The Marshall republican. [volume] (Marshall, Saline County, Mo.) 1899-1914, 1914-02-20
ruff TURNS
ANTI-SOCIALIST


Pass to Logan, New Mexico, several
years ago, has reversed himself and
makes the following splendid state
ment:
After agitating for Socialism for a
number OF years, no doubt the posi-
tion that now take will surprise and
disappoint my Socialist friends. yet
I can only feel sorry for them II they
persist In following what have been
brought to realize as fantastic will
o'-the-wisp. only ask them to care
fully study and consider seriously
this so called revolution" without
prejudice. and II they seek far en-
ough they will comprehend the alb
surdity and impacticability of II. In
this brief article l can only point out
few Of the many absured claims ad-
vocated by Socialism.
one common claim is that labor
produces all wealth." To make such
a claim as this would be the same as
to assert that when the French army
under Napolean fought the allied
armies about twenty times their
number at AusterlItz and won bril-
liant victory. that Il was won by the
rank and file. and not owing TO the
military genius OF Napolean and his
faithful field marshals. Also as alb
surd TO claim that the Revolutionary
war could have been won without
Washington and his faithful oompa-
triots. Also that the Panama canal
would have been dug and finished by
laborer just as quickly without the
directing skill of that engineering
genius. Goethal-and so on ad infini-
tum. II stands to reason that labor
/ to be OF value must have useful pur-
pose. but II Il has not then Il does not
create wealth. supply and demand
are the creators OF wealth. II a man
spent his time aud labor In making
some article he could not sell then his
labor would he worth nothing.
Another Slogan the Socialists have
is "Get inside the trusts" (I do not
uphold the trusts myself. but will not
take up space here how they should
be dealth with.) Yet strange TO say
that no Socialist yet has been able
to give n fair. feasible and practical
method OF how they would get inside
OF the Trusts. SO far have been
able to get only three methods that
they propose: For the government
to buy out the trusts, by the govern
ment building competeing railroads,
factories. etc, and by confiscation.
But they all mean confiscation OF
course. for OF what use TO buy out the
trusts and make the people pay for
them. II the "despised capitalist" can
not re-invest his money. Why build
up competing lines, when could Just
as we'll take those now in use? Fig,
ure II any way you want to. the Soci,
alists mean confiscation, the most
glaring anarchy.
But suppose the trust were confis
Gated. what then? Would they still
be producers of great wealth? Nix!
Do you suppose for moment that Il
: the leaders OF these great industries
were removed and controlled by tn,
laborers themselves. twho being nov
assured Of a job would soon becom,
lackadaisical In their work, thinkinl
that Uncle Sam is only responsible Il
them for a living and they can cas-
: the burden off their shoulders int
his board back,) that the trust
4 would continue to produce as now
!. Nix againl You got another gues
I coming. rl
/ Poverty may breed social incom
petence. but the reverse is also true
II is by fighting the battle OF life, b.
overcoming difficulties that make
!, success real and an attainment to b.
n desired. thus preventing stagnation
J. The slum may be symptom as wei
d as cause; the. "slum like" yillag
i hovel In land of plenty proves It. Il
:. fact you can go to such places and
i you search without prejudice, yo
will find its nearly always the rul
that It is the shiftless. ne'er-do-wel
families or persons who cause the eS
g istence Of these slums. 1t is thi
0 shiftlessness that is the real cause O
Il the existence OF those slums, and tina
a afflicts humanity and will not res
n pond to moral suasion. This is tn
IS rock against which Socialism, II
r ever comes, will be wrecked. as
l. cannot steer clear Of It, Also It ma
d be further said in passing, that 1t
}. this incompetence that makes thos
n OF this class, who are unable to max
=, n 40 "A vuv In tha world wilma ahaa