Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-03-04
THE PROPER ISSUE FOR 1900
And the Part Equality Should Play In
the Campaign.

a Il be plunged into the hottest
national campaign this country has
ever witnessed, one before which in
interest and Importance all preceding
ones will sink into comparative insig-
nificance, it behooves the retormers of
all grades. Nay, it is their solemn
duty, which to neglect is blacklist
treason. to honestly endeavor to find
some common ground upon which all
can conscientously meet and by our
united efforts cause the last national
campaign of the nineteenth century to
become memorable in future history
as the turning point; when Pluto
cracy was arrested in its triumphant
onward march, defeated, and let us
hope annihilated by a grand uprising
of the people.
1t is high time that such endeavors
were made, for the task is gigan-
tie, and at first sight well-nigh
hopeless one. Split into almost num-
berless parties. factions and elements
by innumerably different ways of
viewing the mighty question, filled
with doubt, Suspicious and jealous
of one another engendered by ages OF
murderous competition and the many
defeats, disapointments and betrayals
we have experienced in our frantic at
tempts to emerge therefrom, it would
seem as though nothing short of
miracle, if miracles were possible,
would suffice to enable us to bring
order out of such chaos in the short
space of time that intervenes between
now and next years campaign, and
especially so when we consider the
financial hold the enemy has upon our
throats and his ability to create dis
cord within our ranks.
But there are severalpoin in favor
of such union that gives hope to the
well wisher of the race.
First. the object aimed at is the
same, viz the elevation of humanity.
Secondly, nearly all concede that
something must be done and done
quickly ere it is too late and our So
called civilization sinks into deepest
barbarism.
Thirdly, we are living in a rapid age
of the world, the transmission OF
thought from mind to mind through
the various channels of cOmmunica-
ton is increasingly faster and easier,
and great changes come cOrrespon-
dinghy.
Now comes the tug of war. What
is the issue upon which the different
schools of reform thought can agree ?
Speaking for myself alone | can say
that heartily agree with Bro. Bige
Eddy in his proposition that Direct
Legislation, Public Ownership OF. mo-
nopolies and Public Employment is or
or should be the coming issue or is
sues. Right here arises tremendous
din. The proposed platform is too ra-
deal for some and too conservative
for others. The advocates of "scienti-
fic socialism, who contend for the
"whole thing at once" will, naturally,
see nothing in it,, unless it be sur
render to the enemy. On the other
hand many of our monetary reformers
single takers, prohibs etc. will con-
slider it as too far in advance of the
people although in sympathy with
these reformers in the ultimate.
This only convinces us that this is
the common GROUND" the "happy me-
dunn, and that all believers in the
same should lose no time in helping
prepare the popular mind for the
great coming and inevitable battle
along those lines.
Although a firm believer in univer-
sal-ideal-voluntary socialism as the
ultimate condition of the human race,
and not so very many years ahead
either, still for the present, IT we
should be practical, we must take our
selves and the situation as we exist
and shape our course accordingly.
"a man cannot live ahead of his
intelligence" as q comrade puts it, and
the same is true of the COLLECTIVELY.
l will add that the COLLECTIVELY can
not maintain a higher idealistic sy-
stem than the average intellect theeof
can comprehend, and an attempt to
establish such system over an UMPIRE
pared people must result in an abor-
tive falling to the ground, orit success
full cause anexplosion and break down
like the turning of a full head OF steam
or electricity upon machinery not
properly geared up.
A comprehensive glance at the situ-
alton here in America shows the fall
lacy Of attempting the establishment
of full all-around socialism in the pres
ent or near future.
The American people have been edu-
Gated since the first settlement OF the
~....,4..,, -, 41,a Ia1;of hat a free iudivi-