Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-25


food produced. This Is capitalism
Socialism would destroy all incentive
to burn or destroy wealth in this man
ner. You can not find any socialis
who advocates the destruction o.
wealth or property.
The popular, or democratic (no ref
erence to the political party which
gees by this name) management Of the
government, would make it, the gov
eminent, Chat is,-the elected Off
cials) subservient to the people. In
stead Of having rulers,-as some off
Gals tell us we need,-we would have
public servants, who would hold their
job only as long as they pleased their
employers, l. e. majority Of the peo-
pie.
You claim that the socialist plans
were failure in Milwaukee, and met
with the tlisapproval of the people.
Your one-sided information bureau has
badly deceived you. The socialists
were unable to carry out some OF their
plans because they were hampered
with obsolete laws, but they were only
defeated by combination of the other
two parties running on so-called non
partisan ticket. The socialists we're
swept into power in the first place In
three cornered fight because the peo-
pie were dissatisfied with both old
parties, but in the last election, with
both old parties combined and con-
centrating their fight on the socialists.
the latter polled more votes than they
had ever done before. They were not
repudiated but were endorsed by
about three thousand more voters than
at the previous election. The other
parties sacrificed everything to get
into office. The socialists sacrificed
nothing but the Offices.
You claim, again, that the slaves
were not confiscated, because they
were freed as war measure. AS the
slaves were never paid for, this still
looks like confiscation, by whatever
means you may justify it. Do you
know that some say that when the
socialists come into power, that the
capitalists will refuse to recognize
their authority. and that they will have
to take possession OF the Industries Of
the nation by force?I II this should hap
pen, the Industries would probably be
forcibly conf1scated, just about the
same way as the slaves. But do
not think anything like this will ever
be necessary. Come down to Ottumwa
and can show you practical exam
pie Of confiscation by republicans and
democrats. Here you may see fine
brick building, almost new, but prac-
tically deserted. On hot day the
thirsty citizen passes by and casts a
longing glance toward It, for painted
in bold letters on the building are the
words, "Ottumwa Brewing and Ice
Co." But, alas, the machinery is stilled
and 1t brews no more, for the citizens
have decided that 1t is against their
interests. and have closed 1t up, con-
fiscatng the business in the name Of
the law. The building and machinery
are there, but they might just as well
be destroyed for they are useless for
the purpose for which they were built,
and the people did not repay the own
ers, either. Now, here Is the point.
If the people can deprive the owners OF
q brewery OF the use Of their property,
why couldn't they take a bakery or
shoe factory. and run It for the benefit
Of the people? It would be as much
in the peoples interests to do So as to
close the brewery.
You are correct when you claim that
there is a great difference between the
chattel slave and the wage slave, but
some points I fear you have over
looked. When man wanted slave he
had to pay $1,000 or more, and feed
end care for the slave whether he
worked or not. Now the capitalist only
hangs out a sign and the wage slaves
come He pays them enough to feed
them while he needs their services,
and when he is through with them
tells them to go to = grass Cor some
where else). The chattel slave was al
ways running off to get away from mis-
master, but the wage slave when he
loses his master. runs his legs off I'M
til he finds another. As the lords OF
teudal days, in freeing their slaves and
making them serfs, retained the land,
without which the former slave could
not live, and thereby retained the serv-
ices Of the serf. so the masters Of the
present day have freed their slaves
and serfs, but still retain the land and
without which the workers
cannot exist, and In order, to live they
are compelled to work at the masters
terms. These terms are just enough
to keep the worker in good working
condition. and enable him to raise
enough children to carry on the same
game after he is worn out.
Your refusal to credit Eugene v.
Debs with the words which I quoted
(Which are a matter Of record) Is an
argument unworthy Of the kinder
garten class, and deserves no answer.
Your remarks about Debs himself
show a prejudice fed and fattened on
the malignant statements Of his
enemies. and profound ignorance Of
a man who will yet be honored by a
majority of the people las he now is
by minority as one Of the noblest
self-sacrificing men that ever lived
AS to Rev. Irvine. your meaning is not
clear, but please remember we are
not discussing the Industrial Work
ers of the World" but the philosophy
Of socialism. AS to Spargo, while you
may not acknowledge any master, you
cannot deny the fact that today many
- orNthor'c hroo1 onS