The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-09-08
SOCIALISTS IN AMERICA

As a rule the annual convention Ct
the universal peace congress does not
attract much attention outside of th'
narrow circle of those who fondly be
lieve that by holding conferences and
adopting resolutions they can stay the
mad spirit of war and bring about
the disarmament Of armies and the
abolition OF navies. This year, how
ever. the meeting OF the convention
al Mystic, Connecticut. has been found
interesting for a peculiar reason. II
seems the convention was virtually
captured by Socialists and converted
into a Soeialistic conference.
Popular interest in the development
of Socialism among the universal
peace advocates is due to the fact
that of late years the growth Of So
eialism in many of the eastern states
has been sufficiently notable to give
the voters of the creed a marked in
fuence in politics. In some states the
Socialists hold balance of power in
many municipalities and have been
able TO elect a good many candidates
for important offices. By reason Of
these demonstrations Of strength
nearly everything that tends TO throw
light on the growth of the purposes
of the Socialist organization is stud e
with no little care by practical poll
ticians as well as by s~ociologis,s. Hence
the interest displayed in the reports
o. the appearance Of Socialistic ora
tors among the leaders OF the peace
convention.
AS p result of the new influence
in the conference the subjects Of dis
cussiOn were in many instances Of a
kind utterly n at former peace
conventions. Among them were TIE
Single Tax" Industrial Peace and
politics rather than international
peace. 1t was noted also that just
outside the entrance of the park
where the sessions of the congress
have been held for years there was
painted on a mammoth boulder set
in the hillside above the heads of =.
passers along the road the bold IL
scription Socialism is Coming" A
report Of the proceedings Of the whole
says: The session was marked by
the advent Of a large number Ct speak
ers Of the Socialistic cult and tie
trend OF thought was at times d.s
tinct.y SOcialistic."
The capture of the peace congress
is looked upon as a part of the gen
eraI Socialistic propaganda which i
now prog essing in al parts Ct tn,
east and watch has become strong
enough TO constitute a genuine poll
tiCaI forCe in New England, New -ofk
Pennsylvania, New Je. sey and Hi
nOis. In reviewing their work the
Philadelphia Ledger says: The prop
agandists work chiefly among the
labor ing men, especially in the mining
and manufacturing centers; they 10
not eonfne their efforts Of perversion
TO the ordinary political campaign pc
RODS, but maintain their pernicious
activity throughout the year., holding
small meetings or pressing their opin-
ions upon little groups of workingmen
or even seeking out individual voters
to induce them to accept the Socialis-
tic creed. Latterly they have carried
campaigning INFO the ag. icultuTal dis-
%tricts, sending their spellbinders to
the farmers social gatherings to dis
seminate Their doctrine"
There is no danger of a Socianstic
triumph in any Anne lean state, but
the cult may become so dangerous
al some time as did the cult OF .-opu-
lism during the hard times that fol-
lowed the panic Of 1893. The grow. n
Of the e party is the efore a mat
teT o. se.ious pc. tent, for Ame.i lean
conservatism may ONE day have to
reckon with it when it will have the
support CT all the discounted rad4ca s
Of the big cities and be a formidable
foes. F. Call.