The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-07-20
SOCIALISM IS GROWING.
Many of Our College Professors Arc Open
and Avowed Advocates of State
Socialism.

Discussing the attitude of Ameri-
can colleges toward socialism, the
Brooklyn Eagle thus describes a re-
cent movement: "A meeting of col
lege students was held in Boston on
Wednesday, at which an intercolle-
giate socialist union was formed.
Seven colleges were represented:
Harvard, Columbia. Boston institute
of technology, the University of Chi
cage, Brown university, Boston col
legA and Tufts. There is no mention
IN this list of a number of smaller
collc ges in Iowa, Kansas and other
western states in which the sociafistic
feeling is supposed to be strong, but
letters of encouragement were re-
ceived from Princeton, Cornell, Min
nesota. Wellesley and Amherst, and
there were notes from some college
presidents whose socialistic sympa-
thies are well known.
The Eagle heads its article, "a So
.,ialist Infant Glass; and is inclined
to think that the organization is in
significant and will amount to nothing
since it has decided to take no sides
in the controversy between the po-
litical organizations of socialists.
There are more socialists in Ger
many than in any other country, and
the German socialist movement is
very largely the result of the work
of German schools. The freedom of
the teacher in Germany is regarded
with something of the sacredness
with which we maintain the freedom
of the press.
While the German government has
muzzled the press and established a
censorship over all public meetings,
it dare not lay it's hands upon the
sacred prerogatives of the university
professor. One result of this is a
most radical political economy. and q
strong socialist party made up very
largely of educated and substantial
men. 1t is useless to deny that social
istiC theories are rapidly gaining
ground in this country, not merely
from the work of foreign agitators
and labor organizations, but as a re-
suit of the lectures and writings Of
the ablest of our educators. While
American colleges do not approach
the German institutions in this re-
spect there has been marked in
crease in this tendency during the
last few years. The organization de-
scribed by the Eagle will not, of
course, be factor in the approaching
presidential election, but we are not
SO certain that it is to be dismissed
as insignificant and unimportant. 1t
shows an interest in the great eco.
nomic questions of the day among
the college students, who are to be
the men and the power of til. v>-y
near future. 1t shows too that there
is an increasing number of those who
no longer fear a world that is the
victim Of much prejudice and igno-
rance. The first step toward the So
luton of great problem is investi-
CATION and consideration, and it must
be apparent even to casual observers
of passing events that this step is be-
ing taken with reference to those
great economic questions raised by
the industrial Transformation
wrought by this age of discovery and
invention. Men have frequently risen
above personal interests, in matters of
principle and policy. but not without
a profound conviction of the right. 1t
is easier to convince a man that what
is to his own interest is also right,
but men often see the right and do
it at personal sacrifice.-Louisville
(Ky.) Daily Dispatch.