The Delta independent., 1903-07-10
Socialism.

PENDENT last week in defense Of
Socialism:
"One of the difficulties in considering
Socialism is that the program is not
defined beyond the point OF abolition OF
private ownership of the machinery OF
production and distribution. First
abolish the present system, is the de
mand. and then the people will replace
it with another and better system IN
which each person will receive the full
fruits OF his labor. But it is understood
that there must be elected boards OF
officials. under the new system. which
will manage and direct not only all the
industries. large and small, of the
country. but which will decide at what
occupation and for how long each
individual must work and watch to see
that he performs his work faithfully.
1t is evident that vast multitude OF
officials would be required. To carry
on the manifold activities OF the United
States probably 100000 to 100000
persons would be members Of an official
oy tiC S'NNS1
and appointed, to supervise the work OF
others and to dole out the daily or
weekly allowance Of checks payable in
food or clothing.
Any person who has had even the
slightest experience in practical admins
tration OF affairs perceives at glance
that such system must end in chaos.
II men were perfect it might be possible
to have such an army of ofsuperyisors who
would perform their duties honestly, and
it might be possible to have millions of
workers, men and women, who would
Ia Dor with fidelity. but with human
nature as it ie we would have continuous
turmoil violence and fraud. Industry.
science and the arts must retrograde
and before long we should find ourselves
sinking to the state Of Incidence which
is natural when incentive to effort is
removed.
Except in the case of comparatively
small number OF altruistic persons, men
would labor only SO much as might be
necessary to obtain the store orders re-
9uired to provide the means of subsis.
tence. The spur Of ambition. of the
desire for accumulation and of the wish
TO provide for one's children would be
removed and with their disappearance
would vanish the motives most powerful
in causing men to put forth the best
that is in them. So that even with
absolutely honest and capable manage.
ment by the administrative bureaucracy
the products Of the collective work OF
the nation or OF the world would be in.
comparably less than they are now. And
an absolutely honest and capable
administration by the bureaucracy
could not be obtained. for reasons which
are obvious to anybody who will con
cider the situation which then would
exist
So tar as the Socialistic agitation
draws attention to the injustices which
prevail aod helps along the consta Mt and
worldwide effort toward their ameIiora.
tion and ultimate removal, lit is accom-
,lishing good. No person will claim
shat there are not grievous wrongs to he
Fighted and nothing is easier than TO
attack them. but before a proposed
remedy can be accepted its advocates
should unite upon statement of the
industrial plan which they propose to
substitute Tor it and their ulan must be
one which appears to he feasible and
neritorious.
In Mr.. Miler's letter occurs the state.
ment: "Under the present system, tbers
can be no n hef, and. to. be candid, we
are not seeking it,"
That very point is one OF the strongest
oh}e;tions raised to the methods of the
leaders OF the SociaIistic movement
They 90 not believe in labor unions. Z r
instance. except as the unions may turn
themselves into Socalistic political
organizations. The labor union il
organized to better the condition OF its
members, but the Socialist LADDERS
frankly avow that they don't want to
better anybody's condition under the
present system. They would prefer to
make conditions of liking. SO onerous
under 1t that the people would be will
ing TO overturn the whole structure OF
society to be rid OF the evils which
oppressed them. Labor Uniouism. in
ihe proper sense, and Socialism are,
therefore,. opposed to one another.
There are, OF course, many nominal
Socialists who are willing that labor
shall gain whatever it may through the
medium OF unions, but the advanced,
radical Socialist would rather that the
lot OF labor be made harder SO as to
hasten demand Tor So, ialism spd with
the coming OF Socialism. the labor union
must disappear entirely because there
could not exist such a thing in q col
iectiYely. Last falls election was a case
~ pon', to soma extent. The SoeialIs,
candidates wore ths.means OF defeating
hrunber OF candidates for the legisla
ture who would have worked and voted
for an effective eight hour law. Had
these candidates been successful the
law would be on the estasute.bookstoday
Denver Newe.
80 = Hnr