The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-05-02
EVERYBODY'S COLUMN.
!;
SOCIALLSTIC VIEWS. !;
ON POLITICAL PLANES:

l.
To the Editor of the, Labor World:
The question will soon be asked by
all the most thoughtful people, what
are your politics and what stand do
you take regarding the interests Il
labor, what rights are you willing to
grant to labor, do you recognize that
labor produces all wealth. are ques-
tons that will be asked the Repub-
lican, Democrat, and Socialist candi-
dates, who will aspire to become the
servants of the people at the coming
election. -
The workingmen at least will raise
some questions, that will be hard nuts;
to crack for the nominees, who stand
upon the platforms, that do not reco8-
nize, there are classes, and who make
the claim that the interests Of all are
alike, the man seeking office can 40
longer turn upon them with that old
hackneyed phrase, the good capitalist
and the laborer are brothers, and must
not allow quarrels to come rup be-
tween them for the reason they are
brothers; such things may have had
their effect, some time ago. but are
not believed to a great, extent today.
=. The man who seeks office today on
the Republican ticket, seeks office at
the expense of the worker, and that
is shown very clearly in the lockout,
here at present, most Of these lockout
men, begin in some measure. to see
that their lies something between
what they get in wages, and what
their labor produces, that builds up,
a portion of society, from which they
are barred, and which can be and is
used, as lever to wrest away a part
of what the workers have gained,
through their organization for the bet
torment Of themselves.
The Republicans stand firmly upon
the right to live, on that portion cf
labor that lies in their power to buy
the labor Of men, at a price. named
by them, and to sell it at a price fix
ed by them, and this difference is
known as profit, and is the line that
divides humanity into classes and
therefore, is the basic upon which our
system exploitation is founded.
1t makes no difference to the work
err whether the man seeking office
says he is a Republican or Democrat,
he firmly stands upon the right, and
Is patted upon the back, by the whole
force of capitalism Of which, he is 4
member and must abide by their rules
and work in their interests, or become
a traitor to either the working class
or to the capitalistie class.
There is no middle ground upon
which they can stand, for if they are
given the right to live off labor they
themselves have not produced, then
they have the right to get all they can
out Of labor, and we may as we'll re-
member here, that the horse works 10
hours and gets his feed, and is the
worker any better off, he only gets
his living and a very. poor one at that.
When the Socialist is accosted ana
asked where do you stand upon the
question of the rights Of all the peo-
pie, he will answer, We do recognize
the class distinctions which exist In
our society, and weS do recognize that
labor produces all wealth, and as. such
should enjoy that wealth, and not as
it is now that the pro iucer produces
and does not enjoy but the Individual
who does not produce is the receives
Of the greater portion Of that wealth.
and enjoys the same Iii 4 way, that
make all thinking people blush with
shame. .>>:.,s.-,.s,:<. zs..ss:s.s
j We socialists clai mttlat man should
not be allowed to own, nothing more
than our labor produces, and he that
will not produce, should not eat, It Is
impossible Tor us to see any differences
IN men as far 40 some should be COM
PEELED to labor hard All their lives,
and gain nothing, while those who do
no useful labor, Amaas untold wealth..
which they have no use for and which
Of right belongs to the producer ana
shoQld by him be claimed.
we do not believe in the equal dis
tribution of wealth, that Is, in dollars
and cents. But In the collective own
ership OF the land, mines, mills, fac
tories and railroads. And that each
Individual should have equal rights
with every other man. as far rs that
he be not denied the right to expend
his physical labor power towards the
production Of his own needs. and that
this right to work Should be held sa-
cred and above all other rights. and
that no man or set Of men, should. 4