The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-04
A WISE YOUNG MAN.


the SOcialistic Question.
London Special to New York World.
/ called on Mr. Theodore Roosevelt at his hotel
this morning to ask him if he would give the
World his views on certain phases of
the recent mayoralty contest in New York
in which he was so prominent partici-
pant. He met me with characteristic frank
ness and cordiality, saying, first Of ALL
that. while the World was his political oppo-
nent, it had always treated him with fairness
and that he had always admired the earnestness
and determination that distinguish it's espousal
OF any cause
In answer to the question whether he believed
at any time, that Mr. George would be elected.
he said: mo; thought Mr.. George would get
from CO. 900 to 10000 votes. / never believed
that he would be elected, but knew that there
was a strong movement for him. The only mat
ter in which was deceived was the composition
of his vote ! thought that nine tenths of it
would come from the Democrats. whereas only
three-fourths, or at the outside. fourf fths, did,
l was surprised that so many Republicans went
to him."
"Doy you think that his vote was representa-
tive of socialism in New York;
Il do not draw very wide distinction be-
tween the Socialist and the workingman. The
great mass of the men who supported Mr. George
were perfectly honest Indeed, l think. the
George vote was q singularly conscientious one
Many of his supporters came from the classes
that usually make up the venal vote In New
actly as they thought right. think them utterly
mistaken and foolish in their views, but the fact
remains that they honestly looked at Mr.. George
the apostle Of certain theories of political
economy which thousands of voters who had
read his books wanted to see practically demon
strated. They thought that the best way to do
this was to elect him Mayor and see what he
could do as real reformer."
Suppose he had been electedp
at would have resulted in the complete smash
nm of his Marty and vOuld have hAan q misfor-
tune to himself. Having been supported both
by a large class of honest workingmeD, who are
as much attached to a stable order of things as
anybody else, and, also. by the Socialists prop
er, whose mission is simply to pull down and de-
stroy, there would have been an immediate con-
flict, and Mr. George would have gone down be-
tween two factions of his own following"
"You do not think, therefore, that the George
vote means new party that is to have an i'm
portant bearing in national politicsP
mo not a new party, but unfortunately, a
new element to be bid for by the old parties.
There was, as l have said no cohesiveness in
the George following It was an aggregation of
people without settled principles, discipline or
definite aim. It was largely movement insti-
gated by the class or caste feelings that exist in
the Old WorlG, and, therefore it was distinctly
I'M American. Our country is not a country of
castles. The theory of our Constitution is that
all men are to have an equal chance. as far as
may be, in the struggle for life, but you cannot
by legislation make all men take equal ad
vantage of their chances According to our
theory there no distinctions of race, creed
or condition. In the eye of the law each man
has the right to pursue happiness in
his own way, not wronging others nor
being wronged by them, and neither helped nor
hindered by the state. He must work out his
own salvation for himself, and if he is true
American he will ask for nothing from the gov
eminent, except that it shall see that his rights
are not interfered with Class antagonisms are
the most dangerous that can arise in q country.
They mean, in the end, dissolution. There is no
place in America for socialism. It is a despot-
ISM and quite repugnant to our Constitution
as would be the despotism of an oligarchy, or of
an autocrat 1t belongs to country like Rus
STA, where the tyranny Of the few creates what
would be the tyranny of the many If there were
opportunity for it. The George vote was only a
somewhat abnormal incident in the general Ia
Dor demonstrations that have recently occurred
all over the country"
"Had you in mind any special reforms to
accomplish If You had been elected2 Do the
workingmen of New York bear wrongs which
you would have tried to redressp
1.-The changes which 1 would have tried to
make would have been mainly in the working
of the city government That is what | would
have been elected for. / should be working
quite as much for the workingman as for any
body In putting our municipal civil service on a
purely business basis. in doing away with all
sinecures, cutting down expenses, and using the
knife with merciless energy against all Office
holders VINO were either corrupt themselves, or,
what is far more common and quite as danger
Gus, who connived at corruption in others Yes,
/ think the workingmen as such have
wrongs that / should have tried to see
redressed. 1 should have tried to have
the construction of tenementhouses i'm
proved. There is great deal to be done
in the way of improved dwellings for working
men; but after all, the main thing is to guaran-
tee to the workingmep, to every other American
differentiated, according TO my experience al
most every American citizen 1s workingman of
one kind or another-the rights he has under the
Constitution. A higher rate of wages cannot be
secured by legislation. The best we can do in
America Is to see that every man has a fair
chance. After that he must take care of him
self. Our free American does not want to be put
in leading strings. We can never remove all
suffering from the world. Laws will no more
prevent some men from being poor than they
will prevent me from being near-sighted. The
law gives us each the right of life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. Itdoes not give as the
realization of happiness. It only gives Us the
opportunity. The rest remains to be accom-
plished by every man according to the best of
his ability"
On the Expurgated List.
4