The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-02-21
TFRMs. Shopper year. in advance
Six Months 80 cents.

pendent handicrafts into wage slaves
The result Of this transformation of
the limited instruments of production
into mighty power, turned them into
social implements, thus precluding in
dividual ownership on the part of the
workers.
The vast cost of the new machinery
and large amount of capital required
for the new methods of production
gave rise to the capitalist class-the
owners of the instruments of toll.
The laborers being thus unable to
employ themselves must sell their la
bOr power to those who have monopo-
liZed the instruments of production.
Their wage bears but little relation to
the productivity of their labor, the
former being determined by competi-
tion in the labor market.
1t is evident then, that the ownership
of the instruments Of production give
certain men power over their fellows.
He who owns that which men must
have, virtually owns those who
must have it. The ownership of the
means of production, involves owner
ship in those who must use that ma
chinery or starve. No man is free so
long as he is dependent upon some
other man for an opportunity to earn
his living.
The wage system is thus the cause
of mans dependence and servitude.
What is the remedy which socialism
proposes? 1t says that inasmuch as
the laborer's servitnde@ lis caused
through the appropriation by a class
of the means of production, their
emancipation can only be accomplished
by their again becoming the owners of
the instruments of toll. But indi-
vidual ownership by the workers is
impossible owing to the subdivision of
labor and the immense scale of pro-
ductiOn.
The solution, however, is not hope
production gives us clue to the means
by which this contradiction may be
eliminated. AS the method of produc-
tion has been socialized the means of
production should also be socialized.
Tools used in common should be
owned in common. Private property
in the instruments of production is
becoming more and more incompatible
with the nature of those instruments.
The whole conflict, the class struggle,
between laborers and capitalists, is due
to this incompatibility. The instru-
ments, methods and products of pro-
duction are now social, but the form OF
appropriation remains the same as in
the days of individual production,
when the laborer owned his tools and
consequently the product.
Social (co-operative) production with
individual appropriation, means indi-
vidual appropriation of the products
of social labor. The only remedy for
this injustice is the specialization of the
instruments of production to CORE
spond with the already socialized meth
cd of production.
Socialism would establish syste-
matte organization of industry, and car
ry on production for the satisfaction
of human wants, instead of for private
profits.
Socialism is the coming world power.
It is the cOnsummation of the indus
trial evolution and certain of attain
ment.
The trust is the forerunner of the
cooperative commonwealth. AS in
dividuals have combined into corpora
tions and corporations into trusts, so
trusts will combine into great trust
the nation.
| Socialism maintains that every child
born into the world should equally in
herit with every other child the re-
sources and opportunities for a full
and free life. This it would secure to
all by making the means of production
the inalienable property of all the
people. A. R. S..