Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-06

TOSTIR ANlMUS
SOCIALISTS CELEBRATION OF IN.
DEPENDENCE DAY DRAWS
SEVERAL OFFICERS

! SOCIALISTS CELEBRATION OF IN
/ DEPENDENCE DAY DRAWS
SEVERAL OFFICERS
Although one red flag was entwinec
among several star spangled banners
at the socialists Independence day
celebration at Wildwood yesterday
there was no disorder. The ad
dress by I. S. McCrillis, state secre
! tary Of the socialist party, contained
the customary references to "benef1c
iaries of special privileges" and 8
| "prostituted press" and the usual criti
| cisms OF the policies Of the govern
ment, yet there was nothing in its tex
to justify arrest in the minds of the
array Of federal, state, county and city
authority which was prominent In the
audience.
+! Perhaps this show Of strength had
J some effect in tempering what might
/ have been a more violent speech. bu,
! MIR. McCrillis gave no indication thai
| he was deleting his address as he
went along.
OFFICIALS WERE THERE.
These representatives OF the males
ty of the law were present: United
States Marshal Reed. Assistant United
States Attorney Moon, United States
Commissioner Mitchell. Sheriff Cremel
and two deputies, one policeman and
several national guardsmen.
Mr.. McCrillis' topic. as announced,
was Patriotism. Liberty and Democ.
racy." As to democracy. he said, I'VE
never will get democracy by despot-
ism: by wishing for it or by saying
that we are making the world safe for
democracy"
On the subject Of the Liberty Bonds.
which have been purchased by mil
lions Of Americans, the speaker de-
clared investigation will show that a
great eastern bank controls all OF them
and that they will pay only 70 cents
on the dollar.
LAWS AND ELASTICITY.
There is nothing sacred about a
law" he said. ut should be elastic.
1t should be changed to meet condi-
tons. Nothing is so hard to change
as a law or an order of court
at thus becomes a means Of human
oppression because 1t is of interest to
have It so.
an the early days these little groups
had their priests declare law sacred
and soldiers stood by with drawn
swords to enforce 1t.
1T has always been said that the
two legs Of despotism are ecclesiasti-
cism and militarism.
"1n all Of this discussion about the
sacredness Of law and social orders
we lose sight of the only thing which
is sacred-the people themselves.
1--WE are sacrificed on the false altar
Of idealism.
GOOD PATRIOTS.
"A good citizen Is a good patriot
and there is no aggregation of better
citizens or patriots than the social
lists.
1--WE have, for too long a time, ap.
piled the individual characteristic to
patriotism.
Waving Of flags does not constitute
patriotism. Those who have watched
socialism will be fair enough to grant
that its followers are equal to any ag-
creation in the world They have
brought their best intelligence and
honesty into their expression OF public
policies.
MUST ANALYzE MOVES.
"A socialist is good citizen but he
Is not patriotic IL. to be so, means that
he is willing to close his eyes and
blindly follow the flag no matter what
II stands for or where II goes.
HE insists on the right to analyze
the policies and to approve or dissap-
prove Of them according to his die.
tates.
First we heard that there must be
a great army raised. Did they ask us ?
No. It was to be merely an army for
defense, no troops would be sent to
France.
Then the voluntary system, that
great organization which sent 4,0O0,.
900 men to the front in the days of 81
to '65. was declared inadequate. Did
they ask us about It? No.
Then began the move for sending
troops across the seas and the con-
scription Of lives.
Right along with 1t, while the con-
scription of lives was being pushed,
came some big talk about the conscrip-
ton Of wealth. But, that has been soft
pedaled now, since the law has been
pushed through compelling US to send
our boys into the trenches.
DECLINE OF OLD IDEAS.
"All Of these things" said Mr.. Nc
Crillis, "show that there is q decline
and a passing Of the old idea Of the
sacredness Of the law.
There is true ring Of patriotism
in the administration Of human liberty
and the man who renders service to
society is Just as much patriot as the
man who bears arms"
MENEFEE TALKS.
At the close Of Mr.. McCrillis' talk.
Commissioner Menefee gave short
address along much the same lines as
his predecessor.
About 500 people attended the pic
mic during the day and there were var
ious athletic contests, musical pro-
grams and events going on all the time
in different parts Of the grounds.
CHICAGO LOSES
AIRCRAFT CAMP