Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-07
WELL KNOWN SOCIALIST
WRITES OF HIS THEORY
PAYS HIS RESPECTS TO RECENT
HERALD EDITORIALS
Charles l.. Andrews Furnishes an ln-
terestine and Readable Resume OF
the SociaIistic Doctrines of the
Present Day

LOS ANGELES, March 5.-(Editor
Herald): The Socialists have been
greatly interested in editorials which
have appeared in The Herald anent
this all-absorbing question. Especial
ly were we interested in the editorial
of March 4, under the caption Social
ism--Why?" inspired by the resigna-
ton of Joseph Medill Patterson as
commissioner of public works in Chi
cago.
Mr.. Patterson states in his letter of
resignation to Mayor Dunno that as
he understands Socialism he is So
cialist, at the same time referring to
the failure of public ownership in Eu-
ropean countries to better the condition
of the people who do the work. While
Mr.. Patterson admits he has hardly
read a book on Socialism, he also
states that he has acquired his knoWl-
edge of the science from A M. S1mons,
one of the ripest scholars in the world,
and a revolutionary Socialist.
Now I hold no commission from the
Socialist organization to defend Its
principles, and can only give my own
views. Possibly there are as many
viewpoints of Socialism as there are
Socialists.
Right here the story of the old Scotch
couple may not be out of place.
This couple, yclept Mary and John,
were continually criticising the ortho-
doxy of the other members of the con-
gregatlon of the little kirk in the high
lands. One day the pastor Of the flock
said to the old lady: Mary, suppose
you believe that you and John are the
only true members of the faith" The
old lady sorroWfully replied: el,
I'm ma sa sure O. JaWn."
Perhaps this is true of Socialists. We
are continually quarreling among our
selves over tactics, but the goal is one
the cooperative commonwealth.
"Why Socialism,"
AS l take it, that is the question
which The Herald would like to see
satisfactorily answered.
Proceeding from that starting point,
I may say that there are perhaps
thousand volumes in the Los Angeles
public library that help to answer the
great Interrogation.
The Socialist, who is above all things
student, has followed the trend of
affairs in European countries toward
what Bismarck called state Socialism,
but which in reality is only state cap
italism. The plans of all national,
state and municipal ownership-with
the exception of the Socialist program
do not contemplate the abolition of
capitalism in toto. The government
ownership of railroads. telegraphs, tel
ephones, water and lighting systems
is about as far as they go. The pur-
chase OF these utilities would simply
start the capital therein invested at
work in other fields of exploitation,
compelling it to enter the field now oc-
cupied by the very people whom public
ownership is intended to benefit-the
middle class-and thus drive them into
the ranks of the wage earners.
Socialism is essentially a working
10 n n
Socialism says that two plus two
equals four, whereas capitalism says
that two plus two equals five, or one,
or whatever other total best suits it's
interests.
Socialism is founded on the class
struggle which has existed since civil
lization began, and which at times has
been brutal and cruel, and until re-
cent years extremely crude. At other
times it rises to the grandeur of mighty
historic events. Witness the French
revolution and the present revolution
in Russia. What in the past has been
only blind, brutal effort, and the
yearnings for something better" is now
world movement, proceeding from
principles scientifically demonstrated.
Your Socialist has waded through
the "dismal science" and has trans
formed it to a fascinating study. He
reads Adam Smiths wealth Of Ma
tons" standard textbook of the uni
versities, ana he finds that there is abb
solutely nothing Of value on earth un-
til labor has been applied to it-that
labor creates all value. He turns to
Karl Marx and learns the principles
of surplus values and economic de-
termlnism. Darwin is to him an open
book. Herbert Spencer tells him that
the original title deeds to all lands were
written by the sword rather than with
the pen; blows were given in payment
rather than coin, and the fluid used
was not ink, but human blood. He
finds that all sciences point TO the CO.
operative commonwealth, and that
practically every writer Of note is an
avowed Socialist, and teaches it direct
ly or indirectly.
Now, I contend that the assumption
that the Socialist Is a dreamer of
dreams is not correct. The Socialist
is nothing if not energetic. He does
not expect to realize Socialism and
then sit down by shaded brook with
individuality destroyed. He knows
there is nothing fixed about nature
save that 1t constantly changes.
The Socialist knows that there has