Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1912-02-08
Toms Letter

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pie who are suffering from the sting OF
present customs are on the qui yive
for relief. These people do not under
stand what Socialism stands for. 1t
stands for a cooperative government.
To be more specific and plain, a bust
ness government. 1t seems to me al
most any man ought to understand
what a cooperative system of govern
ment is and means. 1t demands a
world of the people, by the people n
for the people, a realization of llber-
| ty, equality and fraternity, the absol-
ute sway of democracy in every instl-
tuition in which nan lives, moves hi
has his being.
Now, if ]. P. Morgan and Rocketel-
Ter can thru their agents control n
govern the gigantic industrial entel
prises they do, cannot the government
do the same thingt and then have we
not the same material with which to
do business as these gentlemen l
think so. Socialism, as we call it,
means a business government operated
in the interest of all the people in
stead of a few, and the profits accru-
ing from the same are for all. Would
MT it be better for the people TO en-
ploy and own themselves than for a
Rockefeller to employ and w themr
Then again, the collective ownership
of all capital and all means Of life, and
the private ownership of wealth, the
product of your own toll, would drive
away misery and anxiety. You would
then know your children would have q
home. You have heard it said that
Tennessee needs a business governor
Yes, If we bad any business for him to
attend to. Under Socialism, or a CO.
operative commonwealth, our best bus
mess men would be called to fill the
various positions and according to
their fitness, and their ability. I've
heard it said, and so have you, that a
new creation of men would have to be
raised up before Socialism would be a
success, l believe we have plenty of
as good material as ever lived to equip
a cooperative government from head to
foot. The fact is, yoar foremen at
Whitwell or Tracy City could and
would do the work required at their
hands just as faithfully as they do for
the T G. l. & r. r. Co. l am talk
ing about a cooperative business gov
eminent under Social Democracy or
under the direct control of the people.
Further, let me say, the world was
never better equipped for a co-opera-
tive system of government than now,
men trained in every phase of human
activity from road overseer to the very
highest and most complicated. There
is no doubt in my mind but success
would crown the whole. Now, don't
expose your Ignorance any more by
asking silly, foolish questions, but
rA.-I, IL. -.~4nAs~x. - cTnnnAtv Mo
fully expect Socialism to triumph.
It's an evolution that cannot be stop
ped. A revolution, a social change, a
lifting up Of crushed humanity by Co
operation. Now, do you understand.
I've left off the ideals entirely for l be-
lieve the Socialists have dealt too
much in the idealism of Socialism, but
yet there is an ideal to 1t, and that
carries g onward toward the goal OF
our highest aspirations. Will 1t last
or is it a passing phase of social evo--
lution2 Take Social Democracy and
Jay it down by the side Of the old par
ties and compare them, and see which
is the best for humanity. The two old
parties have never inaugurated any
thing helpful to the masses. True they
lay taxes and collect them, and lay
burdens on the people heavy to bear,
but provide no means to enable them
to bear them. Social Democracy pro-
poses to inaugurate a government that
would assist and help the people as
stated above, and the people would not
be imposed on by vile authorizations
and spurious concoctions as now. Even
your WHISTLES would be of the purest
and best quality, and would not be
under debauching and degrading con-
ditions as now. Please reason out
the matter and quit saying silly, fool
ish things about social democracy, such
as we would have to have a new gem
GRAFTON of human beings. Probably
one or two hundred years ago a Coop
erative system of government would
have been out of order, but In 1919
there are experts in every avocation OF
life fully able and competant to carry
out any cooperative system of govern
ment the people might set up. Then,
again, the profits would be for all in
stead of a few, and that would mean a
fine system of education for your child
rem, such as the world never saw.
Not only that, but it would mean
your aged decrepid, and those not
physically able to earn their living,
would be amply provided for. Knowl-
edge and christian civilization would
cover the earth as the waters cover
the sea.
This, sirs, is an age Of progress and
development, and the world is fast
turning its back on the old slavisb
conditions aud customs and these old
moss covered stand patters are going
to be left far in the rear. Even Hitch
cock, the postmaster general, sees the
progressive army as 1t advances. VIM.
j. BRYAN saw it several years ago, but
hadn't the courage to fall into line in
to line. The great west with her her
ole sons and daughters has seen the on
ward march of the brotherhood, and
are falling into line by the hundreds.
Even the United Mine Workers of
America have amended their constitu-
tion so they can join in the grand
march for a cooperative system OF
government. Not a country on the
globe but what has the Socialist prop
uganda. Won't it be fine when chris
tianity can realize itself fully, a thing
it never has had q chance to do.
Now, in conclusion let me say I've
not dealt in theory nor ideals, but in
plain simple language, giving you my
idea of Social Democracy and what 1T
seeks to erect for all the people, INST
a husinpsa oovarnmant on humaue