The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1921-12-15
CASTOR|A
For Infants and Children
In Use For Over 3OYears
Always bears ~
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Observations on Socialism
from E. W. Howe's Monthly.l


California is a delightful place, but
more half fools and half wise men live
there than in any other State in the
Union. | rarely open my mail without
finding letter from another gentleman
who wishes to argue with me, although
everyone knows that what we need now
is not more argument, but more work.
My latest correspondent from Caifor-
MIA says: "You say, Let the men set the
fashion of more industry, etc. With five
million now denied the opportunity to
work by your pet capitalstic system,
what can they do2 Do not sidestep the
question which l am about to ask, which
is this: Why are five million men idle who
desire employment, and must have it to
exist in decent and comfortable manner
II the Socialists have not the answer, as
you persist In claiming, please favor us
with the correct one. Also tell US what
should be done'
In the first place, it is disgraceful for
any grown man to ask the question: "Why
are five million men idle who desire en-
ployment?" The reason is as plain as the
sun st monday: we are suffering the nat
urai consequences of a long period of in
-4iiation and extravagaece because of the
war, and are slowly adjusting ourselves to
new conditions. No party, no government,
can supply remedy, every man must sup
ply his own. have lived long time,
and never once, when out Of work, has
my iodge, my party, my goSernment, my
county commissioners or my township
trustees, found it for me: il have been
compelled to find work mysdf, in compe-
tition with other idle men. And that ID
what the five million men ROW idle must
10; providing there are that many, which
doubt.
In the second place, it is Slso disgrace
full for grown man OF average intelligence
to say that the capitalists deny idle men
opportunity to work. If capitalists own
factory, and orders for its products cannot
be had, it is an absurdlty to claim, much
less believe, that the factory is shut down
to deny the workmen opportunity to earn
living My correspondent knows better
than that. It is favorite socialist areu-
ment, but it Is never tfus; it is silly to
argue about it. When a factory has plenty
of orders at profta BILE PRICES, it is silly to
say its owners shut down for the pleasure
of throwing it's workman cut of employ
ment Capitalists love to employ great
gangs of men, and boast about it in adver-
tisements in the Saturday Evening Post
it is Illuminating to them to be compelled
to close down, and employ only watch
men, who earn nothing, To argue that
capitalists love to close their factories,
and earn nothing, is to deny their greed,
which no socialist denies.
Like other men, l set a, high value or
my own services. l thin k should have
ten, twenty, fifty, a hundred dollars 6
day. But if can't get ten dollars day
ri work for five; if caE't get five, Fl
work for two. /
lars day. know a mah very well wht
ses He rents six roqm house witt
bath, electric light and gSs. He keeps ;
horse and buggy, He occasionally en-
tertains company; l ate very good din
ner at his house last Sunday. Both h
and his wife dress fairly we'll. Thi
mans expenses for considerable perio'
this year averaged S57iper month.
know this statement to :De true; the MAJ
is economical and so is his wife, but the
live we'll on $57 month. The ma
hasn't regular employment, but is Twin
on his savings. AS l say above, know
him we'll, and have known him Ion
time. He never in his life had job tina
paid him an average of more than nv
dollars day, year in and year out. 1e
he was able, in the days of his activity
to lay aside something.
Every time I seat myself comfortabl
to read, soon encounter a statemen
that "a gigantic social experiment is be
ing worked out in Russia"
The statement isn't true; what is goin
on in Russia is revolution against socit
experience. 1t is an attempt OF idle me
to live as comfortably as industriou
men, of thieves and dIflnkards demand
ing the respect ACCORDED honest and 81
Der men; of fools trying to show they al
the real wise men OF the W -rld'