the master Of its EN-
ployes.
The Socialist party Is the working-
mans party and proposes to organize q
party of the working class big enough
to take possession of the powers of gov
aFnment and to geprganize society in-
dustrialy on The following four Iinea:
FIRST, the social ownership 81 the
shief material means Of production
Second. the social control 81 the chief
means Of production.
Third, the operation Of industry, not
tor profit, but for social service, each
10 have the full value Of his labor, and
have employment without permission Of
m industrial Caesar called capitalist,
Eager for profits.
Fourth, q political party organized
absolutely committed to this plan Of in
iustrial reconstuctions, and as rapidly
IS possible built big enough TO capture
The powers Of government that it may
egaIly, quietly without violence, do
What must be done.
so far as society is organized now
for the special benefit of that part Of
'ociety. ii is unsodally organized. The
Socialists seek to socialize tile indus
rial foundations Of sooiet socialize tae
ownership and the control and the pur
pose of the chief material means of