The herald., 1897-06-18
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+ WHEN SHALL We GATHER
: At THE R|VERl +:


"The world will take to socialism
quickly enough when It sees the way
clear to carry 1t out" says Mr.. T. S.
Van Dyke.
When one processes such as his belief
and admits that socialism would be a
great Improvement over the present
competitive system, it might be natu-
rally concluded that Mr.. Van Dyke
would be in the ranks of those trying tu
make "the way clear" On the contrary
we find nothing but scorn and contempt
for such ''active jawbones." If you can
not sing songs Of praise to the Havemey
ers and Rockefellers then 'it is far more
sensible and especially more profitable
to hold your tongue. and hoe corn, Is
practically the substance OF Mr. Van
Dykes advice. Hurrah for whoever Is
on top, says he. Taking human ma
ture as we find 1t, how much of ma
jority would it take to enforce socialism
in Southern California ?" asks Mr.. Van
Dyke. The very question itself shows
that he has but the most superficial
knowledge of what socialism means. 1t
is as absurd to speak of enforcing"
socialism as 1t would be to refer to this
United States postoffice, the public
schools or the public fire department
being enforced" on the people Of Los
Angeles.
Socialism is simply the cooperative
system of production and distribution
as opposed to the present competitive
system. An example Of enforcing" So
cialism on the people will soon be af-
forded, when the voters decide to take
he nriVata . system
and operate it as public property.
This step into socialism will not in
volve any regenerating of human ma
ture, as Mr. Van Dyke fondly imagines.
1 have never noticed any angelic wings
sprouting under the shoulder-blades OF
Los Angelenos. although they are So
cialistic enough to have public schools.
and I firmly believe that their coats will!
still fit them, though they take another
step heavenward and socialize their
water plant.
"Ah, but" says Mr.. Van Dyke. take
few more steps and you will find thai
either those pin feathers must peep out
or you must call halt in your mad ca
reer into socialism" l always find these
chaps that have SO much to say about
socialism being "agin' human natur' I"
try to sqirm out of that argument the
moment you try to pin them down to 1t.
1t Is easy enough to state pompously
that socialism as a whole is absurd and
against human nature, but when you
take your opponent to book and ask him
what functions 1t Is possible for the
state to perform with plain. ordinary
human nature, and what functions it
cannot perform unless human nature
is rejuvenated, he makes a complete
collapse.
Glasgow owns and operates Its gas
and water works, it's telegraph and tel
ephone wires, it's street cars; it has pub
lie baths and libraries; it owns and
leases hundreds of dwellings to its citi-
zens; and yet all this is socialism, but
nary an angel will Mr.. Van Dyke be
able to flush in all Glasgow.
However. it is not the socialists who
are best demonstrating the stupidity o:
competition; it is the Havemeyers and
Rockefellers. Havemeyer has shown us
that the sugar business can be run much
more efficiently as one single
concern than when in the hands
of dozen or more competit-
ors. He has done more. He has
SIlOWn Lldl lOl Ollly 10 ~ OCotCA ~
run the sugar refining business on the
cooperative principle. but that the day
is now past when the business can ever
be sent permanently back to the old COM
petitive basis. He has not only exhib-
tied his absolute control over the man.
ufacture of sugar, but has also shown
that he has an equally absolute control
over the distribution Of sugar He not
only fixes the price at which grocerS
must buy, but dictates the price at
which they must sell. Incidentally, he
also has shown US how he runs the
United States senate. It may be sug-
gested right here that a. low tariff would
settle Mr.. Havemeyer. 1t might by ex-
terminating the sugar business In this
country, not otherwise. Besides, there
are many trusts, like the Standard Oil
trust, that do not rely in any measure
on the tariff.
Now, Mr.. Van Dyke, what would you
do about Mr.. Havemeyer and Mr.. Rock
efeller? Would you advocate trying an
other ten years of futile antitrust laws
or would you advise the only possible
remedy-i. e., to let the government
take them over? Or do you think we
must regenerate human nature before
we make a move? I must confess that
experience with my own human nature
makes me very dubious about regener.
ating any other fellows! Ir I thought
that this country could never be saved
until the Havemeyers, the Van Dykes
and the Rockefellers had their natures
regenerated 1 would certainly begin on
that corn row tomorrow.
ALBERT SHAW