The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-12
DOSTER ON SOCIALISM
Chief Justice Believes Collec-
tive Ownership is Coming.
Movement Will Grow Rapidly
Over the Country, He Says.
But Not by Tearing Down the Flag,
Breaking Up the Union, Con-
fiscating Property or Re-
pudiating Debts.

mat was an interesting interview
with Wayland of Girard in your paper
last Sunday Chief Justice Doster of
the Kansas supreme court observed to
reporter for the Star yesterday after
noon. But he is hasty in his Judgment
of Bryan. Gordon's question was so
broad that no was the only answer
Bryan could make, since he was limited
to yes or no.
Gordon arbitrarily defines Socialism
TO mean collective ownership. of all the
means of production and distribution
Bryan was right in his answer, No fer
All includes a great deal l am a So
c1alist, but I decline to accept without
modification Gordons 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 sky line
But Socialism will work itself out
we ma evidences of that every day"
What is your definition of Socialism,
Judge? 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 I
nave no convictions. Upon others L
nave, and very strong ones, too. 1 don't
beIleVe, for instance, in hell fire, nor in
human slavery, nor high tariff, nor in
the gold standard, nor in millionaires
nor the wages system, nOr-Well, | can't
think just now what all 1 don't believe
BELIEVES IN THE TEN COMMAND
MENTS.
Il do believe, however in the Ten
Commandmen and in the Golden Rule,
IN the initiative and referendum and
evolution and woman suffrage, and I'm
edging up toward Theosophy and Chris
tan 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.
NOW, as to Socialism If I may be
permitted to give my own definition of
Socialism, l am a Socialist"
With this declaration the successor of
Albert h. Horton turned his cold face
upon the reporter. Possibly a recollec-
ton of Horton, who is his antipodes in
political creed, passed through his mind
Tor ne left his chair and walked to a
west window, which looks out upon the
ex-chief Justices handsome home on
Harrison street. Standing there a mo-
ment, Judge DOster continues:
1T used to shock the people of Kan
Sas to hear this declaration from my
lips, for, you know, 1 have been an ad-
Vocate of Socialism all my life; but it
seems that they have gotten over it -
This was gentle aIlusion to his re-
cent elevation by the people to the su-
preme bench, and there was a trace of
pride in his tone. The reporter smiled
in sympathy, but instantly he was froz-
en- with a look, for vanity is not one of
the chief Justices weaknesses.
DOSTER'S DEFINITION OF SOCIAL
ISM
Seating himself again he resumed:
you ask what my definition of So
cialisnn is. My definition of Socialism is
not original 1 saw it somewhere; don't
rem mber just wh.re. 1t read: Social
ism is the faith or doctrine of those who
would organize society upon a more fra
ternal and cooperative basis
cialism. They have all passed out of
my mind but that one. 1t includes
them ALL am that kind of Socialist.
Amt you? Anything wrong with that?
Wouldn't you organize society, if you
could, upon more fraternal basis; up
on more cooperative, that is, mu-
tually helpful, basis?'
Does your definition of Socialism pro-
pose a change of property tenure from
private to collective ownership"
ITO begin with, let me say that ev-
cry great principle will work out it's
own details of application. If it be
right it will possess within itself enough
expansive and propulsiye force to cover
the field belonging to it. 1t don't have
to be brought about; it will bring itself
about.
However I'll tell you how it is COM
ing about. It is coming about through
the specialization of what we call the
public utilities, that is, the passing over
from private to public ownership,
through legal forms and upon just terms
of all those institutions and possessions
which Judge Waite classified as cloth
ed with public interest
"Now, don't ask me what things are
clothed with public interest. I can
tell you some, a good many; besides the
list is subject to additions as society be-
comes more complex, and as mechanical
inventions increase. Don't ask
either, how all this can be done. 1 can't
figure out the working details of future
HOW IT IS TO COME ABOUT.
Nevertheless, I see how it is being
done. 1t is done every day by cities
buying out water works, gas and cleo
trio light works, or building them first
hand themselves. 1t was done over in
Birmingham and other English cities
by the esta blishment of public laun-
dries and bath houses; in Glasgow,
Scotland, by the building of street rail-
ways. out of the revenues from which
the city has paid during the last 25
years the original cost of the lines, and
now defrays all her municipal expenses.
1t is done in some cases by the lapsing
of corporate franchises and the conse-
quent reversion of corporation property
to the state
"An instance of this Is the Lawrence
bridge down the river there. It's char
ter ran out and the court held the bridge
eschea ted. as it were, to the public. like
the property of natural person dying
without heirs. Another instance is that
of railroad in Pennsylvania, which
forfeited its charter for some miscon-
oeASAs anu OAo OOS3C 4oISOh anu the SUI
preme court of that state held it's right
of way and road bed reverted to the
state.
GOVERNMENT RAILROADS AND
BANKS
Presently another instance will be
the foreclosure of the government
mortgage on the Union Pacific railroad
and the buying it in and operating it by
the public Another instance will be
the expansion of the money order de-
partment of the postal system into saw
ings banks for the deposit and loan of
funds and the consequent elinsinat ton of
the business of private banking; and
still another will be the condemnation