Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-10-09
IFS AND WHY
(By Allen cook.)

Will some of these anti-Socialists
who are always saying that "the
theory of Socialism is fine, but it won't
work, please answer the following
questions:
l. If the Government can establish
and successfully operate hospitals to
care for the sick and wounded in
times of WAR, why can't it do so even
better in times of PEACE?
2. If the government can operate
Post Offices fer the USE and BENE-
FIK of all the people, why can't it
operate BANKS for the same purpose?
3. If the government can build and
operate BATTLESHIPS for the pur-
pose of KILLING the people, why
can't it build and operate STEAM
SHIP LINES to aid the people to
LIVE?
4. If the. governments can take
charge OF, railroads and run them sue
cessfully in times of war for DE-
STRUCTIVE purposes, why can't it
run railroads for CONSTRUCTIVE pur
poses in times of peace with greater
success?
.. Ii the government can foreclQse
mortgage on railroad system, place
| it in the hands of a receiver, conduct
the business so successfully that it
becomes a paying institution and then
turn it back into the hands of it's
owner, why can't it successfully run
a railroad ION its own hook?
Z 6. If the government can make
shoes and clothing and blankets for
WAR purposes, why can't it do so for
purposes of PEACE?
| Z. If the government can build and
successfully operate the great Panama
Canal, why can't it build irrigation
systems in the deserts of the west and
make them blossom as a garden?
| 8. If the government can build
wagons and cannons and complete
artillery outfits with harness and col
lars and brides for WAR purposes,
why can't it build farm implements
for the pursuits of PEACE?
/ 9. If the cities of our country can
own and operate their water works
system with facilities to furnish pure
water at low cost to all citizens, why
can't they own and operate their
/ lighting and heating systems with the
same success?
10. If the cities of our country can
construct, pave and curb their many
miles of streets, with storm and SAM
ftary sewers. can any sane man tell
why they could not own and operate
their telephone system, and give de-
cent service to the people,?
IL. If the cities of our land can
construct and maintain their excellent
system of public schools with an ex-
penditure of multiplied millions OF
dollars annually, who would have the
audacity to say that there is not
brains enough in the cities to oper-
ate decent street car systems for the
use and benefit of the people?
If there is any reason on the face
of the earth why Socialism won't
work, why don't some one tell the
people in that way and for what
reason it won't work? Speak UP, and
Igive the reason for the faith that is
in you. If Socialism won't work, then
our education is failure, our chris
tianity is delusion and our hope of
the future as black as despair The
Socialists are the only optimists living
today. They believe that the great
Inventions, discoveries and scientific
knowledge, if used for the benefit and
happiness of the people; could and
would make Veritable heaven on
earth, but if used by the few owners
to rob, crush and Cypress the toiling
millions, can turn this good old world
of ours into veritable hell. Social
ism is coming, and coming soon,
whether we want it or not, and the
parties and institutions, whether poll
teal or religious that stand in the
way of its onward sweep viii be
ground to powder and to dust The
working man who still clings to the
old rotten, sinking hulks of Demo
lcracy and Republicanism, either does
so through ignorance, or else he pre-
fers poverty to wealth, misery to hap
piness, slavery to freedom and doubts
his own right and ability to enjoy the
good things of earth. When the work
ling class arouses from its age-long
Islumber an dthe vision of Socialism
is impressed upon its brain, life will
lengthen, JOY will deepen, love will
Intensity, humanity will be enthron-
ed and the world set free.