Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1909-04-08
DEFENDS SOCIALISM.

Editor News:
Mr.. Roosevelt recently made a very
bitter attack ON Socialism in the col
umns OF the Outlook. The attack is
unfair for the reason that in seeking
to establish what Socialism is Roose-
welt does not quote from single ac-
credited Socialist writer, or the offici-
al declaration of the party-its plat
form. On the contrary, he quotes
from Anne Besant and Proudham, who
never were Socialists, and from Ga
brilla Deville, Mrs Moore, and others
who age enemies of Socialism He |
would not like to have republicanism
defined and represented by people !
who are enemies of republicanism.
Then Mr. Roosevelt INDUCES in a
buse rather than argument 1t counts
for little with thinking people that he
should call the Socialists immoral,
dangerous, of nebulous faith, incoher-
emit in statement, particularly as he
makes no effort to prove any of these
statements. The use of epithets is not
argument. Mr.. Roosevelt errs in his
torical data. He argues that Socialism
was tried something over a century
ago, when as matter of fact it is
philosophy that is only little over
sixty years old Mr.. Roosevelt, with
out attempting to prove the charges,
accuses Socialists of working to destroy
the home, to wreck civilization, to
overthrow all order. and with being
dishonest and immoral. These are
grave charges, but if such charges
were made in court, and then no effort
made to substantiate them, they would
be thrown from court with indigna-
tion that they were ever made.
Now, the writer desires to make
these denials: Socialism is the friend
and not the enemy of real religion.
Socialism Is seeking to promote JUS
t!ce and to establish a more perfect or
der Then, from the constructive
side: Socialism is merely popular
rule-industrial democracy. Socialism
would, by ending corporate property !,
enable all men to have private proper
ty. Socialism is thoroughly American
the contemplation of the movement
for socialized power which was begun
in 1776. 1t provides for democracy by
means of the initiative and ..referen-
dunn, and it is foolish to assert that
men and women who make the laws
under which they will live, will
abolish the marriage relation and do
the other outrageous things charged
by Roosevelt Put it to yourself
would your
While the above is copied from the
Appeal to Reason published in Girard,
Kansas, adopt it as my sentiments
and request you to publish it in JUS
tice to those who advocate Socialism.
One of the main things | like the
News for is its fairness to hear all
sides of all Questions. read dozens
Of papers and magazines and the News
l is the ONLY ONE that will publish
anything against monopoly, SO far as
J my experience goes The News is
what its name indicates-NEWS.
I was sorry to see the announce
ment of the announcement of the
, death of Mr.. John K. Tate, of Battle
Creek. One by one the old citizens o.
t Marion are crossing the river. Only
a few left of my old associates. Seven
ty-nine winters have passed over m,
t head. am in fine health, eat hearty
sleep we'll If it was not for my Grip
K pied knee few men, old or young, coul'
get around better than l.
Q Wishing the News success and it
readers health and happiness, l am
r AMOS L. GRIFFITH.
o Pell City, Ala.