Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-03-06
IS SOCIALISM ANARCHY
Is Socialism anarchy?


That would appear to be rather an
odd question to ask in Los Angeles,
where thousands of Socialists abide
who are good citizens, peaceful, quiet
and home-loving.
But it is a necessary question at this
juncture-a critical and timely question
that must be answered.
The Herald, in an editorial last Sun
day under the caption o. Socialism
Why?" limited at this very question
without using the real query that was
in the EDITORS mind.
Is Socialism a form of anarchy?
Anarchy, in it's best sense, signifies
absence of government; in it's worst
sense, political confusion and public
disorder" But is not one the corollary
OF the other?
kilograms from Chicago in yesterday
mornings Herald and other news
papers give an account of a meeting
of 1000 Socialists who had gathered to
take up the question of the arrest of
Colorado labor agitators on the charge
of having murdered former Governor
Steunenberg of Idaho by the use of
dynamite. How this question con-
oerned the Socialists of Chicago, as
such, is not quite clear, since Socialism
as preached in Los Angeles steers away
from union labor and its agitations.
But we are told that the Chicago So
cialists practically pledged armed
revolution and their lives to the work.
ingmen's cause if Haywood, Meyer and
Pettibone," and that speakers who
preached violence and resort to arms
were wildly cheered again and again"
We are also told that A. NJ. Simons
editor of the International Socialist Re
view, was vigorously applauded when
he denounced the government author
tiles" for the Colorado arrests re-
ferred to.
1--WE are growing ia strength and
nearing Il crisis said Editor Simons.
I'VE are strong enough to prevent them
from hanging these men in Idaho. Our
lives must be given before we permit
them TO hang"
If this isn't anarchy, what is it? And
it is significantly told that another
speaker at the meeting was Oscar
Neebe, one of the Haymaker rioters
who has not been heard in public since
his conviction, Imprisonment and sub
sequent release
If these Chicago Socialists are not
anarchists why do they preach vio-
lence and armed resistance to the gov
eminent and association with anarch-
lists known to be dynamiters?
And what is the cause Of their out
break? Simply that the lawfully con-
stituted authorities of Colorado have
received credible information which
led them to arrest three leaders of the
Western Federation of Miners on a
charge of murder. These men will be
tried in due form, in open court, with
all the rights OF attorney and a jury
OF their peers. Why are the Chicago
Socialists opposed to these proceedings
unless they are opposed to all govern
ment not of their own making?
The answer of the Los Angeles So
cialist may be: The proceeding in
Chicago is not Socialism and has moth
ing to do with the Socialistic theory.
The gathering was evidently revolu
tionary, an outbreak Of the union labor
membership in the Socialist organiza-
ton
But these things We're done at
Socialist meeting by 1000 avowed So
cialists and not a voice or a hand was
raised in pro ,st against the treason
able threats and violent utterances.
Joseph Medill Patterson resigned his
position as commissioner of public
works of Chicago because being a
Socialist. he could not couscientiously
serve the municipal government or
people of Chicago. In other words
being opposed to the existing forms of
Observation-Disclosures, social and
hence political-he felt that in order to
be consistent he ought not to help build
up and intrench powers which he as a
Socialist intended to help tear down.
The Herald feels that the Los Angeles
Socialist is a much better brand Of citi-
zen than the Chicago Socialist, and
hence it does not hesitate to call atten-
ton to the Chicago episode as sort of
warning that peaceful revolution"
conducted in violent and reasonable
language is not conducive to peace, and
that possibly good movements caught
in bad company suffer the usual conse-
quences.