The Washington herald., 1908-01-06
Mr. and Mrs. Stokes ExpOund
SOcialiStic Theories.
MEANS MUCH FOR THE POOR
Historical Facts Mainly Dealt With
and Statistics Given to Substan-
tiate Them-DOes Not Mean En-
sIavement Of the PeOpie-AttemDts
to Prove SOcIaIistic Principles.

/ Phelps Stokes. OF New YORK.
/ Among those who heard the plans of
socialism explained by the millionaire
philanthropist were Hon. j. Adam Bede
and a number of university professors of
this city.
Mr. Stokes dealt mainly with historical
| facts and the statistics of the govern
ment to prove his statements He said
Socialism aims to give the individual
more freedom. Under the present system
| of government. socialism is more ideal
/ than Of material interest. The chief
criticism we have to contend with is, that
socialism means the slavery of the peo-.
pie Now. TO prove that it does not mean
| the slavery Of the people / will show how
its enforcement corresponds in a degree
to the methods used by the American
colonlsts. to repudiate the yoke Of King
George III OF England. in 11i6.
The Yoke of England.
/ Their motives correspond with the
basic principle upon which Socialism is
founded. The colonists were At peace
with England until George III heaped
taxes upon them without giving them
representation IN Parliament This they
rightly considered as tyranical, and took
the necessary steps to rid themselves of
/ the oppression, N:th the successful re-
suits I need not dwell upon. To-day the
! large majority of Americans are loaded
down with an oppression that is not DIFF
1 ferent from that which caused the War
OF the Revolution.
"One-half of the people OF this country
are taxed unjustly to-day by the wealth
Ter classes without representation or
other means 10 benefit themselves. II
our forefathers were warranted TO fight
against taxation without representation
much more so are we warranted 10 Oh
ject against a slavery that is being fas-
tened on the producing people OF this
country BY capitalists.
'"The producing people OF the United
States are taxed one-half Of their net
products by the powerful industries which
levy them. Socialism aims 10 organize
the working classes and producers so they
may be given opportunity 10 accumulate
wealth and participate In its benefits that
to-day is denied the masses.
Have No Participation.
Socialists believe that in the present
order Of things the stockholders receive
the dividends Of products in which pro-
duction they do not participate. and that
their income bears no relation to the
servitude entalled by such production,
where the laboriug classes pay all the ex-
penses made necessary by manufacture.
such procedure is tyrannical The aver
age American artisan is leading a hand
to-mcuth existence
Ills remuneration for a months labor
is hardly enough 10 meet his expenses.
This state of affairs is the outcome of the
consolidation of all large industrial inter
ests which possess capital enough 10
make the labOTing classes do their bid-
ding or starve.
The advent OF machinery i'm every
branch of industry has deprived labOrine
men in many of the lines of trade OF that
independence they previously possessed
by being the owners Of their implements
and tools The machinery could only be
purchased by those who could afford IT,
and this barred the laboring classes from
competition with the rich combines. for
whom he was forced eventually To work
at terms dictated by them remedy foI
this oppression is To be found in the
I enforcement Of socialism. Its aim is the
abolition of this wage slavery through
public ownership of all industries"
Mr.. Stokes traced the ownership Of in
dustTies from the Roman conquest OF
Western Europe up to the present day,
explaining that the feudal system of the
Middle Ages. whereby a serf was required
10 work three days out Of q week on the
land Of his lord. was not unlike the sys-
tenn in vogue to-day where one-half the
gf Ia D 7e civ 70. lfpa
holders who render him no service.
Industrial Ownership.
In dustriaI ownership" declared the
speaker. "has become debauched Il is
possible for ownership in any of the
large corporations to change hands 100
times day. These stockholders are a
burden on the working classes. Indus
tries as they are conducted are FOR the
purpose of gaining the greatest possible
advantage for the owners"
In conclusion, Mr.. Stokes said:
Socialism does not attempt 70 place all
men on the same level, as is frequently
said by our critics.
Nor does il aim 10 place the laboring
class on top and have it dictate to all.
It's enforcement means that all will have
10 work or go hungry Under its estab-
Hshment il viii be possible to possess
wealth and luxury, but their possession
will mean that they have been legiti-
mately earned. Socialists are the most
militant people in the world for complete
individual liberty"
Following Mr. Stokes address. Prof
William Veditz, Of the George Washing.
ton University introduced Mrs. J. G
Stokes for an address on the same topic
Mrs. Stokes Address.
Mrs. Stokes said: Il wish President
Roosevelt were present this evening tc
hear few facts on socialism that an
sure, had ne heard before writing hi.
annual message to Congress. he would
have omitted the line that says Social
ism is Il menace TO our country since Il
! destroys our homes If he knew wha
, homes they are that are destroyed b,
socialism he would have erased tha
statement
IN the United States onc-tenth Of tn,
people live upon the wealth produced b,
the other nine-tenths. II is the homes o
+ these rich parasites that socialism aim
to destroy. Ii also aims to destroy tn,
homes in those sections Of the eountr,
where 100000 OF the children. are force,
TO work in mills and factories 1t make!
them the abodes of peace and comfor
by sending the poor children 10 school
and giving them an equal chance to be
come good citizens
After telling of her personal experience.
among the poor laboring classes Of thi
. country. she continued:
THE older political parties have neve
done anything to help the workingmal
of the country. The Republican party i
the party Of capitalists. and has Away
maintained the interests of the rich Tn
Democratic party does not know wher
it stands. II is trying to unite the capi