The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-07-04
BISHOP MATZ-socIALIsM.

The Denver News of the 21st in
slant contains a lengthy reply from
the Western Federation of Miners to 6
statement on Socialism by Bishor
Matz. VIM. D. Haywood, secretary
treasurer of the federation, signs the
reply, and has presumably stated
rightly the contentious of the associa
ton. The reply is Incorporate, full
of venom and invective, and is weak.
ened by personalities and innuendoes
Truth is simple. 1t needs no elo.
quence and is obscured by irrelative
aspersions. Strong language is not
strong argument Mr.. Haywood has
maligned the bishop. and has offered
an insult to every right thinking Cath
Ole. Much of the obscurity noticed
in the discussion arises from the alb.
sence of clear definition We may dis
tinguish four kinds of Socialism: Mod
crate Socialism, radical Socialism, an.
archie Socialism and nasty Socialism
Moderate Socialism aims at the bet
terment Of the classes by lawful and
sensible methods. 1t encourages the
best in education by instilling Chris
tan character 1t breaches to the
employer charity and a sense of JUS
tice. 1t encourages workingmen to
combine in trade unions and to strike
when necessary for the enforcement
of reasonable hours and fair wages.
1t recognizes the right of private own
ership of land natural resources and
industries. 1t tells men plainly that
equality in wealth and influence is as
much an iridescent dream as equality
in bodily health and intellectual acu-
men.
Radical Socialism admits the right
to private ownership, and the private
exploitation of those industries which
effect the happiness of individuals
when not in conflict with the public
welfare. 1t urges the appropriation
by the state of certain public utilities,
as railways, waterways, street car
lines and light plants. 1t advocates
no upheaval of society. 1t is sensible,
and grants each man the right to seek
happiness in his own fashion, offering
to all fair field of competition and
special favors to none.
Anarchic Socialism may be defined
as that system which as for it's OBJ
ject the reconstruction of society on
the basis of a community of property,
and association instead of competition
in every branch of human industry. |
This system would coniscate, by force
if necessary, all landed properties and |
even natural resources and industries
It would do away with all govern
ment, all law. all courts of equity and !
the whole mob would rule itself and
regulate the details of life affecting
each individual.
A board of overseers would keep
he general stores and deal out goods
n weight and number. Another board
would dictate what each man and wo-
nan should wear; the quality of the
lat, the cut of the coat and the color
If the hose. Another board would die
tate where each man should live what
he should follow, what he
should eat and what he should read,
What he should think and how he
should serve God. The boards would
,lect or reject those who apply for
determine who should be
physicians, who storekeepers, who
who grave-diggers, and who
log catchers, and there could be no
lppeal as against the board. A board
would have to determine the, relative
-alue of all work; as, for example, the
elative value of a surgical operation
nd days labor in the coal mine AS
10 money would be used, the board
you'd determine the pay in store
ickets. This system would inaugur-
tie the millennium of politicians.
very mothers son under such sys-
EN- would move heaven and earth to
e a board man. Politicians are not
n good order now, but what of them
nder such a systemi Drones would
arm as much as the Industrious, if
men could be found. For
Tho would labor where there is no
to work? All would feed
qually well at the public crib The
ailings of the Greek Christian
gainst the Hebrews who were get
ng the best of the common aims
ould be nothing to the daily howl of
lie masses who would shake Olym-
is with complaints against the WholeI