Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-02
SOCIALIST REEVES
WATER TANK PARABLE
GAYLORD WILTSHIRE SPEAKS
TO LARGE CROWD
Simpson Auditorium Filled TO Over
flowing by Persons Eager to Hear
Millionaire Publisher of
New York

Gaylord wiltshire was welcomed by
2cOO Socialists yesterday afternoon at
the Simpson auditorium, where he
spoke to an audience that filed the
main floor and balconies and occupied
most of the standing room. The Social
list enthusiasm was the more vigorous
because Wiltshire started the campaign
for free speech in Los Angeles
twenty years ago which has been
waged at intervals ever since, and
which eliminated recently in the vic
tory of the street orators.
When Mr.. Wiltshire came forward to
speak the audience rose and cheered
him vigorously several minutes. He
made a brief reference to his Los An
geles associations and quickly launched
at once into a discussion of the philo-
sophical side Of Socialism.
1T seems g. long time since / first
talked Socialism in Los Angeles" said
Mr.. Wiltshire. Nearly twenty years
ago 1 ran for congress here, and then
was the only candidate and we had
no permanent party organization.
Now it is very different. 1t is just
the same with the old parties, for they
have nothing better to offer than when
the Socialist party came into existence.
Their answer still to the request for So
luton of the problem of living is that
you can't understand it. That is not
sufficient. Anybody can understand
when he is hungry and he is entitled
to ask why. 1t does no good to such a
man to say with Taft: God knows
Socialists Claim to Know
1--WE are going to be confronted more
and more seriously with a demand for
the solution of the industrial problem.
Two years ago every one talked pros
perity and every one was said to be
making money. A little later, although
we still had the same country, the
same people, the same climate, the
same air and water, yet everything was
cramped and the country seemed sick
unto death. A recurrence of conditions
that were inevitable and are bound to
come again-surely these vital prob
lens are worthy of solution.
ut was not so long ago that diseases
which afflicted the human body were
looked at in the same way. Now we
know of remedies and how to apply
them, but we can all look back to the
time when we really didn't know any
thing. Now Socialism has diagnosed
scientifically this fever of society and
offers an adequate remedy.
1.-THE need of such a remedy is evil
dent when we consider the fact, un-
deniably shown, that the average man
produces-in products, not in money
$4,000 a year, yet his average wage is
but $500 yearly. The difference of $500
is actually produced. 1t goes some
where, but he does not get 1t. And
this is condition not confined to
Southern California or any other par
ticular section. but it is true all over
the world. 1t is also true that there is
continually found q state of what is
miscalled overproduction--is it not
really Nunderconsumption? Why is 1t If
people want things and need them that
we do not go to work to produce more
1t is because the market depends not
on what people want or need, but on
what men can buy with their wages.
Yet under the ompetitive system the
best wages we can get is about enough
for a bare subsistence; that is bound
to be the best offer, and as a result
we find that man is paid $500 for his
ability to produce $4,000"
Story of the Pump
Mr.. Wiltshire likened the present in
dustrial system to that of a case where
a man had driven a well, constructed
a pump and a tank to contain water
necessities of life-yet received for his
services in keeping the tank filled bare
ly enough water to sustain life. He
said the water that flowed through
a gimIet hole represented the wages and
the water that filed the tank was I'M
divided earnings. When the tank was
filled to overlooking the man who
claimed ownership OF the property
which the worker had improved came
and stopped the pumping and ordered
the worker away, Declaring there was
an overproduction.
'But will not be able to survive if
you drive me from the tank" says the
worker.
81 can't help that" replies the man
of lordly power. you might have a
few drops If you were actually dying.
That would, in that event, be charity,
and charity pauperizes you. Now, go
quietly away. When the water dries
up or I use some of 1t and there is no
longer an overproduction perhaps may
employ you again. You believe in the
sacredness of private ownership of
these necessities. Your vote shows you
like this system, so we will go on with
it. For my part 1 am content"
Says No overproduction
"If we attempt to enlarge the gimlet
hole there is an instant resistance. No
matter how thirsty the workers at the
pump handle may be, they can get only
that which trickles out through the
gimlet hole of their daily wage. NO
matter how many are unemployed or
how many are suffering from want OF
water, they cannot have a share in
the overlooking tank of wealth. 1t is
not overproduction that causes misery
today. it is undercpnsumption. The
workers create so much more commodi-
ties than they are able to buy that
they suffer from want.
WAS there ever overproductlon OF
foodstuffs when people are hungry? Do
you, my friends, believe there is too
much bread in the world when there is
one single human being suffering from
hunger? Is there too much clothing
when one of our brothers in any land
shivers for want of sufficient covering
for his body? Is there too mueh ecu
cation with the vast army of illiterates
growing up around us?
when a speaker gets upon the pub
lie platform these days he must be pre-
pared to answer hungry, half-clothed
brother, strong of body. capable OF
skiI1ful work, and industrious ana