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Show Gilbert's Sophistry. The assumption of Mr. Gilbert that the failure of members of his audience to argue Socialism with him Is proof of consent to that doctrine, Is so false as to be ridiculous, nor will intelligent men believe that ills arguments aic unanswerable simply because when challenged that audience remained mute. There arc many reasons why men In that audience sat silent when asked to Interrogate the speaker, not the least of which Is the knowledge that Mr. Gilbert could make them appear foolish. Every question propounded by either Mr. Thatcher or Mr. Langton, or any other question they or anione else In that audience could have presented had been submitted sub-mitted to the speaker many times In his career and he was thoroughly picpared. Ho Is a public speaker, skilled In debate, and his readiness to answer proes his familiarity with questions usually raised rather than the soundness of the entire stiucture. It would have been manifestly unfair for the questioner to enter Into argument argu-ment with the speaker. Others sat silent with questions on their lips only because the v realized that to ask them must Involve themselves and the speaker in a discussion of Interminable Inter-minable length, and which In a few minutes' time could not be brought to a satisfactory conclusion to either the speaker, the questioner, or the audience. audi-ence. Those who are wavering between Socialism and some other Ism should not bo led astray because of an appearance ap-pearance that the Socialistic doctrine is uu.mswerable. It is answerable, and there are various phases of tho doctrine as presented by Mr. Gilbert that Is wholly false and can be pointed out by ordinarily Intelligent men. There arc thousands of men on a footing foot-ing with Mr. Gilbert who can reply to him successfully and there are a hundred men In Logan today who will engage In debate with any avowed member of the Socialist party In Logan. Mr. Gilbert was perfectly safe In challenging that audience and knew he was safe. He challenged it for the effect It would have upon those who would not think further then his assertion that "silence gives assent, and proves the perfection of the scheme." He well knew that men In that audience would accept his assertion without thought, and he played tho game. However, as we stated above, we Jo not doubt that there are a hundred men In Logan who will debate the Socialism question with any avowed member of the Socialist party in Logan providing they can be made to see that It Is worth their while. Tho movement is hardly strong enough in Logan to warrant tho prominence prom-inence that would be given It by a joint-debate. |
