The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-05-22

DULOnEvlDM LAlD
BARELY GORDON
F. G. R. Gordon, of Haverill, Mass,
delivered one Of the most convincing
arguments against Bolshevism and
state socialism we have listened to at
the city hall last night to not very
large audience. The subject matter
and the facts presented deserved a big
audience. It was lecture on these
subjects free from politics, free from
abuse of any kind, but full of facts
that the people should know about,
and as usual, those who should have
been there to hear him were conspicu-
Gus by their absence. 1t was real
convincing argument that had it's
weight with those who heard him.
The subject of the address was "The
Menace of Bolshevism in America
and it's aim was to show that Boil
shevism really is nothing but socialism
Estate socialism which is state slav-
cry as the speaker expressed it.
Mr.. Gordon, who spoke under the
auspices Of the North Dakota Stand
ard, was introduced by w. J. Arnold
of Lisbon. By an array of incontro-,
vertable statistics and an effective dis
play of quiet. sarcasm, Mr.: Gordon
succeeded in exposing the fallacies OF
socialistic claims and the shortcoming
of public ownership system.
The socialist theory is: That with
the growth and development of the
present system under which we have
made the most wonderful progress,
the struggle for existence by the great
working class grows ever more and
more intense, that the wealth of the
nation concentrates into fewer hands,
that the rich grow richer and the
poor grow poorer; that the once pow
erful middle class as they say ntheir
platform, will be driven into bank
ruptcy and finally disappear in the
struggle, and then, society will be con-
fronted with two classes only, great
and powerful working class despoiled
of all their wealth, of their homes,
Of everything, while on the other side
will be the plutocracy owning all the
means of production and exchange,
and when this time comes then the
working class will arise and as Marx
| said: 'Expropriate the expropriators.'
"And all over this nation this doc
trine is being preached by the organ
lied socialists who raise and expend
raillion dollars year for the pur-
pose of destroying every social, politi-
cal and economic institution which
J you love. And along with this move
ment there are several other radical
organizations engaged in the same
work, spending several millions year
all aiming at the Specialization Of in
dustry; the Hearst organs and 3OO
other daily papers and thousand
weekly and monthly dreams having a
| combined circulation Of 100000 a
week all working for the overthrow of
everything that you and I hold dear"
Referring to socialism in Australia
and New Zealand, Mr.. Gordon said:
"The Australian states and New.
Zealand have plunged more extensive
ly into state socialism than any 9TH
err countries, and as a result Of this
they have become the champion debt
riden state of all the world. On the
first day Of January, 1914, the COM
bined debt of the Commonwealth of
Australia and New Zealand and the
Australian states amounted to the
enormous sum of $1,936,O00, 900. On
that same date the combined debts of
the 48 states of this country and Of
the nation amounted to 81 ,313 ZOO, 900,
and we had 1O0O,O00,O0O Of popula-
ton, while they had only about $780,
600. Brought down to per family
basis, we find that if every family in
America had contributed $65, that
would have wiped out the entire debt
Of all other states and of the dation.
On exactly the same basis it would
have required the sum of $1,555 per
family in Australia. and in New Zea-
land it was much worse, for it would
have required $2,106.5O from every
family to have paid the state debt of
New Zealand. Think of it, sos here
and more than two thousand over
there! Would you like to trade condi-
tions? More than this, let US see how
the expenses for government mount
up in New Zealand:
"For the year 1914 little New Zea--
land with population of 1852 900 &C
tually raised and expended the vast
sum of $57, 551 500, just for one years
expenses, mark you. Compare that
with North Dakota. That same year
you expended about two million dol
lars as the cost Of running your state
government and as you have more
that has as large population as
New Zealand, if your taxes had been
as high here as they were over there,
you would have added SIG, 100000 to
the $2,000,000 which you did spend.
Now, if you think you like that sort of
thing, why just vote to travel the
same road that New Zealand has and
you will get the same results"
DISCUSSION OF BIG