The Co-operative news. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1917-1918, 1917-10-25
OPEN FORUM
THE TWO VIEWPOINTS


world war in Europe are vastly diff
ferent from those of so many that
sometimes ! ask myself if am
wrong. But thus far my brain has
not been able to find my error. Be-
cause have to ask myself this
question | am going to pass it on.
Tell my views an dthose of the
other fellow and let you answer
which is right. | am not mean
enough to want to use big words or
to want to write masterpiece in
prose, but want to just tell two view
points of full-blooded Yankees and
then ask for your judgment.
My neighbor says that the Allies,
England, France, etc, are non-mili-
tary nations, democratic nations, and
that they are fighting for Liberty
for the people of the world. They
are fighting against the Central
Powers, Germany, Austria, ETC.,
countries designated as military, I'M
democratic and warlike, who threat
en- the liberties of the world. That
the fault is with the Central Pow
ers, that when they surrender and
let the nations opposing them name
the terms Of peace, democracy will
be established on a firm basis for
the world. In short, the world will
be so much better off with a victory
for the Allies that it is the duty
of this nation, the peoples of this
country, to feed, support, and fight
with, the European Allies to de-
feat the Central Powers. They
point with assurance to the tales of
barbarism practised by the Germans
The invasion of supposedly invul-
nerable Belgium. To the interfer-
ence with traffic between this coun-
try and the Allies. To diplomatic
Irregularities on the part of Ger
many. To lavish expenditures of
money to spy and to buy advantages
in this country. = They assert that
all intelligent people with the best
interest of the U. S. A. at heart are
vitality interested in victory for the
Allies. They maintain that war has
been forced upon us by Germany,
against our desires, in spite of our
not seeking material gain, and IN
spite of our strenuous efforts to
keep out of the war. They state
that the great money interests, the
financiers, of this country are to-
day sacrificing wealth that the Cen
trail Powers may be defeated in the
interest of a World Democracy. They
believe that the wealthy are losing
money in the war. That the bur-
den fthe war in life and property
is, or will be, as heavy for the rich
as for the poos.
Now l disagree with every one of
their statements, with the excep-
ton of their condemnation of Ger
many and the Central Powers as
foul beasts of prey, but l include the
rest of the nations in the war as
belonging in the same class, in so
far as they are in the war. Yes,
thus far / am compelled to maintain
the negative to each assertion. The
cause of the war is not to be laid
at the feet of any nation. 1t lies
in the fact that the products of the
countries on both sides of the battle
line are much more than the amounts
paid in salaries and wages to those
who produce. That surplus prod
uct which cannot be purchased in the
producing countries, nor it's equiva-
lent in other products, because there
is vast profit, is constantly ac-
cumulating in the hands of the few
people of each country who own and
control the machinery of production,
and distribution. This small group in
each nation, known as capitalists, is
anxious to have~ ready access to the
|
markets of the world, for a large
part of the product of it's nation.
These national groups of capitalists
have again grouped themselves into
international groups, or alliances,
triple and entente for procuring and
maintaining outside markets for
their goods. These Alliances are
just as jealous as rival lovers, or
rival popcorn vendors at country
fair. Both wanting the same thing,
briefly, profits, being so close to-
gether, the stress and strain for
markets being so fierce, each being
selflshly and murderously wise, has
been teaching and continues to teach
the masses of it's own country to
nate the people of the other group
and to obey the wishes of the small
number who get and always want
profits. Thus it is not strange that
the constant friction caused an ex-
plosion.
The historic character of the sew
eral nations shows each in possession
OF some grand good points, but each
about even in oppression of the
Etxrn., -,