Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-25
SOCIALISM in AMERICA.

lu6 comparatively uSdNy SOCldllSIiC
vote in this country at the last general
election has called forth from many
quarters expressions of hopes-and'
fears-that the socialistic idea is
growing in America. that the social
lists will in a few years be n of the
two great bodies in American poll
tics. But does not sane consideration
of the question argue against such a
conclusion? 1t is easy to see why the
vote last fall showed a good social
istic sentiment. In the western
try, where Bryan's ideas are still cher
ished by many democrats, the nomina-
ton of Judge Parker was almost an
insult. Democrats who had never
thought of voting any other ticket for
many years decided that they would
not vote for Parker. He was. to them,
the opposite in every way Of the or
ator of the Platte. He was not an
exponent of their beliefs. But neither
was Roosevelt. So, rather than vote
for Parker. they turned to another
column. Not because they believed in
the idea of socialism. but because
they did not believe in Parker, they
voted the socialistic ticket.
-Ef e Wl1ISL- III q IAo6oLiiSy III
an article on ''The Progress of So
the existence of the sentiment in Eu-
ropean countries and the chance for
it's growth in this country:
Socialism is a live political factor
in. Europe. There is a wave Of So
cialism flowing over the whole CONT
nent, reaching heights Of much import
ance in Germany, Belgium and France.
and giving a distinct trend to political
life in Austria and Italy.
at is of great Importance to us be-
cause of the vital effect which the
success of the socialist parties would
have on European institutions and
upon the social and industrial condi-
tions there. OF even wider import
ance, however, IS this great political
and social movement. because it fore
shadows a tendency which we are
likely to see gain great force in our
own country. 1t seems to me not i'm
probable that we shall. in the next
few years, hear much of socialism in
our own political life. I do not think
it will be surprising if we eventually
find political forces here drawn up on
a new alignment. with a party stand
ing on a platform which might be
made up from principles taken from
the programs of socialist parties of
Europe, and opposed to those who will
stand for conservatism and the per-
manence of present institutions and
conditions.
What a socialist party they would
make! The disconnected would find
promise in such a platform. The be-
levers in the power of legislation to
work miracles in bringing prosperity
and lettering social conditions would
find plans for legislative experiments
which would interest them. Those who
see danger in aggregated wealth, the
opponents Of TRUSTS and combinations,
the populists, would all find such a
party c%ongenial. The advocates of fed
eral control of railways and telegraphs,
and those who think the government
should get deeper into finance and or
ganize postal savings banks, would
find Dlanks which met their views. One
OF the main tenets of faith would of
course be the belief in universal old
age pensions and in insurance to COM
pensate for loss of health or employ
ment, with the taxes for creating such
funds laid on the incomes of the
wealthy"
1t is easy to see why socialism
should flourish in European countries.
There 1t represents the opposite of
monarchism. Rather than propose a
republican form of government, which
could not be obtained the agitators
gather followers and enthuse their dis
ciples by talking entire socialism.
They realize that no government of
the people and by the people can be
obtained in any of these nations men
toned without a revolution that would
take years and the sacrifice of many
lives. They know, too, that a civil dis
turbance amounting to a war would