The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-11-05
SOCIALISM
2r. Obsnchain has Word to Say to ths
Per.lis.s~Bei.esss They shssld AL
Become Socialists

sSS 1SJ SESS1ss SS3
Become Socialists
Editor Independent: Were I to
speak to the populists today-having
been one Of them-it would be with
no word of Encouragement. AS a
party we came into existence protest
against existing conditions. We fought
as best we knew and have the en-
couragement of seeing principles, at
first hooted and derided, now serious
ly considered and permanently fixed
in the minds of majority of the peo-
pie. In the education incident to this
struggle, we ourselves have advanced
and ideas that once seemed revOlu-
tiOnary are now seen to be only pallia-
tive. Thus the education goes on, and
the day of real achievements will be
FASTENED or delayed accordingly as We
concentrate or dissipate our energies.
The populist party OF more than g.,
100000 voters, what has become of it?
Many have returned to former politi-
cal affiliations discouraged and hope
less. Others are silent onlookers polit-
ically, while the great majority have
been absorbed by the democratic party
land what is that party? 1t is the
herculean struggle of Mr.. Bryan's life
to hold 1t to the principles declared
for in 1896. Think Of it. After seven
years it is life and death struggle
within the party, not as to whether
it shall advance, but whether it shall
recede from the advanced step al
ready taken. / have no censure for
either those who went into or for
those who staid out of the fusion deal
am satisfied all were making the
fight of their lives as duty prompted.
The logic of conditions was insur-
mountable, and If the populists had
pursued an opposite course and the
democrats have lost the presidency, as
they surely woodland. did-the pop
ulists would have been held response
BILE, and, under the odium Of this
charge, they could never have gained
recruits from out of the ranks of
those charging them with this per-
fidy. The party could not have acted
differently and retained its prestige as
a party any more than it has done
Nor, in all these seven years of his
tory, have / had an unkind word for
Mr.. Bryan. He, too, was making the
fight of his life, is still fighting and
will fight on to the end for reform as
he sees it. That he has ideas far in
advance of anything he is contending
for, is doubtless true, and when he is
forced out of his present environment
there is no telling to what advanced
step he may go. But, mark you, to
be able to carry the greatest following
with him, he must be driven out. To
go out inopportunely would be well
coined with the greatest delight by
the capitalist element of the party, as
the best means Of crushing his infiu-
enee.
But, to turn aside from this brief
summary of the situation leading up
to the present, what of the future?
believe we are on the threshold of a
political revolution A revolution
along lines more radical than anything
populists contend for-more radical
than was ever contended for before
The principle of competition itself is
being assailed and the principle of
universal cooperation being advo-
Gated Private capitalism, with its at
tendant evils of profit and interest, is
being regarded as uneconomic waste
full and the greatest of>all means of
exploitation. Anyone can understand
that, deprived of the power of extort-
ing profit, rent and interest, there
could not today be millionaire in all
the land. No man could possibly nave
more than the value of his own ac-
cumulated industry. and this means
that no man could be exploited of his
wages.
The question to which the world is
just awakening, is: Are the wealth
creators entitled to the full value of
the wealth they create? The question
itself is an insult to justice. That 1t
should be propounded at this advanced
age of civilization, much less serious
~ considered, Is one OF the marvels
that will puzzle future generations. AS
II In. half the world Ii not aware that
such a proposition Is In question--in-
dignant, perhaps. at the intimation.
And yet the last census reports show
that the average lahnrer gets only
sf37 of the Se.45i his labor produces
In year. Once this fact becomes
consciously fixed In the minds of the
working masses. no middle-clasa or