The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-08-08

and still the great problem (the in
dustrial problemD confronting the Am
erican people would largely remain
unsolved. It fails TO reach the sore
spot, the poverty Of the masses. Only
the socialists see a way for the solu-
tion OF that question. Now the ques-
ton / would like some one to answer
is. why turn the world upside down in
Il mad s1Ort 10 launch Il new party
when there Is already q party in the
field, that not ouls overs the same
ground but goes farther and would
not only eliminate bad social condi
tious but would 10 away with the
cause? As HELEN Keller, who is often
called The America wonder" who is
loved for her goodness and admired
for her wonderful achievements and
brilliant intellect well says, The fun
dameutaI evil thar causes all the ter
rible eruptions upon our life is power
ty. therefore We must get rid of
poverty In the schools where | shall
go. / shall tell the children that there
are W. great principles, the adoption
of which shall eradicate poverty and
hence most Of the great ills from which
the world suffers. These two princi-
pies are the public ownership of all
the means of liylihood and the public
management of all things that We
shall come to own. Through them
mankind will be able to have at its
disposal all the things needed to in
sure health, fresh air, good food and
comfortable homes and healthful
places to work in" Now this is a
splendid summing up Of the rue pur-
pose and programme Of the socialist
party and | ask is not a party with
such a purpose worthy Of the allegi-
ance Of every patriot and is there any
need Of looking any farther for a
new party?' But | imagine | hear
some T. eXclaim "Oh the socialists,
they are a lot of lunatics, or anarch-
lists, they believe in dividing up they
would break up the home and destroy
religion and a lot more of this kind
Of nonsense" Let me respectfully in
form you that your socialism is only
a man Of straw. 1t has no existence
in fact as every we'll informed person
knows. 1t is however, the picture of
socialism given to the world by the
big interests who have spent hundreds
Of thousands of dollars employing the
very best talent and using the church
and the press and every other agency
that money can buy to misrepresent
and a%ntagonize the socialist position,
for there is this much to be said in
favor of the socialists, it is the only
existing party that the predatory in
terests fear. Now in conclusion let
me say that while our opinions may
socialism is good for me it is good fo
you and if it is not good for you it is
not good for me. 1t is therefore to the
interests of everyone Of us to find the
truth if we can. Wrong policies do
not become and the less hurtful simply
because we believe in them. | there
fore try to rise above prejudice and
be true to my best thought and al
though have been a socialist for over
twelve years and believe thoroughly
in its philosophy yet if | could be
shown that the Bull Moose" or the
democratic or any other party offered
a better solution to the great problems
confronting us as a nation | would not
hesitate a m in accepting them.
This it seems to me is the only true
position TO take and if followed by all
would soon bring the relief desired.
p. O. Peterson-It has seemed to
me for a number of years that a new
party formed by the alignment of the
voters with reference to the pro-
Dlems now confronting us is absolu-
tely necessary and | shall attempt to
give my reasons for my convictions.
Simply an assertion that "a new party
is not needed or I'VE can secure the
reforms better through the old par
ties don't cut any figure as any one
can make IN assertion about any
thing. Before the civil war the then
two great political parties, the demo
Gratis and the wings attempted to set
tie the questions leading to the civil
war, but it was only patch work and
they dared not attempt anything in
earnest as both parties were COM
posed partly of opposite political
opinions, and it was not until a third
party namely the republican party,
was organized and came into power
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