New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-07
SOCIALISM IN ENGLAND
ILLUSTRATED BY A CIRCULAR on THE
COAL STRIKE AND vAGARIEs ABOUT
NATURALIZATION OF INDUS
TRIES-THE STRONGEST SAFE
GUARD AGAINST IT.
London, October %.


rite belt may have escaped observation in
America That is the use which socialists in
england attempted TO make OF IT, At the criti-
,al moment when President Roosevelt inter
vened, with public opinion behind him, and
forced capitalists and organized labor to submit
their Issues 10 arbitration, the executive coun-
I'll OF the Social Democratic Federation Of the
United Kingdom was scattering far and wide
q frenzied appeal for concerted action and moral
assistance on the part OF British miners. The
circular was OF a most inAammatory nature.
opening with oenunciation of the srnasterfuI
arrogance" OF the Pennsylvania mine operators,
Who refused TO recognize labor unions and
claimed absolute control OF the property inter
ests Of The country. and continuing with an ac-
eount OF the revolt OF the French and Belgian
miners against their employers. The conclusion
may be quoted literally: "AIl this unrest in the
coal fields OF three great commercial countries
the United States. France and Belgiuna-is
but an outward and visible manifestation OF the
class war-the war OF interests between those
who live by labor and those who live on labor
which goes on increasingly and which viii be-
come more bitter Is the combinations of cap
italists oppose the declarations OF workers. That
war can only cease when the community as an
organized and educated democracy takes con-
troll OF the great means and instruments OF pro-
aucrion and distribution for the benefit OF the
whole people" AS a for bringing about
that supreme socialistic end. British miners
were urged 10 pay no heed TO rumors Of settle
rnenr either in the United States or in France,
and 10 refuse 10 produce coal for export TO
those countries. In this way the arrogant coal
capitalists could be brought 10 their knees,
yictory secured for the miners. the people in the
United States and in France saved from the
awful ra!series Of a coal famine in the depth Of
winter" and the United Kingdom protected
from rising prices. which they could Ill afford
70 meet with declining trade. The success or
the President n effecting settlement OF the
ooal strike has interrupted the circulation OF
this socialist appeal for a campaign OF 'soh-
darty" among the allied forces OF labor in pro-
gressive nations
The executive council Of the Social Democratic
Federation has not reprinted. so far as know,
the resolution OF the Democratic convention OF
New-York respecting national purchase and OPP
Grafton Of mining properties. Its circular on
the coal strike however, contains evidence OF
its sympathy with the fundamental idea that
the community must take possession ana con-
troll OF the great means and instruments OF
production and distribution" That was Louis
Blanc's goal when he argued that the state
should be the only capitalist and should open
stores and workshops and find work for the IN
employed II was the aim Of Lassalle, Marx and
the SOclal democrats OF SeEuldAy " D4---S
about the liberation Of labor through the aboh-
ton OF private property; and the New Unionists
in Great Britain, under the leadership OF Kerr
Hardie advocated the same principle when they
captured the Trades Union Congress and con-
verted il for several years into an avoWedIy So
ciaHst organization These unionists began with
q resolution in favor Of the naturalization Of
land, mines, minerals and royalty rents ana
speedily enlarged il into an unquallhed oeclara-
ton that the means OF production. distribution
and exchange should be nationalized. kelr
Hardie himself interpreted this resolution oy
explaining that the sole concern OF the 4nGe-
pendent Labor party is ''the reorganization OF
sur industrial system on the basis Of an in
Austrial commonwealth, in which the whole OF
ne wealth produced by labor shall belong 10
Re workers and in which it will not be possible
20 have overabundance on the one hand and
death dealing poverty on the other" Although
these resolutions have not been formally re-
pealed. British trades unionisna, through the
gallant fight made by John Burns at the Cardiff
congress. has been delivered from the reproach
OF socialism and restored its legitimate func-
rtons as a body Of representative workingmen-
The socialists now have their working centres
outside that body, and are making persistent
efforts 10 revive interest in the naturalization
Of land and industry, as the panacea for poverty
and social unrest.
The most effective method OF counteracting
this industrial gospel Of social democracy. which
was itself based on French and German social
ISM, was that Of estimating the cost OF carrying
il out as a national investment Sir John Leng'
q hard headed Scotchman, did this in prac-
teal WAY. He demonstrated that land national
izauon would involve. on the basis Of taxes for
owners and occupiers in the United Kingdom
the acquisition Of property by the state aggre-
eating 81, 300O00,Oc0 that over s1Oo.ecovo
would be added for annual rentals, and that Tor
incomes taxabl under existing law S3,0oOOco'vco
would be requisite. When the land owners, mine
owners. householders. railway shareholders pro-
fessional classes consol holders and annuitants
had been bought out, the manufactures, trade
shipping, commerce and general business OF the
country would have 70 be nationalizeos Tor the
sake OF consistency, and conducted on common
stock principles. Sir John Leng illustrated the
magnitude OF the operation by giving details OF
q single lire OF naanufactures-the textile in
dustries-and estimating what IL would cost TO
obtain national control Of a business in which
million operatives We're employed. sixty-three
million spindles kept IN motion, and a surplus
OF SJcOOG00oO products exported annually to
foreign countries When the ramihcations Of
production distribution and exchange for gen
eral Industry and business were covered, an ag-
gregate was reached which reduced nationalist
tion 10 a chiuera I doubt II any mathemati-
clan on this side, with the complete census re-
turns al his disposal. would have the hardihood
70 attempt 10 estimate what naturalization OF
Industries and all the means OF production dis
trIbution and exchange would cost in the United
States. and this would seem the inevitable and
equitable sequel 10 the naturalization OF the
coal INDUSTRY. as advocated by the New-York
Democracy