The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-29
William J. Bryan's Notable Ar
ticIe in a Magazine.
Pleads for Harmony Between
Two Schools Of Politics.
BOTH ARE EXTREME.
Neither applicable to Conditions
i'm Its Full Sense.
Restricted Competition He Con
siders the Happy Medium.

New York. March 29-Winiam Jen-
nings Bryan is not a socialist, but he is
an individualist. if one is to judge his
position from reading of an article by
him appearing in the April number of
the Century Magazine. Under the title,
"Individualism Versus Socialism, Mr..
Bryan draws a number of distinctions
between the two schoolst Of economies
which are invariably i'm support eff in
dividualism He believes. however, that
there should be harmony between the
honest individualist and the honest
socialist, since both seek to benefit so
oiety.
THE socialist. by pointing out tie
abuse of individualism. win assist in
their correction" writes Mr.. Bryan. AT
present private monopoly is putting
upon individualism 0dium, and it be-
hooves the individualist TO address hlm-
self energeucally to this problem in
order that the advantages Of Competi-
tion may be restored to industry. And
the duty of immediate action is made
more Imperative by the fact that the
socialist is inclined to support the mo-
uopoly, in the belief that It viii be eas-
ier to induce the government to Jake
over am industry after it has passed
into the hands of q few men.
THE trust magnates and the social
lists unite In declaring mOnOpOfy to be
am economic development, the former
hoping to retain the fruits of monopoly
in private hands the latter expecting
the ultimate appropriation of the bene-
fits of monopoly by the government.
The iudividualist on the contrary, CO n
tends that the consolidation of indus
tries ceases to be an economic advan-
tage when competition is eliminated and
he believes. further. that no economic
advantage which could come from the
monopolizati0n of all the industries In
the hands Of the government could com
peusate for the sitting Of individual in
itiative and independence
And the individualists who thus be-
iieve stand for a morality and for a sys-
tenn Of ethics which they are willing TO
measure against the ethics and morality
of socialism,
Mr. Bryan sees signs Of an ethical
awakening which he believes viii &c
complish the reforna tiou of some Of the
evils which have sprung from individ-
ua1ism for he does not claim that indi-
Vidualism ia its present stage of develop
rnent is anywhere near the ideal stage.
He refers to the fact that individua ism,
as tested by the experience of centuries,
has brought progress and development,
while no example of the sOcialistic
etate as is aow advocated, can be found
70 prove that it will advance the cause
Of humanity
meaning OF me fREIlis.
'The words 'individualism' and SO
ciaIisn.' writes the Nebraslzan. de
fine tendencies rather than concrete
systems. for. as extreme individualism
fs rot to ne found under any form Of
government so there is no example Of
socialism in full operation. All govern
ment being more or less socialistic. the
contention. so far as this subject is
concerned. is between those who re-
gard indiVidualism as ideal to be ap-
a. g = 1f1i1
VIII permit. and those who regard a
sociaHstic state as ideal to be estah-
1izhed as FAR and as fast as public
oninirr viii allow.
For TIE purpose of this discussion.
irGfvfiualism viii be defined as the
rrI--te ownership 81 the means Of pro-
ducti0n and distribution where CONNIE
titfou is possible leaving to public
ownership those means of production
and distribution in which competition
is nractically impossible: and socialism
win be defined as the collective owner
shin. through the state. Of all the means
OF production and distribution.
"As socialists agree IN hostility to
comDefition as a controlling force. and
as individuals agree that competition
fz uecesrarv for the We1i-heinR Of So
cietv. the fairest and most accurate te
line between the two schools can be
drawn at the DOint where counetition
begins to he possible. both schools IA
Voring public owners hin where COM
petition Is iupCssihle. hrt differing as
to the wisdom of public Cwnershfu
where cou1Detftion can have free 0lay
Much Of the siren 9th deve1oned bv
socialism Is due tc the feet that CO.
claIists advocate certsi IN reforms which
fndividualists also advocate. Take for
Flfustra tior the public ownersh{p OF
vya4erv-orIss The sentiment IN favor OF
municipal lighting plants is not vet SC
strong and the sentiment I'm favor OF
nrhfc tc1euhcpes and nuhlic street car
lines is still lees 0ronounced; hut the
came general principles annlv to them
and fndfvidua lists without acceDtins
the creed OF socialism. can advocate the
extrn~i0v Of municipal ownership tC
these utilities
"Tn com uaring fndividualism with So
rfafi-ro It is 0nlv fair to consider In
dfviduaHsu when made as good as hIi-
man wisdom can mako Il and then fr
measure FIT with socialisr7 at ifs hest
IT IS q common fa11lt of the advocat te
10 ~~esanf his system f6aa1iza7 in con
frast wien his o0pouent's svsten1 at its
7ro~sf. and e. n1s1st be confessed thai
11efther '1divi7r7 list nor socialfst has
neen entirely free from this fault
's7'a king man as We fnd him. he
needs as indivfduaIets believe the
suur OF rom mnetiuou Even the social
frt~ admit the ADVANTAGE Of riva lrv
Within certain Hn7its but they would
r11hetitute aitr1ietfr for selfish motives
.T'rzt here the individua1fst and the So
cfalst find thevukeIvee in ante eonjsrn
THE former believes that e1trufsua Is z
spiritual oualitv which defes govern
mental dehnitinn. while the eociaIs1
believes thet altruism viii take the
place of sef6shr ess under an enforced
eoilectivieu-
Success in Operation.
''It is much easier to conceive Of
voluntary association between persons
aesiring to work together according tc