The herald., 1897-08-11
DOSTER ON SOCIALISM
KANSAS CHIEF JUSTICE BE-
LIEvES IT rs COMING
Socialism to Sweep the World Within
Twenty-Five Years-Bryan
Is Warned

'That was an interesting interview
with Wayland of Girard in your paper
last Sunday" Chief Justice Frank Dos
ter Of the Kansas supreme court OBJ
served to a reporter for the Star in To-
peka, Kas., last Saturday afternoon.
"But he is hasty in his judgment of
Bryan. Gordons Question was 90 broad
that mo- was the only answer Bryan
could make, since he was limited to yes
or mo-.
Gordon arbitrarily defines socialism
to mean collective ownership of all the
means of production and distribution
Bryan was right in his answer No for
ALI includes great deal am social
list, but decline to accept without modi-
fication Gordon's definition of the term"
Saying this, Judge Doster gazed from
a south window of his chambers in the
third story of the capitol, and contem-
plated the beauty of the summer land
scape which stretches in meadow and
field to the eky line.
But socialism will work itself out.
We find evidences of that every day"
"What is your definition of socialism,
3udge?' the reporter, encouraged by his
mood, asked. But first define your
SELF
well, I don't mind telling you my
beliefs, so far as I have any" he re-
piled after moments thought. There
are many things concerning which l
have no convictions. Upon others l
have, and very strong ones, too. 1 dom;
believe, for instance, in hell fire. nor in
human slavery, nor high tariff, nor the
gold, standard, nor in millionaires. nor
the wages system, nor-well, l can't
think just now what all 1 don't be-
lieve in.
HIS BELIEFS
1T do believe, however, in the Ten
Comman dments and in the Golden Rule.
in the initiative and referendum, and
evolution, and woman suffrage, and I'm
edgirg up toward Theosophy and Chris
tian science, and am open to conviction
in favor of any vagrant fad that no.
body will admit believing in until
enough do to make it respectable.
Nov, as to socialism. If I may be
permitted to give my own definition of
socialism. am socialist.
With this declaration the successor
of Albert H. Horton turned his colo face
upon the reporter. Possibly recollec-
ton of Horton, who is his antipodes in
for he left his chair ard walked to west
window, which looks out upon the ex-
chief Justices handsome home on Har-
rison street. Standing there moment
Judge Doster con tinued:
1T used to shock the people of Kansas
to hear this declaration from my lips,
for. you know, l have been an advocate
of Socialism all my lift; but it seems
that they have gotten over it"
This was a gentle allusion to his re-
cent elevation by the people to the su-
preme berch, and there was trace of
price in his tone. The reporter smiled in
sympathy, but instantly he was frozen
with look, for vanity is not one of the
chief Justices weakn esses.
HIS DEFINITION OF SOCIALISM
Seating himself again he resumed:
"You ask what my definition of Social
ism is My definition of Socialism is not
original. saw it somewhere; don't re-
member just where. 1t read: Socialism
is the faith or doctrine of those who
would organize society upon more fra
ternal and cooperative basis
'I have read many definitions O. So
cialism They have all passed out of my
mind, but that one. 1t Includes them all.
I am that kind of SociaNet. Amt you?
Anything wrong with that? Wouldn't
you organize society, if you could, upon
a more fraternal basis; upon more CO.
operative, that is, mutually helpful
basis?"
docs your definition of Socialism pro-
pose a change of property tenure from
private to collective ownership"
l. 11ty +l11t
great principle will work out its own
details of application. If it be right it
will possess W within itself enough expans-
i've and propulsive force to cover the
field belonging 10 it. 1t don't have to be
brought about; it brings itself about.
"However I'll tell you how it is COM
ing about. 1t is coming about through
the socialization of what we call the pub
tic utilities, that is, the passing over from
private to public ownership, through le-
gal forms and upon just terms of all
those institutions and possessions which
Judge Waite classified as clothed with
a public interest
"Now, don't ask me what things are
clothed with a public interest. can tell
you some, a GOOD many; besides the list
is subject to additions as society be-
comes more complex, anu dS HecHdHlcdl
inventions increase. Don't ask me,
either, how all this is to be done. I can't
figure out the working details Of future
events.
HOW IT is TO COME ABOUT
Nevertheless, see how it is being
done. 1t is done every day by cities
buying out water works, gas and elec-
trio light works, or building them first
hand themselves. 1t was done over in
Birmingham and other English cities
by the establishment of public laundries
and bath houses; in Glasgow, Scotland,
by the building of street railways, out
of the revenues from which the city has
paid during the last twenty-five years
the original cost of the lines, and now
defrays all her municipal expenses. II
is done in some cases by the lapsing OF
corporate franchises and the consequent
reversion of corporate property to the
state.
"An instance of this is the Lawrence
bridge down the river here. Its charter
ran out and the court held the bridge es-
cheated as IT were. to the public like