Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-22
DOSTER ON SOCIALISM.
1E BELIEVES COLLECTIVE. OWN
ERSHlP is COMING.
A Communicate State of Society Pres icted
..sOciaiism to Sweep Over tho CiVillE-
ed World Within Twenty Five Years.
william j. Bryan Warned.

hCub VI DIydus OOEuOu quOSIlOu was
10 broad that mo- was the only answer
Bryan could make, since he was limit
ID to yes or no.
Gordon arbitrarily defines Socialism
% mean collective ownership of all the
means of production and distribution.
Bryan was right in his answer, No.
Tor ALI includes great deal am
Socialist, but decline to accept with
nut modification Gordon's definition of
he term"
Saying this Judge Doster gazed from
south window of his chambers in the
bird story of the capitol, and contem-
plated the beauty of the summer land
cape, which stretches in meadow and
icld to the sky line.
But Socialism will work itself out
We find evidences of that every day"
"What is your definition of Socialism
Iudge?' the reporter, encouraged by
lis mood, asked "But first define
Yourself"
well, don't mind telling you my
beliefs, so far as l have any," he re-
,lied after moments thought. "There
ire many things concerning which l
aave no convictions. Upon others 1
nave, and very strong ones, too. l
lon't believe, for instance, in hell fire,
lor in human slavery, nor high tariff,
nor the gold standard, nor in million
tires, nor the wages system, nor-well
I can't think just now what all / don't
believe in.
BELIEVES IN TIE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
81 do believe, however in the Ten
Commandments and in the Golden Rule
in the initiative and referendum, and
evolution, and woman suffrage, and
I'm edging up toward Theosophy and
Christian Science, and am open to con-
giction in favor of any vagrant fad that
nobody will admit believing in until
enough do to make it respectable.
"Now, as to Socialism If may be
permitted to give my own definition of
Socialism. am Socialist"
With this declaration the successor
Of Albert H. Horton turned his cold
face upon the reporter. Possibly a
recollection of Horton, who is his anti
podes in political creed, passed through
MS mind, for he left his chair and walk
ed to 4 west window, which looks out
upon the ex-chiet Justices handsome
home on Harrison street. Standing
there moment, Judge Doster contin-
Ied
sit used to shock the people of Kan
ias to hear this declaration from my
Ups, for, you know, / have been an adj
1ocate of Socialism all my life; but it
seems that they have gotten over it.
This was gentle allusion to his re-
cent elevation by the people to the SUI
preme bench, and there was u trace of
pride in his tone. The reporter smiled
in sympathy, but instantly he was froz-
en- with look, for vanity is not one of
the chief justices weaknesses.
DosTER's DEFINITION or 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
remember just where 1t read: 80
eialism is the faith or doctrine of those
who would organize society upon
more fraternal and cooperative basis.
Il have read many definitions of So
cialism. They have all passed out of
my mind, but that one. 1t includes
them all l am that kind of Social
st. Amt you? Anything wrong with
that? Wouldn't you organize society,
II you could, upon a more fraternal ba-
lis; upon more cooperative, that is,
mutually helpful, basis?"
docs your definition of Socialism
propose a change of property tenure
from private to collective ownership"
ITO begin with, let me say that every
great principle will work out its own
details of application. If it be right it
will possess within itself enough ex-
1ansive and propulsive force to cover
The field belonging to it. 1t don't have
% be brought about; it brings itself
Ibout.
However, I'll tell you how it is COM
ing about 1t is coming about through
the specialization of what we call the
public utilities, that is, the passing
over from private to public ownership,
legal forms and upon just
terms of all those institutions and
possessions which Judge Waite CLASH
led as clothed with a public interest,
Now, don't ask me what things are
clothed with public interest can
tell you some, good many; besides the
list Is subject to additions as society be-
comes more complex, and as mechani-
,al inventions increase. Don't ask me,
,ither, how all this is to be done. 1
amt figure out the working details of