Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-09

, warranted animosity towards holders
of property, the energetic and success
! full. | shall endeavor to refute his
arguments and will quote one or two
planks from his platform.
The initiative, referendum and re.
call would destroy the republican
form of government guaranteed by the
constitution. Several years actual ex-
perience has shown it to be in reality
a rule of the minority involving the
expense and furore of frequent cleo.
tions. 1t demands too much of the at.
tention, time and intelligence Of our
electorate. 1t would substitute govern
ment by newspaper for government by
legislature. 1t is based on the idea
of equality which is a beautiful but not
practical dream. In conjunction with
this the socialist platform demands.
the abolition of the senate and the
veto power of the president 1t would
make the constitution amenable by a
majority vote recognizing no difference
between constitutional and statute
law.
The constitution provides for q
system Of checks and balances. Would
you destroy them? We must have
foundation for our governmental struo-
ture. We must have way to protect
the rights of the minority. The So
cialist platform says "given class So
lidarity and effective organization the
workers will have power to make all
laws in their own interests. What
about the interests Of the minority ?
Voters, I know "let the people
rule is popular cry, but don't
be mislead. If you are Of
the few who could vote intelligently
on the matters confronting our incom-
ing legislature, such as women's suf-
frage, private bank examinations.
proposed change in mulct law, pro
posed changes in school laws, laws af-
fecting> our state institutions, appro-
priations etc, if you are, of the few
who could recall an official or repeal
a law on it's merits by the evidence
produced deciding by your Judgment
instead Of your sentiment would you
care to put that power into the hands
of those who may be intelligent
enough but would not vote intelligently
on those subjects? You who vote in
differently and appear uninterested
remember the analogy between the
cell in the body and the individual in
society. Both have function to per-
form. When group of either fails to
do their duty the body or society sui
fers. If you, as individuals perform
your duty we'll we will have honest
legislation and honest courts. There
will be no Iced for the initiative refer
endum and recall. The agitation, for it
has been to a considerable extent due
to the failure of the voter to properly
perform his duties as an elector.N If
we have bad men in Office it is re-
Election on the people who put them
there and bad laws would find their
way o statute books the same as bad
men find their way into Office. /
The United States has never con-
Quoted any business enterprise in a way
to warrant an experiment in public
ownership. Who would pay the in
creased cost of production under gov
eminent ownership? The consumer.
How will socialism affect the trans
fer of 70 billions Of dollars worth of
not including the value Of
land, to the government?
How will socialism determine the
wages to be paid to the army Of en-
ployes? ~..-..~. ...... ..-.- .....s. y,
Farmers, here is the plank in the
socialist platform relating to you.
Read it and decide the issue your
self. Cali farm lands not cultivated by
owners shall be taxed at it's full rental
value and that actual u5e and occu-
pancy shall be the only title to land.
1--WE demand the return by the ma
tional, state or local governing bodies |
al 1on6 cd 1,1y.thoo, or6 tho nm |
tinuous aquirement of other land by |
re clamation, purchase or condemna-
ton, taxation CT otherwise; such land |
to be organized rapidly as possible into /
socially operated farms for the con-
duct of collective agricultural enter
prises."
Because person has plenty at the
present time. not to provide for the
future would be foolishness. Men !
would you rather leave your widows
and children what you work for, prop
erty or leave them to the care Of So
,iety' A socialist income tax will con-
iscate your property.
Your answer to my question asking
Why cauntry meat markets purchase
neat from the packers instead Of the
'armers is very weak. In fact it up
holds big business. The city merchants
lave the same price list to buy from
hat the country merchants have.
How do people get their names in
Who's Who" BY being proficient or
,xcelling in their line Of work. All
ife is a struggle. 1t sharpens mems
Wits and he who is successful is sue
:essful because he struggled with his
adversary until he conquered it,
whether it be problem in mathemat-
cs or voyage to the pole. Social
SIN is especially alluring to men who
relieve it will remedy his condition
9hen his own deliquencies cause him
o have that condition. The efficient Il
re few in numbers and the tendency
would be to lower their reward or !
wages, sounding the death knell of Il
lu.nan progress. I
Let me submit paragraph from
'resit mt Taft in conclusion. [
There are few so blind or stupid as +,
o deny the existence of the very real
wills which socialism seeks to obliter- !.
tie. How are they to be corrected ii
ot by socialism? Let us suggest. by