The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-22
Eugene y. pebs: An Appreciation.

V. Debs, who is probably the leading
exponent Of socialism in America,
gave an address in Council Bluffs Fri
day evening to moderate sized aud
fence. He should have spoken in the
auditorium and he should have been
heard by at least three thousand in
place of three hundred people. Mr.
Debs presents socialism at its best.
He is not ranter. He does not abuse
those who disagree with his view. He
does not preach treason, arson, in
cendiarism and anarchism. He gives
his hearers glimpse of the real spir-
1t and purpose of the socialism which
is promised on christian precepts-
the fatherhood of God and the
brotherhood of man.
The major premise OF Mr.. Debs' po-
sition is the scriptural assertion that
"the laborer is worthy Of his hire"
He insists that labOring men are not
getting fair share Of the products of
their toll. The conclusion is newt
able from this view that employers of
labor, the capitalists, are getting too
large share Of the wealth which la
Dor produces. His appeal is for
square deal for the laboring men who,
in his Judgment. are not now receiv-
ing their due His appeal Is address
ed to mems reasoning faculties and
he urges the solution of the problems
of capital and labor through educa-
ton. He advises working men to
study, to organize, to work together,
act together and vote together for tho
promotion Of their common welfare.
The socialist program which con-
templates the Specialization Of all in
dustries, is Utopian and in the judS-
ment Of most people impossible OF
realization this side of the mi1ien-
mum. But this In no wise should be
accepted as condemnation in toto
Of socialism. The laborer is worthy
of his hire. The laborer should elu-
cate himself and his family. He is
entitled to square deal. He is en-
titled to a wage which will enable
him to do these things. The capital
ist does need to be restricted. Swol-
len fortunes are an evidence OF inef-
ficiency, Smperfection and injustice
in our present social program. and
they constitute real menace to the
state The socialist is entitled to an
unprecedented hearing on the rostrum,
in the church and in the press, for he
is striving as !best he knows how to
promote the common welfare.
points in his address. In reply to
those who charge the socialists with
being unchristian. he points to the
fact that the socialists in Europe are
the only organized opponents OF the
war. While christian rulers, so-called,
are sending millions OF men to slaugh-
ter in the trenches, the socialists are
pleading and striving for a lasting
peace based on justice and the ac-
ceptance OF the premise that French,
English and German men are all
brothers with common interests and
common aims. German socialists
have openly declared themselves OPP
, posed to the forcible annexation OF
territory or the levying of tribute on
conquered countries and cities. Mr..
Debs says his comrades believe In
shedding light, whereas the kings.
kaisers and czars of Europe believe
in the shedding Of blood as a means
OF promoting civilization.
The aim of the socialists is to dig
Nifty labor, cut out snobbery and re-
J quire that all men and all women
stand for just what they are. Their
mistake, as those who do not accept
their program in whole see it, is in
their over-emphasis of the premise
that most of the ills which afflict us
can be remedied by law. They also
fail to see good in the existing order.
They do not, apparently. appreciate
the fact that our educational doors
are wide open. They fail to discern
that the ranks Of the capitalist class
are daily being recruited from the
ranks of the frugal and Industrious
| laborers.
Debs is entitled to hearing be-
cause he is a lover of his fellowmen
and because his mission is to lift up
the fallen and support those who fall
ter. He is manly and fair in his pre-