The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-02-09
The Socialist
Editor
CONTINUED from page one.)
Of all that he requires.

mits that. the opponent OF Socialism
doctrine. The counter proposition
would necessarily be that the earth
belongs to the few.
ReRnt is tribute paid to the owner
of natures resources. It, like interss,
and profit, Is shifted until it finally
rests upon labor. Land in what is
known as the Loup District OF Chicago
Is valued at 100000 per acre. 4
few years ago this land was bought
for a small sum The heirs of The
man who purchased it now receive
$l5,00O,000 annually in the form ct
rent. What service do they perform
to society in return for this enormous
tribute which they exact? By what
right does any man hold a piece OF
land to the exclusion OF Others, ex-
cept for his own use?
In this connection, the speaker de-
scribed conditions in Switzerland, a
country where poverty is practically
unknown. though its natural resources
are insignificant in comparison with
those OF this country. in that country
NO man is allowed to monopolize land
except for his own use.
Every few years we have what is
known as panic. The warehouses
are glntted with goods, the mills close
down, thousands are thrown out OF
ernnloymant opd underwood ,,,;,a,,,
and destitution prevail. Our financial
writer's and politicians tell us that
these pnnics are caused by over pro-
duction. This is false anu foolish
idea. There can be no overproduction
while thousands are hungry and in
rags. Is there an over-production of
food, VIXEN men are living on garbage.
or standing all night in a bread linz.
waiting for a loaf OF bread? Is there
an over-Droduction of clothing, when
men and women and children are in
rags? Is there an over-production Of
homes. when families are thrown into
the street for inability to pay rent :.
NO. 1t Is not oVer-production that
causes our panics, 1t Is understanding.
ton.
According to the United States sta
usucs the laborers employed in the
production OF our manufactured
goods receive fortyseven per cent. of
the selling price of the goods they
produce. These figures are taken
rom the statements made by the man
ufacturers themselves, and are prob
ably high. Now, these people make
up eighty-five per cent. of our consun-
ers, and since they can only buy back
forty seven per cent Of the goods
they make. there is fifty-three per cent
LETT to be consumed by fifteen per
cent. of the people. They can not do
this, hence, while men are in want. |
goods pile up in warehouses, the mar
kets are glutted, o,,r factories close,
and the panic is on.
Under Socialism. should there DE
such thing as real-over-production
more goods than the people needed L,
supply their wants, the factories
would close down, but instead OF a
panic. we would have a picnic until
the surplus was used.
There is today worldwide move
ment Of the workingmen of the world |
In every civilized country on the glo11 |
they are organized and working for 4 |
purpose the abolition of war.
Not only that kind of war in whic,
the workingmen of different nations
are arrayed against each other in
bloody strife On the field of battle,
but that greater fiercer war that is
daily waged, the industrial war. by
which men are pitted against each
other in desperate contest for the
means OF livihood. In place of this
antagonism and violence, Socialists
would establish cooperation and bro
therhood. and the dreams of the Sec
i2.ists of today will fall far short Of
the reality when this shall come to
pass.
The next lecture will be given on
February 18th. at the Y. NJ. C. A..
when Conlrade n. A. Richardson will
speak on Our Industrial Problem"