The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-10-01
QUESTIONS ASKED
SECRETARY SHAW
NOT ANSWERED

Editor Morning News-I read with
great interest Mr.. Allen Cooks letter
addressed to Hon. Leslie M. Shaw,
published in last Saturdays Morning
News. Mr.. Cook asked him several
vitality important questions in which
all patriotic, intelligent people are
deeply concerned. With several friends
] went to the Auditorium Saturday
evening, not to hear old wormy tariff
chestnuts and stale jokes cracked, but
to hear a Republican statesman give
his answers to those questions. Mr..
Shaw, holding the questions in his
hand, said that the citizen asking the
questions had not quoted his speech
to the students of Chicago University
exactly correctly" and that he did not
believe he would take the time from
his regular speech to defend himself
or reply to the questions propounded.
If a great statesman of Mr.. Shaw's
caliber cannot answer a fair, import
ant and straightforward question pro-
pounded by Socialist, are we to take
it for granted that those questions
are unanswerable? Such fair and i'm
portant questions cannot be brushed
aside by the wave of an orators hand,
or be treated with silent contempt.
They go to the very bottom of all our
social and industrial troubles and must
be answered with candor and fairness;
or with equal candor and fairness con-
fess the weakness of our cause and
the strength and righteousness of the
cause of Socialism. II the Republi-
can statesmen and orators are not able
to answer such questions, is there not
talent in the Democratic party to re-
ply to Socialistic questions and argu-
ments. The Socialists at their meet
ings invite questions and treat the in
terrogator with respect and fairness.
Does the cause of Socialism have more
justice and righteousness on its side
than the cause of Democracy and Re-
publicanism? If not. why do not Re
publican and Democratic orators in
vite questions and give gentlemanly
treatment to anyone asking questions?
If our cause is just, 1t can be defend
ed. If Socialism is wrong, it can be
proven to be wrong, not by scorn and
ridicule, but by logical, gentlemanly
argument.
The Literary Digest Of September
26, publishes a synopsis of manifesto
signed by161 clergymen of "a denomin-
ations, expressing belief in the Social
istic teaching of the scripture and de-
claring their belief that "the economic
teaching of the scripture would find
it's fulfllment in the cooperative
commonwealth of modern Socialism;
that the present social system, based
as it is upon the sin of coyeteousness,
makes the ethical life as inculcated by
religion impTacticable." They further
say: I'VE urge with utmost earnest
ness that all our brethren in the min
istry and the people in all churches
search the scripture and study the phil
osophy of Socialism. that they may
see If our belief be not indeed Gods
very truth" This manifesto of 161
American clergymen is an earnest and
powerful document.
A few days ago Socialist gave me
a little ten cent book entitled Men
and Mules and requested me to read
is through, and through again, before
again attempted to argue against
Socialism. One Of the first things
saw in the book was the great Rev.
DIR. Lyman Abbot's declaration for
Socialism and the cooperative COM
monwealth. The book reads like a
twentieth century Uncle Toms Cab
in" 1 am informed that more than
a million copies of this book have been
sold since July l. 1908.
again say these great questions
must be fully and fairly answered by
our Republican and Democratic ora
tors and statesmen. If the swelling
tide of Socialism is to be repressed,
Fair Play.