Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-10-02

only one Of which IS devoted to the
liquor traffic.
You are worried because our article
was unsigned. Please read the next
Issue OF our paper for a full explana-
ton Of this terrible sin Of omission.
A large part Of your article Is an
attempt TO prove that white slavery is
due 70 poorly paid working girls. This
does account for one class But we
all know that there are other classes
Of fallen women, for instance, those
betrayed by promises Of marriage e'e.
Now insofar as low wages accounts
for one class. we are as anxious as
you 10 remedy the condition. Take
the large department store. You
would kin capital and the whole store
70 that a few girls would not be paid
such low wages as 10 cause them 10
enter the scarlet life; would not a
simple minimum wage law which
would put these girls beyond the
reach OF poverty. accomplish the same
results and at the same time keep
both the store and capital intact
Mere wild rampant hate Of capital
win not remedy the white slave prob
lem. And after all the saloons are
largely responsible for the demand
for girls.
Much more might be said but do
not care 10 weary the reader with de-
tails. The article in question proves
nothing but that the average Socialist
has no clear conception OF the work
ahead except a general madness
against capitalism. Socialism IS a
Utoplan dream Of human happiness
With capitalism, the monster enemy
killed and buried. But to get that he
has no definite plan Of procedure
neither does he realize the enormous
ness Of the task-the havoc Il would
play
There Is no question but what
things are not what they might be.
There are not equal opportunities for
all" Capital has advantages over la
Dor. iniustces are done, the weak are
often oppressed But no raylng revo-
luton will remedy this. It must come
through evolution; It must come
through elimination. And we are
growing toward this. Municipal own
ership Of municipal utilities is taking
the place Of private ownership; mon
opoly regulation and control the place
Of private corporations; high finance
speculation, gambling and usury are
being curtailed But no mere brain |
riots Of anti-capitalism will do II. The |
economic questions ahead Of us are
most complex and puzzling. It will |
take a nation of clear brains and |
steady hands to solve them. Prohi-
)iuonists believe we must have a so
Der citizenship among other things, to .
10 the Job. With 100000 temper
lie" or moderate" drinkers and g.
100000 confirmed drunkards who are
ecruited from the moderate" drink
RS and with a large part Of these OF
curse voters, we hardly think we
ave a sober nation for this great
ask.
Most people believe in that higher
theoretical Socialism, that Tight that
ever was on sea or land" though
many Of them have little faith that we
vii ever attain such a state. But
'hen Socialism simply raves against
apitalism, when it permits despica-
lie fungus growths to fasten upon it.
elf, when it howls for free speech
nd refuses It to others, when It pub
Ishes and endorses such literature
s was recently witnessed in Portland
hen its effect upon the majority OF
s followers is to make Of them athe-
'ts and cynics, when It tears down
be glorious Stars and Stripes for
.hich my father among thousands of
iher foughtbled and gave his life-I
ay when these things are the visible.
'ery-day evidences of Socialism, |
'rtainly do not wish to become a part &
1T.
From this period l might proceed e
nd, after the Socialist custom. preach g
me party doctrine. But we are try n
g to do that by means Of our little 5
'per Pacific Advance, and I shall .
It impose upon the good will Of the n
.itor of the Capital Journal by con-
luing this discussion indefinitely. n
A. H. MEESE. II
lBoth sides having been heard. this Fl
ds the discussion. Ed. J. 6
Notice 10 Tnxnavers u