Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-08-04
Newark Socialists
Condemn actics
Roth Saloon and Anti Saloon
Forces Regarding the Re- !,
cent Lynchlng.
Claim Both a Result of the
Same Cause-SuggeSt !,
a.Remedy.

On the Sth.e4of July, Judge Lynca
mold court in Newark, tried, CONDEMNED
and executed his victim. The findings
If this Court shocked Newark an:i
,.ioinitv sand has been condemned by
,.rass nulpit. fraternal societies and
labor unions. But all the condemna
tion has been against the mob, derelic'
officials and wet element. Not one
word of protest has been made against
the system that makes such. lawless
acts possible or against the underlying
principle which mas brought two ex-
tremes into conflict.
The saloon element on one; side. the
anti-slloon element on, the other, arr
.l,oth products Of the same system
Thcse two forces have practically
commanded the entire attention of tht
nlhlic for the past two years. The
former sustained by the Liquor league
Rent taken and alleged public senti7
nient has been in death struggle will
,ba latter which is supported, to 8
.,rpat extent by the small business MAJ
and clothed with an unpopular law
made for the purpose of eliminating
the saloon business.
The one force lis fighting for the
maintenance of its livelihood and CAPT
tai invested; the other under the cIoal
of morality is fighting for the exls
fence of. its organization, which pro
yides fat salaried jobs for its leaders.
and for political aggrandizemens
While these two deadly foes are oc
c,lpying the arena and attracting pub
lie attention. it should be readily see {
that the power behind the throne l.
private interest or profit.
The Liquor traffic is not conslderes
by those engaged in 1t as a desirabl'
business, but as a profitable one. TIL
Anti Saloon league, while it claims t
he working for bitter moral conditions
however honest their effort may be
fail. because of the desire for profit an6
the method used by them in bringins
about the desired end. It is this pri-
waite gain on the part Of both, tina
renders the business unmanageabl
and furnishes the incentive that para
lives all effort in behalf of the tenn
perance reform.
The Liquor traffic, along with many
other evils, such as, gambling, graft
ing, prostitution, child labor and whit
slavery is only a part of the giganti
system of capitalism, which debauches
our national state and municipal life
prostitutes our courts and muZzles the
press.
To know how to deal with these evils
we must first ascertain their source
The root of the Saloon Power is privat
interest This must be eliminated
which can not be by striking at an
effect and standing for the cause tina,
produces it.
Neither local enactments nor police
surveillance can do much, so long a:
public houses are in the hands of pri
waite individuals who find their prof
in encouraging intemperance withou
regard for age or youth, rich or poor,
The first step, then, toward investl
eating this evil is to socialize the traf
fic. This would render private gain
impossible and thus remove the hind
rance to moral and religious restraint
Under Socialism the traffic would be
conducted to satisfy public demand
and those who handled it would in ne
way profit by the sale of the commod
ity. AS there would be no private in
terest involved, there would be no in
centive to violate the law.
Under the present conditions We
need look for but little improvement
in the line Of temperance.
Rent, interest and profit are the
three financial elements that are re
Nponsible for the degradation of thu
world. The underlying principle o.
each IS that of private capital. The
abolition of this, which would near
the Specialization of all industries, IL
the only possible remedy. When this
is accomplished the moral and srelig
iods forces will have an opportunity tc
become more effective.
Realizing that capitalism cannot be
abolished in day, we suggest tina
our laws be so amended as to give to
. CITIES absolute home rule, also license
ia~ that will limit the number of sa
looms according to population. com
pelling the owner of saloon to abide by
law or license be revoked.