Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-03-28
SOCIALISM.

The North American ReUielC for April
has a strong paper on German Socialism
in America" The facts brought out in
this article ought 70 be read and pondered
by all American citizens.
We call attention to some Of them:
1. There is in the United States party
called the '.Socialistic Labor Party"
Most of our people believe that this party
consists OF only few strange and unprac-
ticable radicals, and that nothing is to be
found from them. The facts are widely
different. The party is already very pow
erful as to numbers. In all the leading
and most populous states, it has many
thousand enrolled members. The Organi-
zation is compact and thorough. In towns
and cities it has its Sections" in states
its State Convention. and then its Nation
al Convention.
Each section elects frUm its midst an
orga5izer, agitator, or in other words a
drummer" whose business it is to re-
crui.I - many members as can be induced
to join the ranks of the party. Monthly
dues are exacted from each member, one
half of which is sent to the State Commit
tee. Another rule is that every member is
expected to subscribe for one of the party
papers.
An idea Of the numbers may be formed
from the fact that there are tWenty-seven
papers in the party, printed in at least
three languages. all these papers are
conducted on the cooperative plan, and
are said to be mostly self sustaining, and
all are charged with the "duty Of spreading
among poor people, the knowledge Of the
benefcent results, which will come to them
by the equal distribution of all property.
Thus it may be seen that the party is per-
fectly organized. 1t has its sections, F"
each with its ''agitator" or missionary,
whose duty it is to canvass its community
and enroll members. Then its State and
National Committee, and the power of the
press most actively employed.
2. Now what does this compact and
active party demand?:: What is it seek
ing to accomplish?
A little more than year ago National
Platform was adopted, setting forth the
principles and demands of the party. We
can quote but a single paragraph. 1t is
one every body should carefully ponder.
1t is this: 'sWe demand that the resources
of life; the means Of production public
transportation and communication, land,
machinery, railroads, telegraph lines, ca
nails &c., become as fast as practicable,
the common property of the whole people
through the Government, to abolish the
wages system and substitute in its stead
cooperative production, with a just dis
tribution of its rewards"
Such is the great central doctrine Of
this party. Its twenty-seven newspapers
are advocating it, and its hundreds Of
"agitatcrs" are teaching it with an energy
worthy of better cause.
Look at the doctrine moment.
1t is that all property be taken from its
present courses and become the property of
all the people, under control Of govern
ment. Land is included. This means that
all right or title to their farms, shall be
taken from the farmers of Ashtabula Co.,
and given over ''to the people at large. f"
So of shops and manufactures. All these
are to be taken from their owners and di-
vided in the same way. And so of all
property whatever. GAN banking and in
surance to be conducted by the Govern
--.--At. all i-Sirect taxation to be abolished,
~ame tax be collected in