Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1908-09-04
REPUBLICANISM MAKES
SOCIALISTS

In II stirring speech delivered at the
Kern notification ceremonies, at
indianapolis. Mr.. Bryan called attcn-
ton to the comparative growth Of the
republican and socialist parties to show
that it is the republicans and not the
democratic party that is responsible for
the increaac i'll the socialist vote, which
WAS almost us great in number rs the
republican increase III 1904 ovcr the
vote of 1900. Mr.. Bryan said:
The democratic party is the defend
or Of competition and the only great
party which is seeking to restore COM
petition. Mr.. Taft has, iii the discus
sion Of this question, employed harsh
words instead of argument. The word
'socialistic' is hurled ut the democratic
party and the democratic platform.
Now, rs Il matter of fact. it is Mr..
Tafts party and not the democratic
party which has given encouragement
to socialism. While protesting to
abhor socialism, the republican party
has gone half way toward socialism in
endorsing its fundamental principles.
The socialist bases his contention OH the
theory that competition is bad, and
that an economic advance is to he found
in monopoly. The socialist, however,
wants the public to have the benefit of
the monopoly and, therefore, favors
government ownership Of all the means
of production and distribution.
THE republican party has gone al.
most us far us the socialist party in the
economic defense of the monopoly, hut
it permits the benefits of monopoly to
he enjoyed by Il comparatively few men.
who have secured Il dominant influence
III the government. ] beg To call Mr..
Tafts attention to the fact that the
republican party has stimulated the
growth of socialism in two ways: First
by the endorsement that il has given to
the theory that trusts are n natural and
necessary outgrowth of our economic
conditions, and, second, by permitting
the development Of abuses which have
been charged against individualism. If
he will examine the vote published in
the World Almanac he will find that in
1900 the republicans pollcd 1908, 2il
votes and that the socialists pollcd but
3d. Di; in the same almanac he will
find that in 1904 the republicans cast
1922, 4S0 votes and the socialists i02. 2S6.
Notwithstanding the fact that tho re.
publicans have boosted of their last
national victory, their party pollcd but
4lI,OO0 more votes that year than four
years before. This scarcely more than
covered the natural increase in the re-.
publican portion of the population.
while the socialist vote Increased more
than 300 per cent, and the increase in
votes was almost Us great as the increase
In republican votes.
Tho republican leaders have been in
the habit of sncering ut the socialists.
while blindly indifferent to the causes
that have contributed to the growth of
socialism. The democrats recognize
that socialists are honestly seeking u
i'ili'NS wi tI' ~ tillllN'S Wlllllllikl
by Secretary Taft. Democrats dissent
from tho remedy proposed by the so.
c~ialists, bclievcing that socialists are
mistaken and that the democratic
remedy is better. but IL is time for
thoughtful people to recognize that in.
dividunlism a only lc retained and
defended by remedial Legislation that
will remove the abuses which have been
allowed to fastcn themselves upon tho
country. The democratic party. he.
in individualisln, addresses
itself earnestly TO these abuses. and
instead Of ridiculing and maligning
the socialists invites them. as IL does
the republicans. to examine the demo.
platform and tho remedies
proposed therein. II submits its plans
to tho honest citizenship Of the country.
without regard to section ar party"