Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-11-03
A Comforting Answer.
Seattle Tlmes.)

On MONDAY evening ldsI the lilhSs
reviewed an article by Upton Sin
clair, in which article that writer
gave his personal views on Social
ism. The review ended with a
query as to what Sinclair's people,
"and our people," would do If ever
the time should arrive when the So
caillstic party became strong enough
to take possession of the government
through the ballot. A member of
the Soclalistic party, residing in this
city, has noted the query and writ
ten an answer there and sent 1t to
the Times.
Naturally, in reading the review
of Sinclair's article, and coming to
an end of the consideration thereof
with query like the above the read
or gets the effect of disquietude and
uncertainty. Sinclair's picture was
a bitter one. his declaration that the
people would remedy things by taxi
ing control was positive. The query
that follows on that statement is a
query of the unkniwn future; what
will you and your people do, Mr..
Sinclair, when you take command?
Yet this answer was written by a
Socialist in the opposite from any
thing alarming. II is broad and
dignifed. The Times gives It space
with pleasure. It reads as follows:
81 am Socialist. and am neith-
er proud of II nor am | humiliated
by it, because my afflliation comes
not from choice. The existing con-
ditions in this country compel the
deep thinker as well as the deep
sufferer to become n Socialist, Just
as the existing conditions in Russia
compel the deep thinker and the
deep sufferer to become a Terrorist.
Here we are trying to express the
grievances and the Indignation OF
the suffering masses through the
moderate medium of suffrage
through the ballot box; there, de-
Here, we are trying to express the
their grievances and their mitigation
In the more impressive language OF
terrorism.
Remarkable as It may seem these
two countries, apparently so differ
ent In their activities, have gone
through the same process of evolu-
tion and have reached the same cll-
maX-though from different dlrec-
tions. There, In Russia, the wealth
and the strength OF the nation have
been gradually concentrated and alb
sorbed into the hands OF the royal
family and their lackeys through the
methods OF taxation and confisca-
tion; here. In our country, the |
wealth and strength OF the nation
have been gradually concentrated
and absorbed into the hands of the
trust magnates' family and their
laokeys through the methods OF in
dustrial concentration and corrupt
legislation.
And so from different directions
these two monstrous families have
climbed TO the highest peak of the
human mountain. But now, stand |
Ing at the very top of the precipice. |
they are afraid TO look down be-
cause there. at the bottom, the heart |
rendering choas and confusion of the
suffering masses is appalling, slcken-
lng' maddeningl They try TO turn
away from that ghastly inferno, but
another and more horrible demon
Is staring at them-the human cra-
ter OF discomfort is terribly smoking
and threatening with an eruption.
standing between these two de- |
mons-is IL a wonder that the mon
sters are lighting like tigers to pro-
long their existence and in their |
rawlings are throwing stones into the
pit OF the preoipice and pouring oil |
INTO the crater, Fastening thereby
the terrible eruption OF the human
volcanog
The Socialist. that egotistie phil
osopher of universal utilitarianism.
Is using all his efforts to Illustrate
that eruption. With mathematical /
ciearness he presents the fact that
the era OF monarchism and capital
Ism has finished its term OF once inI
the evolutionary march OF human
progress and that It must give way
70 the approaching era OF collectiv-
will take its term of Of
nee by the Irresistible force of con-
ditions. He therefore holds out the
safety ladder to the powers above