The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-07-23

(Reprnted from THE ARENA, New York, May, lsOs)


acceptable to the masses OF the peo-
ple is to remove the erroneous con-
ception prevalent concerning It. Inc
work before every advocate OF this
system is to carry on constant labor
OF education, for the supporters OF the
present capitalistic system have placed
socialism In a false position upon ey-
Try available occasion.
Socialism would bring into existence
q state of society in which all people
would perform some useful and pro-
ductive labor, either manual or men
tai and the wealth OF each would be
tased upon and prOportionate to the
Tabor of each; but in no case coula
any one who did not labor secure The
fruit of toll Of those who work. DO
not become possessed of the erroneous
impression that socialists recognize
only physical labor; they recognize as
clearly as any one the Importance and
usefulness of the mental labor OF d.
rection, administration, superinten-
dence, and invention. They emphasize
the Importance of all these when use
fully applied, and advocate their due
reward; but they do not believe in the
reward Of mental labor when directed
to efforts by which one person tries to
secure the wealth anOthers labor has
produced
Socialists claim that under the pres
ent capitalistic organization OF So
ciety those who work the hardest and
produce the most, whether it be in
the department of physical labor! or
creative art and invention, possess the
least; while those who work the least
in genuine, useful effort possess the
most Socialism contends that all
wealth is produced by labor, and there
fore that all wealth should belong to
labor.
Under the present form of society
there are three special institutions by
means of which the nOn-producers Sc
cure the wealth of those who produce,
viz: rent, interest, and profit. Under
socialism these institutions would be
abolished Realizing the impossible
ity of removing the effect without first
destroying the cause, socialism does
not undertake to abolish these inSti
tutions as long as the conditions that
Great, them remain; therefore, they
go to the fundamental cause, the root
of the evil, and would destroy it.
First, then, under socialism only
those who use the land could own it,
and then only in the sense of an equity
consisting of the value of the wealth
their iabors had produced UPON it.
No less an authority than Blackstone
says that the original title to land was
given upon possession and use. The
only justification for a title to land
is to protect the owner in the posses
sion of the labor values he has pro-
duced upon it and of necessity attached
to it. But this protection can be Sc
cured far more justly by having t
absolute title vested in the state and
granting the pOssessor lease in per-
petuity so long as he complies with
the conditions of occupany and use.
Socialism does not necessarily mean
that all persons engaged in agricul-
tural and kindred pursuits must do so
as employees of the state, upon a wage
basis and under the direction of state
managers. 1t would permit of such
collective labors upon petition of a
81 fficient number of persons who
evinced desire to work in that man :
ner, but such operations would be
purely voluntary upon the part of
those who participated. In time such
associated efforts would demonstrate
their greater superiority, but, until all
were convinced Of the desrability and
higher efficiency of collective group
ing and voluntarily entered into
formed groups, individuals could lease
their lands in perpetuity from the
state and labor according to their
own methods. And, having once en-
tered into collective groups. they
could at proper times drop out aud
return again to individual efforts.
Under such system of land tenure
all speculation in land would cease.
and all idle and unimproved lands
would be open to settlement. No one
could sell the land he possessed bit
only the labor values thereon, and all
such transfers would have to recei ,
the sanction of the state to secure
equity. 1t is plain that under such a
system of land ownership and tenure
rents would cease and the first an !
most powerful instrument by means
of which th )se who do not, labor Sc
cure the products of those who do la
Dor would be abolished. Under this