The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-03

Socialism, the word it not hundred year old in the American language; is barely fifty; but during the last fifteen years 1t has appeared with cumulative frequency in the press of the country, and considerable avowedly socialistic party has sprung np, which, with some reverses due chiefly to poor leadership srfld to a split In the party itself, has been gaining ground. Moreover, it's ideals and its demands have interpene- trated and eolored the fibre or the plat forms of both the great old parties in a very curious way, and in two instances 1t has been indirectly the means of elect ing a governor.
 A writer four years ago on the lnde- pendent, a weekly paper of some little note showed exclusively that the cleo ton of MT. Roosevelt to the governorship of New York was owing to the unusually large vote which the socialistic party under the aggressive, dictatorial but very brilliant leadership of Daniel De Leon, contrived to detaeh from the regular de- mocracy; and, the first election of Rus sell in Massachusetts was admitted by him to have been ensured by the vote delivered to him by the nationalists-a socialist organization that spread over the country about the time Bellamy wrote his 'Iooking Backward" Russell, when elected, signed socialist bill per mitting cities and town to manufacture and supply their citizens with gas and electric light.
 This bill had been fought in the Mas Eachusetts legislature for three years by the gas and electric corporate interests and at It's first presentation MT. Russell had been one of the most active attor- neys in opposition to this entering wedge of socialistc economies. Edward Everett Hale, Col Higginson, Rabbi Schindler, Rev. Philip Moxom Rev. Philo Sprague and score more of noted Bostonians- nearly all Bostonians of the Brahmn oaste-appeared before the house com mittee on manufactures and argued in favor of the measure. Finally, Speakel Barrett, a republican, took the floor and gave his aid to the bin. It was carried In the house. but killed In the senate until the corporations got purse tired ana purse tied. They counted on govern or's veto. but they counted without their host. Their lobby had cost them a small fortune One of their lobbyists said $i50,0d0, but one of the oldest lobby lsts in Massachusetts laughed at this and offered to bet 1t was double.
 Attitude of Old Parties.
 These. however are minor instances or indications of the advance of the eoo- noriic ideas of socialism. The really m- portant ones are to be sought and found in the attitudes of the old parties apd m the evolution Of our government l.istori- rally. President Hayes, who was one or the first subscribers 10 the first socialist magazine published in our tongue. Ths Nationalist referred to the United States postoffice as one of the great steps so- cialsm had taken and predicted that the government in the twentieth century would take over the telegraph, the rail- road. the express business and the mines.
 Just lately we have had announcement from authoritative sources in Washington of the governments intention to conduct the wireless telegraph business and to supply business men and individuals with messages quite close to cost. Marconi, according to a recent interview seems to think otherwise, but what show would Marconi, genius though he be, have asainst the will of Uncle sam? Indica- tion of another step Is to be found in President Roosevelts action during the coal famine. That he exceeded his au- thority direct or indirect. unoer the con stitution. may be cheerfuly admitted but the country sustained him-showing that the people Is, and always must be. greater than any constitution or written document, however august Jefferson. it will be remembered, gravely doubtea whether he had any constitutional right to make the Louisiana purchase; but he did it--and we are celebrating his act today at St. Louis with -he greast expo sition ever under the sun.
 Moreover, the creation of such new and novel cabinet offices as the depart ment of labor and commerce is another Mar step towards governmental ownership Of natural monopolies and the settlement by government of. labor troubles. It is believed that new cabinet office. the department of applied science, will soon be created and that one of its first acts will be-following the recent revelations of Prof. Wiley in regard to the poisonous qualities of many of our canned goods from the use of borax as preserva- tiye-to put the whole food supply of the