Hutchinson gazette., 1900-12-20
THERE ARE TWO SIDES.
Platform Demands Should Never Be Ia
Advance NJ tho standard OF Econ
omio Education,


During the course OF an address de.
liyered to Chicago socialists by Prof,
Geo. ID. Heron, he said:
Let us look at our political situation,
that we may see what we have TO prepare
for. The breakup Of tho democratic nac-
~, and lts reorganization upon strictly
'capltallstlo lines, is inevitable The party
will be captured by what is called the
Old-lne democracy represented by such
men ns Mr. Cleveland Mr., whitney ana
MIR. Hin, II viii become merely an op-
position capltallstc party, to alternate
with the republican or constructive cap
itnllstlc party I'm the possession of power,
n VIII then make no sort OF difference
10 capitalists, or to the working class
either, whether the republican or demo-
cratic purity be In control of government;
for capitalism win be In possession OF
both partog, The perpetulty OF the capI-
tnllstlo syatcm depends upon lts having
two political parties, about equally
matched 10 play OF against each other,
and to shutte-cock the Proletnlre be-
tween blind issues, American political
campaigns have long been sort of
Punch and Judy show; and II has been 1ll
one TO the working man, whether he was
looking at republican Punch or demo-
cratic Judy, The strings Of both parties
were In capitalists hands, Az evidence
OF this, you viii only need 10 read the
recent editorials Of representative repub-
llcun newspapers, expressing most anx-
ious aolic.tudo as 10 the reorganization
and purity Of tho democratic party with
wlae propositions ms to its necessity for
the dcyelo. o.,aeat and protection OF our
institutions
Now what viii happen Gs the result OF
this organization OF the democratic party
upon openly capltnlistic llnoHY very
large portion Of democratic voters sup
ported Mr., Bryan not because they
wanted him, but ns q political makcshlft,
He was renlly wanted by neither the con-
servatlvo nor the radical democracy, His
negative position made him unacceptable
20 old-llne democrats, and his want or
economic knowledge or definite purpose
made him unacceptable to the more rad
ioal aud diacontcntod democrats The cap
itnllstlc reorganization Of the democratic
party means the breaking away Of this
large element Of radical and dlscOntented
democracy with II will merge a no In
considerable element Of the republican
party which voted for Mr., Mckinley, not
because II wanted him. but because Il
rightly saw only confusion In turning
90 Mr., Bryan The danger Of all this re-
shifting la the possible formation OF n
Etulctll new utlnOCThllt purity WIN htllll-
soclalistlc propositions and tendencies to
gather up and fuse this untaught and un-
disciplined American discomfort, which
probably represents One-thrd the nations
voters, This new radical party will GER
talnly appear, and possess the situation,
unless socialists lay aside all factlonal
differences and enter the national polt-
ical field with n unity and dignlhed action
that shall win this discomfort and dis
clplne It for intelligent and constructive
EFFORT on the basis OF the international
socialists programme. And, mind you,
the agents Of capitalism will secretly en-
order to withstand the appearance Of So
clalsm as u definite and organized prop
osltion to the American people
with all due respect for Mr.. Her
ron's eminent abilities, I feel con.
strained to dissent from his conclu-
sion that any considerable number OF
American voters are ripe for the re-
ception of the international socialists
programme, or ready for the inNugu-
ration of the cooperative common
wealth in its broudest sense.
There Is no doubt but that n ma
jority of the American people are
ready 10 embrace large degree Of
socialism, while large and intensely
earnest body Of voters are vigorously
and persistently pushing the single
tax propaganda, (Which is the very
essence Of socialism, intelligently APP
piled TO the land probem,) but COM
pnratively few are realty to subscribe
to the demand for the Common own
ership Of the means of production
and distribution" without any quail
ficntions or limitations.
The language is too broad and gem
eral, too ambiguous and ineXpicit,
md there are almost Os many different
understandings Of it, as there are in
dividunls to express their views
But | apprchend that this phrase
ology is but another mode of eX-
pressing the socialist deal-the CO.
operative commonweulth-an that
educated socialists no more expect to
reach that ideal in n few short cam
paigns, than does Prof. Heron when
he says;
ave have come to the moment in
which harmonious and disciplined
socialist movement may lead the un-
taught peoples into the cooperative
commonwealth"
Indeed, the platform adopted by
the socialists upon which they wagcd
their recent campaign, proves that
the cooperative commonwealth is
the ultimate goal, and not an immedi-
ntc expectation. Thus the socialist
platform says:
Therefore the social democratic party oG
America declares its object to, be:
lirst-rhe organization of the working
class into political party to CONQUER
the public powers now controlled by cap
italsts,
Second-rhe abolition OF wage slavc"y
by the establishment OF national sys-
tenn Of cooperative industry, based upon
the social or common ownership of tho
means Of production and distribution,
to be administered by society In the COM
mon interests Of all its members, and the
complete emancipation of the socially
useful classes from the domination OF
capitalism,
But when they entered into details
and enunciated their immediate de.
mands, or the demands upon which
they expected to wage their cam
rNpinn fhnu cntJ,