The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-18
! SOCIAL|STIC CRISIS.
Colleativist Gron1und Gives No
tice That 1t Is Fast APP
preaching.
Believes a Third Party Can Elect a
President Four Years From
Now.

At the meeting of the Political Economy
Club held at 10 South Park last Tuesday
evening Laurence Gronlund made an
interesting address. He stated that there
was widespread sentiment. over the
whole land that the beginning of the
twentieth century would be the dawn of a
new era in social and industrial life.
Capitalism" he said sis digging its
own grave and is preparing the way for
an era of socialism at the beginning of
the next century. On the continent of
Europe socialism is a class movement,
and therein lies great danger. 1t is in
the power of educated people to prevent
the movement from taking this form of a
violent class struggle here, and the Politi-
cal Economy Club and all intelligent
organizations should labor to this end
and strive to usher in a new era based
upon intelligent and mutual helpfulhess
rather than upon passion and hate.
Socialism is perfected democracy" he
said. lit is democracy carried out on the
economic side. We are now living in this
country under regime of industrial abso-
lutisIn-the power being in the hands of
irresponsible monopoly. Instead of the
divine right OF property.
There is general misconception as TO
the meaning OF the word individualism.
IndividuaEsm exists now in the sense that
every one uses his property for his OWN
gain. Here the idea of self predominates,
which leads to selfishness and egoisr1. So
cialism or eollectivism aims to fight such
individualism, but it is common error 10
suppose that socialism will also crush out
individuality. individuality of character
will be fostered under collectivism-every
individual will have an open field and fair
play for the exhibition and development
of his highest qualities of body, mind and
spirit.
Socialism may be defined again as the
collective ownership of all capital and the
collective control of all industries. So
cialists do not desire to socialize all prop
erty, but only that part of property or
wealth which is used in production. i. e.,
capital, as machinery, factories, raw mate
rails and land.
1.-The educated classes he continued
"should be the leaders of the socialist or
collectivist movement in America. But
in Europe it is to be expected that there
shall be a violent revolution. Professor
Richard T. Ely takes the ground that
socialism may be achieved peacefully and
gradually-the first step is the socializa-
ton of all public utilities, as water, gas,
telegraphs, telephones, railroads, ETC..
A third party, Mr.. Gronlund believes,
now on platform containing these three
planks: Government control of railroads
and telegraphs, Government banking, and
State productive work for the unemployed.
In conclusion Mr.. Gronlund said that
the great necessity at present is to over
come the Indifference of the intelligent,
educated class in regard to the approach
ing crisis which can be demonstrated to
be coming and to he close at hand. The
church and clergymen, especially, can, if
they will, prevent a violent eutburst.
The opportunities presented to modern
society are grand beyond historical pre-
cedent."
In the discussion that followed the Rev.
w. l. Kip made an interesting statement
as to what the church could and could not
do in relation TO the movement, and out
lined the approaching crisis. The clergy,
he said, could not, without losing their
character as clergy, become advocates or
partisans of any movement or become the
representatives or champions of any class.
What they could do was to join and organ
ize social unions, into which any mem Der
of society could enter. Here the clergy
could come together with other mem bers
of society, take part in discussions, strive
to arouse Indifference and to aid by moral
support.