The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-30
SOCIALISM As \ POLITICAL FACTOR

If the Journal correctly understands the
object Of the Socialist convention which
met in this city Yesterday. it is 10 harmon
ize and bring together on a common plat
form OF action the different social organ
~izations Of the country and, If possible, to
absorb the labor unions. If this were done
Il would result in a formidable class move
ment. Ir a free country. where universal
suffrage prevails and where all shades OF
political opinion find expression by or
ganization. socialism must be reckoned
with among others. The word has a bad
odor imported from Europe. where it is
closely allied 10 anarchism. 1t remains to
be seen whether the movement i'm this
country can be held TO honest and legiti-
mate purposes. or whether from being. as
it is now. a class movement. it will finally
become one against government and So
ciety in general. Socialism is defined as
Any theory or system OF social organiza-
ton which would abolish entirely or In
great part the individual effort and COM
petition on which modern society rests. and
substitute for it cooperative action. would
introduce a more perfect and equal dis
tribution of the products of labor, and
would make land and capital, as the instru-
ments and means OF production. the joint
possession of the Members of the communi-
"" The obvious objection TO all such the
cries is that they are purely visionary.
They are thinkable but impossible.
The Socialist movement in this country
seems TO be aiming at the abolition of pri-
vate ownership of land and at government
ownership OF public utilities. Last year the
Socialist Labor party adopted a platform
which called upon the wage earners of the
country to unite for the abolition of
classes. the restoration of the land and of
all the means of production. transportation
and distribution to the people as a collective
body. and the substitution of the co-ope-
rative commonwealth for the present state
of painless production, industrial war and
social disorder" The platform of the So
cial Democratic party contained. among
others. the following declarations:
The present system of social production
and private ownership is rapidly convert
ing society into two antagonistic classes
the capitalist class and the prOpertyleSS
class. The middle class. once the most
vel VI lHiS EItdl ANdNA'nf 10 JIG oDBt0
ing in the race of competition. Independ-
ent political action and the trade union
movement are the chief emancipating fact
OrS of the working class, the one repre-
senting its political and the other it's eco
homie wing.
The platform further declared in favor of
the abolition of the wage system. in favor
of the common ownership of the means or
production and distribution; in favor of the
public ownership of all railroads, telegraphs
and telephones, all means OF transporta-
ton and communication. all water works,
gas and electric plants. and other public
utilities. 1t also declared in favor of the
public ownership of all gold, silver. copper,
lead, iron, coal and other mines, and all
oil and gas wells.
1t is well enough to recall such declara-
lions as these 70 show what kind of ideas
are taking root in the country. The dele
gates who have just assembled here from
various parts of the country are earnest,
and some Of them are able men. They
think they know what they want, and they
are getting together. Men DO not travel a
long distance i'm such weather as this and
i'm an off year in politics for fun. If they
succeed in forming a political alliance with
the labor unions they will become at once
a power in politics.