The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
DIXON LECTURESON i MAN AGAINST MASS
Makes Vigorous Attack on
 Socialism Principle s
WORLD IS ADVANCING
Lecture Was Given at High School Last Night as Extra Number in Regular Lyceum
 Course


 widely known platform speaker, delivered government entitled "The Man Against the Mass in the High school auditorium last evening. The Dixon addres was giv- en under the auspices of the Lyceum course as an extra number not listed in the regular course and was attended by an audience of medium proportions
 He spoke In the identical settings of confederate and union flags that were hoisted for the Robert E Lee anniver- sary celebration of the afternon and his ringing words fell among the red, white and blue banners like the echoes of an- other period in rebellion against the march of socialism and the involved mem ace to competition.
 His arguments were clearly presented but in rapid transit of speech accom- panied with dramatization of attitudes that partially destroyed the effect his doctrines might have cast with a man. rerism of more dignity. He possessed an enlivenlng humor that aptly illustrated several economic points that he set forth but his too evident endeayors to thrust the humor of his remarks into the ap- preciaton of his hearers removed a little of that keen edge that goes with the dry wit and droll expression of words if left to ldll where they VIII.
 Self Reliance
 The theme of MT. Dixon's discourse might not be inadvertently termed "self | reliance for his tearing away of the socialistic creed that he alleged places tho responsibility of morals, livelihood and every phase of living upon the gov ernment instead of the man and his de- claratlon that the growth of character is the only justi1able aim of good gov ernment and civilization, tended to ex- pound this principle as the supreme need of humanity. Socialism, stated MT Dixon, "persistently refers to the govern ment ownership as the panecea> of all their ills and is merely the taking of the burden of existance from a mans back and placing it upon the shoulders of a government that is made up of individ- uals and not insured against dishonesty. ignorance and corruption"
 ou can pauperlze any man who will accept your assistance" said Mr. Dixon, but this is not the way to develop self reliant men and women The socialists say that the world and the nation owes every child living, and if there is not enough industries to keep them in de- sirable work, the government should pro- vide workshops for them Obligation al- ways carries with it a right, and if the gova lnaau Thould become obligated to cart ff nff1 child born into the land It sqal1 fats the right to fix the birth rate ei ine pulation and control the nun pes sons for whom 1t will have to make lres Dns lndut rial Conditions 'hesei ass in the history of the inc utfftal Nr'l have we had better con di1 4fs g nitary housing and more | ca aitsi at aonesty than at the pres en untf snf here are defects in our c1A BOB nl Hae must and will be grad ua4is Hiuattd. But the socialists look al 1 fly. the criminal and most dt pe5a ions of our modern con al as iF harp upon and fan the flame or l s'f iuat ent. The real promoters of socialism are not such men as Eu- gene Debs, but coterie of Wall streets financiers and frenzied captains of indus try who want socialism to triumph and place the govrnment m ownership, so that the great combines they have ar ranged might be managed as a unit and In concentrated measures. I have noth- ing against the socialist as a man. but l do not like his scavenger methods of making a living.
 "Competiton is the law of progress In civilization and is the demand of the universe for the highest efficiency. Sci entists call it the survival of the Attest, but it means the individual who responds 
 and uses his given faculties for the de- velopment of his advantages to a we'll rounded. reliable, manly citizen. How does the millionaire, that acme of crim- inaity. according to the socialists. really differ from us? He n,ust have the care of the administration of his wealth. from which we really get the greatest ben eft and the more money he piles up the more we benefit.
 "A capitalist does not store his gold away to gloat over like a mser, but puts every dollar into circulation that it may build more railroads for our use and establish more schools for our edu- cation. He cannot get any better serv- ice from his railroad than you and l for he must use the same rails, but he may fare more sumptuously at meal times and have indigestion. We can make use of his wealth and enjoy our own digestion, but he cannot use our digestion to enjoy his wealth. The capitalist is the organizer of the energy of his fellowmen and can do nothing towards creating a public utility with out their aid.