Appeal to Reason from Girard, Kansas • Page 8

Appeal to '1" Reason, Uirard, Kansas. Wccftfy Three If By Benjamin tlanford, ocialfstXandidate for Vice-President MP; i I T'csZJjrSD Cent psr. car. Cm I i I 1 i i SCCCCCCCOOOCCCCCOCOOCCCCX2CCCOOCCOOOCOOCCCOOOOOOC oeo esse There are 'about two-hundred thousand persons em- Probably that would be a long tale of robbery, rent and maker, so with the printer. First he sets a line of type ciety that trusts itself to maintain a police force and fire can party is so drunk -with power that it takes pride ia liloyed In the boot and shoe industry in the United States, profit.

will allow: that our man with the hundred'for the employer, then -he 'sets -a line for the landlord, department to protect individuals and preserve' wealth, its infamy, and the democratic1 party is so stupidly be organized to the last man, woman. thousand is possession of his own. 'Now. if our man and for he labor ssttine the third orfourth line hevdare not enter upon the social ownership of the means to competent that it sets its face to the past and reaction tnd 'child, and, though they will thereby be able to accom- lives at the rate of five thousand dollars a. year, and does receives pay.

Likewise with the dgannaker; first he produce the necesaries of its existence? under these conditions it is not to-be doubted tnat tna working class, and especially that part of it organized in trade unions, will awake to its duties and opportunities and begin its march'on capitalism under the banner of So- HOW TO DO IT. plash some things, or even great things, there a point no work by which he receives an income from any source, makes a cigaf for thtf capitalist, then one for the landlord, ut which their control over their own lives and destinies but each year he takes his five thousand dollars out of his and for the making of the next cigar he is paid. Then he must cease. Through effective organization they can say original hundred thousand dollars, at the end of twenty starts all over again one for the boss, one 'for the land-that when employed they will not work longer than a cer- years he will be broke. Of course' that is not to bis lik- lord, one for himself.

So on. And all you workmen are rain number hours Tier dav. and that for those hours He wants' to mend five thousand a -near nn Viis ltvinor. in um Yon work an hour for vour boss, an How to bring Socialism about? As said in the begin-. socialist nartv.

ning, there are about 200,000 of our boot and shoemakers orkingmen and union men, go forward with your they shaU receive a certain price. The-hours may be short all right, but at the end of twenty years he wants to have hour for your landlord, and for the next hour's work you 13 the country. There, are about 175,000 persons engaged work of org.anization. So far as possible, get every man nnd the price high, but purely as a trade union that is the his hundred thousand, or, should he die, he wants his chil- are paid this. if you are lucky enough to have a boss and tQ thg uaioa of hi trd ni a0 nor.

negiecc.ro of these trades can do something for. themselves by them- nifi man a trae. Fight every battle for A- TM limit of their powers and their maximum of possible sue- dren to have iL In short and in long, HE WANTS TO a job. cess. Having fixed the hours of labor and the price to be SPEND HIS HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND Oftentimes the employer and the landlord are the es, ouj.

noi mucn. aie ov 140,000 ugar ana the bcgt you have you. In every battle, great or small, paid for their labor, there is left an all-important thing ALSO TO KEEP IT. And our present society is so ar- same person. Both are exploiters and robbers of the work- WUijr let each member of the working class fight tor every oiner which they cannot controL THEY CANNOT PROVIDE ranged and organized that HE CAN DO THAT VERY in 2 class, and they only differ from one another in color, Pwers re unuted.

There are more than a million men member his class fact tnat a man is in your class, not in essence. Our Man with the hundred thousand in'-he TlY railway and telegraph com- and fa fighting your enemyt the capitalist class, is enough J3 1 THEMSELVES WITH EMPLOYMENT. THEY CAN- THING. A. 11 1 1-1 How? Simply by turning his hundred thousand dol- might have put it into land and charged workingmen for Panies' lwo at uu.s i the privilege of living on the of putting his NOT MAKE THE BOSS EMPLOY ALL OF THEM.

Let the hours of labor be ever so short, let the wage be ever so Iiigh, there will be shoemakers who will get no wage, for there will be shoemakers who have no work. to enlist your good will. You need no other reason. But in all these economic battles, whether with, you rests victory or defeat, keep your eye on the political power. Make up your mind that as working men and Socialists you are going to capture every public office alderman, state assemblymen and state senators and governor; United States congressmen and senators and president; justices of peace, police state judges and United States judges.

All the public powers are yours if you see fit to take them. YOU HAVE THE VOTES. Use those votes to secure to your class the law-making power, the law-judging power, and the law-executing power. Having done that, your officials will take from Our Man and every ma 1 his means of getting five thousand a year without working for it, Having done that, your officials will see to it that you and every one of you shall have an opportunity to work; and that, having worked, you shall receive therefor the full product of your labor, which is three times as much as you get now, and which can be secured in onei third cf the hours you work now if you are so fortunate as to have work. money into a shoe factory and charging them for the privilege of working.

In the one case he would leave his property in the hands of a real, estate agent, and in the other he leaves it in the hands of a superintendent. Our Man gets his five thousand a year without working for it, and can, if he likes, spend his five thousand a year, and still at the end of each year have as much as he had at the beginning. In fact, it as fortunate for the workers when he does spend his "income." For if he does not spend it they must next year produce a profit on that profit. you union men see the CAUSE of this exploitation of your fellows? Don't you see that man out of work? Don't you see that he is out of work because he lacks the means with which to work? If he had the means to employ himself and keep all that his labor produced, he would not agree to give five thousand dollars a year (5 per cent on $100,000) to that employer. He would keep that five thousand.

"But," say you, "he would do the same with it that this fellow does." To be sure he would if you allow him. But you need not allow it, and ou can stop this fellow from doing it. BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS OF TRADES-UNIONISM "But say some, "given complete organization of our craft, we can secure work for the unemployed by making hours constantly shorter, and constantly raising the scale of wages, so that even at the shortest hours the wages received will support the worker in comfort." Vain When the hours of labor are so low and the wages of labor are so high that PROFIT CEASES, at that in-s otant PRODUCTION CEASES; and when production ceases, when our shoe factory is closed, the shoemaker has no work at any hours or for any price. The shoemaker must learn that in a society where one man or a group of men owns the shoe factqries, the nhoemaldng machinery and the materials of which shoes are made, such owners of the means of producing shoes allow those forces to be set in operation only when their operation will PRODUCE PROFIT. The object of the owner of the shoe factory is not primarily to produce shoes, but to produce shoes to be sold at a profit.

His main purpose, his great purpose, his only purpose is to get profits. Therefore, when the trade union is strong enough to reduce hours and raise wages to a point where the capitalist class no longer gets profits, the capitalist class, through their powers as OWNERS of the means of production (of employment), shut' up the factory until such time as the working class will consent to resume their Mt. iii the shop or mill or factory or printing office at a tiltY working day of such length and for a wage of such mag-been four'tu1' aSt will leave the capitalist employer a profit. The were but ntely economic trade union may; and generally does, WHAT THE SOCIALIST PARTY WOULD DO. This question of wages and the unemployed will never be solved until the working class are in possession of the powers of government.

Once they have those powers, all will be 'veil with them. Granted the government i3 in ths hands of the working class, the unemployed will be given work by the city, state or nation. Granted the government is in the hands of the working class, the man who locks out his employes will find that a Socialist legislature will pao3 a law confiscating his factory and making WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. How? First, recognize that the reason a man can rob producers is because of the character of and private property in the means of production. They are vast, they are costly, they are greater than any one man can produce alone or operate unaided.

In the days when shovels and sickles, the cobbler's kit, the hand press and the ox cart were the principal means for the production of wealth any BENJAMIN HANFOHD. Candidate for Vice President on the Socialist Ticket. it public property; a Socialist judge will declare the law 1. one man could own and operate the instruments of pro- and it is easy to see that even that great number are far eonsw.uno.iii; ana oo-um-t scluul -uu duction in almost any trade. At that time to make cne from having the power and inflence that they should have sheriffs win CT17 the law int0 effe.ct' That emPloyt4 EUGENE V.

DEBS, Candidate for President the Socialist Ticket. man yield to another the product of his labor he must over their own means of livelihood. There are more than woma never a'a Bu Affect the rate of "the employer's profit; but where the Al yow mean9 ot production are OWNED by others than those Urs into capital. By turning it into the means of pro- be a chattel slave or a serf. But as the spade gives place a million men in the building trades; they have done much Qunre work on the same basis as tne otner workers.

who USE them, those owners must have a profit for the d-cton. For instance, by buying with it a shoe factory, to the steam plow; the sickle to the self-binder, reaper for themselves through organization more, than any other Socialist officials would simply say that if the capitalise -l mt a. auj. -i -u: tt 1 1. i ji cnnlft nnt run industrv without lockouts.

aOCietv could. could not run industry without lockouts, society could. use of such means of production, otherwise they remain. "avias pimxa ms nunweu muusaaa ana tnresner; tne coDDiers Kit to tne cosny cutting, sew- large group of workers; but when we note the precarious If there was a strike, the Socialist government would pursue the same course confiscate the employer's means of unused; and when the means of production of wealth are xars in ine sne inttustry, one tning yet remains to oe ing and soling machinery of the shoe factory; the hundred character of their employment, many idle for half the 1 4. done.

The CUtUnz machines will not run themselves: dollar hand Dress to the fiftv thousand dollar nerfertincr var it in rlcarlv qpp that hir rola'tivelir Inio-Ti ivao-ps and linuscu. 1. lie wuicis ic ciwu suuiiug vi. wuuug 31.1 x- o- vss i i vation they are either out on strike locked out or laid neither wU1 tte lasting, sewing, soUng and trimming ma- press and three thousand dollar typesetting machine; and short hours are far from a truly prosperous condition Prduct10n- socialist oinciais would simply say that off. When the distress and necessities of the unemployed chines, nor will leather make itself into shoes.

If his the ox cart to the steam railways, the means of produc- for workingmen. the capitalist could I not carry -on industry without strides money, now turned into shoemakins materials and ma- tion become too larere. costlv and eomtlieati for nn mn' Rut th. thVn. ha hrA no in th society could, in the case of a shut-down the emjioyer ilvr i rariiru a uuiul su il lilc ne uuncdiame.

inev- --'-1 MV ceases to be employer. He no longer employs men.ia production. And when he stops production society should again go to work for the employer" at such chinery, is let alone, it will be worse. for him than if he. to produce or.

operate. Irf brief, THE MEANS OF PRO- shield save that which says failure? -a xi. had spent his-five thousand a year out of his original DUCTION BECOME An'd'is tlift means of Tiro- Yes. thei-A i. "But we Tmisf Hnderst-And th rincpc nf surviv.

and such of them as he will take hack For thousand, for idle machinery will eat itself up duction have become social in character, in their produc- past failures to know the means of future success. There ste? In and Mrry on' and t0 do this xt WOuld bolxSa th" capitalist's private property in the means of production, some have died of their wants unsuppiied, and of the -uicker than idle money. To accompUsh this purpose of tion and operation, so THEY SHOULD BECOME SO- is a path which leads to victory. others the employer will not take them all leavin- sPendin8 five thousand a year'and still keeping his original CIAL IN OWNERSHIP. We should own them socially, If these 200,000.

boot and shoe workers and 175,000 and make it social property. There is no half-way measure which can deal with this matter. The only cure for the ills which ifflict the working class is to change the pri- nunarea rnousana, one more rnmg 13 necessary, iaoor collectively, xo stop uur Man from getting his five thou- printers and pressmen and bookbinders will really and power must be applied to his shoemaking machines and sand a year for doinz nothine: but OWNING THINGS, trulv unite with those ir.oo toarpn wnrVprs? if th some to become tramps, and, forcing others eventually to become scabs. While, as stated above, the most perfect trade union floes not do all that is necessary for the welfare of its materials. There are idle shoemakers in plenty.

Our WE SHOULD NQT ALLOW HIM TO OWN THOSE railroad employes will unite with ail three; if vate ownership of the means of production to social own- Man has selected a superintendent of his shoe factory THINGS. To make sure that those others, who now turn the 1,200,000 men of the building trades will unite with ersmP That can only be done through the capture by the (or he may have bought it through a broker and never over to him his five thousand annually shall not do as he the others, and if the iron and steel workers, the miners, members, those things which it can and does do are not to be belittled. It can and generally does reduce the rate of even seen the factory or its superintendent), and does when they themselves get the five thousand they pro- the wood workers, the ship builders, the brewers, the working class of the powers of government. To you workingmen, that is the supreme issue in this country today. It will require great effort on your part, heroic sacrifice iwu fliai iu gu aneau ana -ma-e money.

uur man mm- auce, we must not auow aji ipiuiviijual to own those cotton mill operatives and the granite cutters if the self has probably gone to Europe. The superintendent things. We must have social ownership of the means WHOLE WORKING CLASS WOULD UNITE, what power tells the shoemakers to go to work at a wage which leaves whereby we produce wealth; that is, we must have So- is there in the world to oppose us, much less defeat us? oa the part of many But you have tbe to make the effort and the courage and virtue to make the sac Our Man a profit on their labor. These shoemakers have cialism. A man should no more tbe allowed to have private Unite, not only in the economic fizht.

which still leaves profit received by the employer byj securing higher wages fer its members than they would otherwise get. It can, and generally does, reduce the hours of labor and raise the standard of living. Further, and of high importance, it teaches the workers to. organize. But, while recognizing the good accomplished by the trade union, every time you see an unemployed shoemaker you must see the shortcomings of the Boot' and Shoe Workers' Union; every time you meet an unemployed printer you must recognize the limitation to the powers of the Typographical Union; every time you meet an unemployed cigarmaker you must no means of employing themselves.

They are not the property in a shoe factory or a coal mine than in the post- many men without a job, no matter what the hours or possessors of shoemaking materials and machinery. They office; he should no more be allowed to have private prop- wages for those who get work; but UNITE IN THE MUST work or starve. erty in a street railway than in the street itself. When POLITICAL FIELD, UNITE AT THE BALLOT BOX. Therefore the lasters and cutters and stitchers and he has no private property in these things he cannot exV Difficult, you say.

Right; difficult it is, but not im- trimmers go to work and use and operate Our Man's hun- ploit or extort an income from those who use these things, possible. It does not depend on any one of us, nor any dred thousand dollar shoemaking plant, receiving for All this would be vastly intricate, say you. Not small group of us, though every one of us. can do much to their labor a wage which leaves Our Man his five thousand comparably as intricate a the ppstoffice or the public' bring it to pass. We will not unite politically in obedience dollars Our Man will tell you that he highway system of the country.

We have no trouble with to the persusaive powers of any man or men, though rifices. You will do both. How soon? The time also rests with you. Your path to triumph leads to the ballot box. Now is the time to start.

In this campaign, if a man teil3 you that the republican party is your friend tell him the facts prove his words to be false. If a man tells you the democratic party is your friend, tell him history proves the contrary. If either a democrat or a republican tells you he is your friend, tell him you are glad to hear it, and if he is indeed your friend he must VOTE YOUR TICKET while God lives or time lasts you will never again vote his. Union men, work for Socialism NOW. Do not wait till you get in the bull pen.

Join the Socialist party today. Do not wait till you go on strike. Do not wait till you have been deported. Vote the Socialist ticket THIS year, so that you shall not go to the bull pen, so that you recognize that the Cigarmakers' Union has a boundary "7 a PAYS these workmen for their a year in profits. services.

The workmen either of these except where they come in contact with those may have their influence. We will unite because themselves will tell you that Our Man PAYS their wages, great "business" interests, such as the private owners of the laws of capitalism say to us: "UNITE OR PERISH." of a skilled trade or an unskilled laborer, do not forget that there is one thing of prime importance that the purely economic trade union at the very height of its power in reality nothing of the son. rakes place. THE WORK- the railroads and' the contractors fellows like Our Man, ERS PAY OUR MAN FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF WORK, only some of them have a hundred million dollars to his VOTE FOR YOUR OWN CLASS. ING.

That's where he eets his five thousand a vear. hundred thousand. We aie all owner nf th nntnffi "IS MVC lDOUSana a year. uauxCu we aie au owners- or tne carmot accomplish-it cannot make the employer employ postomce; iitt Their wages are simply a PART of the value OF THEIR we all have a share of stock in it: but we cannot sell or In this year, when the republican party is furthering OWN PRODUCT. Those shoemakers go into the factory dispose of our share.

So it should be with productive territoriay expansion abroad, while it curtails our liberties of Our Man and for the privilege of using his means of industries. at home; when the democratic party cries out in protest, HOW TO SPEND $5,000 A YEAR AND KEEP IT. production they first make a pair of shoes for him, then Intricate? Is it conceivably as intricate as the hap- out lacks intelligence to progress; when both parties shall not be deported, so that you shall do your part they make a pair of shoes for the landlord, and last thev hazard, accidental; anarchistic method that we toa have shown their enmity to the working class with in. 10 maKe tms wom a Paraclsc the working class all Consider for a moment on what production in our make a pair of shoes for which they are paid. Every time where we leave the raising of wheat, cotton and beef, the creasing child 'labor in the mills of the democratic south tberS kCCp ff th gIaS present society depends.

is- a man who has a hun- they make three pairs of shoes they are paid only for the food, raiment and shelter on which our very life depends, and more infamous injunctions and martial law in the The working class, may it ever be right- right cr dred thousand dollars. We will not ask where he got it. labor opwer which makes one pair. As with our shoe- to individual interest cr caprice? Is it possible that ao- republican north and west; in this year when the republi- wrong, the working class. The Foo! o' th'-Family 4 4 3 ByXNKY IKE SOMETHING NEW ABOUT THE APPEAL ARIVIY PICTURE GALLERY.

CHAPTER IV. The Debate. been sailing lrsr so long in that diree- i tion. We Socialists are bound to ride! her onto th rocks if she goes there, I but remember the fault will be with those thet and not with' the steerage passenger. in the hold.

If the republican party is in danger it' must be for the same reason. Parties in power! I do not die; through assassination, but 'by suicide. The same navigators who direct the ship of state also hold tlie destiny of -republicanism in their hands, and she goes on the rocks they will have- no one to blame but them-; i selves. I 'M am also willing to concede the point made by the gentleman that what-; ever of danger threatens our country 5. HE Bitting, and standing room, of the Peachville school house was strained to the limit, Bilkius' political friends were to may be neccsary.

But, they don't want the foreigner shut out for the simple reason that the foreign immigrant, is generally a laborer; the more laborers the cheaper is labor, and cheap -labor is what capitalism needs in jts business. They want the German to come west and" improve these farms eo they will be fertile enough to support a and pay interest on boiids to build railroads that they may get profits. The capitalists are no fools. They fci-ow their business and aie not going to throw a-good thing over their shoulders. "Xow.gentlemcn and neighborstrange though it may seem, I have answered every point my opponent has raised.

I might go on telling you alout Socialism, but I trust that many of you have already investigated the subject to your satisfaction, so I now propose that we proceed to organize a lot-il of th" So I am in receipt of many letters from comrades who overlooked the offer on the "Appeal History" and who are sorely disappointed in not getting a copy of it. The plates of the "History" have been destroyed and there f. are no conies left. To aem idlt the? rvmraA. n-r v.

wwft.o X44XVG ax- ranged for the best part of the "Historythe part you really wantto be soot for their champion; as Smith's iilretl hand said, they were not the only pebbles on the beach, for little Jake had won many admirers by his nerve and a strong delegation occupied the front seats, prepared to shout for Jake no matter what he might say or do. Uut there was Belkins, surrounded by applicants for the I'eacliville postoffice and the center 1 of admiration. All the local politicians were present, not excepting John Smith, grim, like a patri slight frame could carry, and, after" carefully adjusting his new -hand-ne-dd'sn suit to the several limbs of his anatomy, began: "Ladies anJl gentlemen, friends and fellow rttisen: This is a moet momeutons occasion. The er-nd old party tlit Tias-heW tbe throttle and aieered tlie ship of stale U-wn tlie corridors 'of time 4s fence by au assiduous foe. With high-handed words of treason the safety- of tlie great republican party is put la danger.

It is time for every patriot to rally to tUo support of the only party that that that ever shouldered a run. I tell yon. friends, and feUow citizens, that vre are In danger! We are la danger! Our country la in danger of Invasion from tvithin. "The monarchies of the old world are dumping their criminal population our shores to work for Socialism. That in why they come here.

They are seat o-er here to destroy our great republican institutions with tbeif co-American ideas. This foreiga Immigration must be (stopped before It is everlastingly too late-and the whole pack of agitators sent, back to where tuey came from or transported to the islands of the sea. where they cannot endanger the great republican party." Here Bilkins paused to get his breath; and the politicians, feeling that the had come for it, stamped on the floor, waved their hands and shouted felt somehow that the -cheering furnished letter argument than, the speaker.and assumed the leadership jof a prolonged demonstration that consumed much' of. -the speaker's time, and was, in a relief to many of the audience, who had listened to his harangue with iia-patience. -i 5 AVhen Bilkins onw piore beji spcak-inr he had only a few uiiuutc lefS, which he consumed in repeating what he had said before.

When 'Squire Jenkins called time he took his scat in silence. Tlie people who had come to hear something were decidedly disappointed, and John Smith gasped when he saw little Jake walk forward; with a twinkle in his eye, amid the cheers of all the neighbors. "Ladies and gentlemen," said Jake, am willing to concede that this is a 'most momentous but it strikes me that very little of ruouient has happened thus "far. My honorable opponent has. told 01 the danger we are in.

but I hnvent seen a single person in this audience look like he were frightened. As for the foreign population which we are told to-fear, there are a number of them in this room tonight which common sense compels me', to recognize as among the best citizens living in this I'm inclined to doubt the story that Emperor William has scut neighbor Clausen' across the ocean to Peachville. to destroy American institutions, an4 if there are any other of our old eountry settlers whom my opponent regards as dangerous I will gladly yield him enough of my time get up here on-tbe platform and point them out." Bilkins half rose in his seat, turned red. and sat down again, while the yell that came from the throats of Jake's supporters jarred the windows -and startled the village. As to the ship of state, resumed Jake, "if she goes, on the blame will rest those who have 1 rjiHi ijf xitiuic aixcxy uuuk, XH13 DOOlC Will probably contain several hundred pages it is impossible to say just how large it will be; it all depends en how many comrades take advantage of the offer to get their picture and biography in this book.

Each comrade whose picture appears in the book will receive a copy free. Extra copies can be purchased Si per copy, postpaid. This will give all who missei the "Appeal History" an opportunity to get the best part of it along with the pictures of the old guard. You understand you can get your picture ia this "Gallery" by simply helping to extend the drculaticn cf the Appeal, a duty which is a plsasire to ci. Send along your picture and story accompanied by a list cf 20 "cir! cr an order for 20 yearly postal sub carda and.

the trick ia'turr must come from 'within; but not ainder the direction of -such figureheads as occupy the thrones of old-world empires. If there is an foreign element threatening this country by immigration it' is not the foreign Socialist, who. is generally intelligent, and remains to fight for better conditions in the land of hi birth, but from tbe rab-. ble of ignorant, outcasts are imported by your old party capitalist to work in his factories dreplace intelligent 'American labor. "Now, we are told that foreign Immigration must -lie popped.

If this is so; why in the name of common aerw doen't the present government stop it? The party of r.iv worih-- opr.onent is in power, and has all tlie legislative iiia chinery in hand to pass whatever law3 cialist party. This was like overturning a Iiee-hive. The politicians rose to man to object, but Jake reminded them that the organization would proceed, on bis own time and that they would Lave to keep quiet. 'Squire Jenkins, who. though conservative in polities, yet believed in fair play, sustained the point and rousing enthusiastic local oi thirty niciuTn-rs was organized the pot.

When Bilkins carried th back I ua wiuci- iui xansr De in oy uecesfcer isi. H-rry alonz arch about to execute his only son for the welfare of Lis- country. But for this the meeting that honor, had been teinporarily transferred to 'Squire Jenk-' ins. who called the melting to order. Jadies -and gentlemen." said the 'squire, "we are assembled hero this evening to bear a of the question: '-Resolved, --That Socialism Is, un-American and Is Detrimental to the Best Interests cf Our Country The afllrmhtivo' will be supported by the ITon.

Samuel Bilkins. whom I now have tlft pleasure of presentiug to jou." JJilkins ait)se Avith all the dignity iris you nun iuu piwaies, cumwaes, as want' to Begin t- book at once, so it can be mailed out within two or three, weeks" ftcr- tie 'offer closed. i Remember now, by sending your pictuie with a list of 20 0 ui sues oran order for 20 sub cards you et a copy free. Extra copies ct you 4 oae.dla 1 to 'the county seat council 01 war ivas i called, 4 ITo be continued.).