Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-05-05

SOCIALIST Party.
From the foregoing. YOU seem TO
not 90 take kindly 90 Socialism. And
I'm your issue of the 14th inst. YOUR
comment on Sec. Taft az Tuskegce.
gives one the opinion that Sec Taft
would like 10 get rid Of the Negro
nuer such circumstance. what
would YOU nave us do?
Without awaiting reply however
/ wish TO- say that editors of iunuen-
ual Negro journals would do we'll
70 look into Socialism. without pre-
Judicc with "a view TO learning for
oneself the 'what about it,"
It is q live subject and flo viii not
be many more months before 60 will
Zoe discussed I'm every publication
worth reading. ana the Negro can
iu afford to DE ignorant of it.
Sow. Mr. Mitchell have Won stu-
died Socialism az alL OF are YOU
merely voiciug an opinion from
some unknown source 10 YOU have
not, let me suggest that You look in-
I'd m from religious point of view
20 ascertain whether &c is in or ont
OF harmony with Christianity ALI
So from fraternal view point So AIS
20 know whether if ls for cor AGAINST
the great principles OF Fraternity.
Anu from ana economic view point 10
see how DO affects the bread and butt
Ter OF the people. And from tae
general point of view of the man
mo wants tO De- informed.
AS banker SOU may De onuOsor
to Socialism. because under To There
viii ho no need of hauSs and bank
ers. But believing. as 10 chat Won
are man whose heart beats for his
people. 7 feel that YOU would n,t
stand opposed Co anything that hold
out material and lasting benefits TO
them. Though 60 DIM away with one
hne OF occupation Tor you once Won
were assured of its feasibility.
Ut }ou nave read this GAR am
very thankful hut read this.
What is the Sociaustic solution
Tor the Negro problemo
Socialists do not look uuon the
negro as problem. but as work
iremon. The economic interest of
ail workers. Doe they white. black.
Drown or yellow, are Identical. and
are all Included in the program of
Socialism. Socialists have no pro-
sram separate and apart for diner
emf nationaliues The Socialist par
ty is party for the working class
emancipation of that class knows no
distinctions ON account of race. col
or or creed. Socialism has no color
and no creed line.
We demand for the black work
man exactly what we demand for
the white WOrkman-Ownersh and
democratic management of the tools
Win which hc must work TO provide
himself with the necessities or Ink
uries OF life. Socialism demands e.
conomtc equality for all Social e.
quality is not demand of Socialism.
Because my Negro neighbor has an
equal right with me 20 life. liberty
anu the pursuit of happiness. does
not imply that ne snail associate with
me ON terms OF social equality or in-'
equality
The foregoing question and an
sWer embodies a great fraternal
principle
That Socialism is the thing that
you want. that 7 need and the whole
human race should have, I have no
doubt
Very respectfully yours.
r. ANTOINE ROGERS. ST.
Mr. Rogers asks his questions and
then kindly answers them. Stn.
there is much left for us TO say and
we assure him that we are ready
and willing to tell him what we ad
wise the Negroes ia this country in
general and in the South in partic-
ular TO do.
We cannot say that we have stu
died socialism. as we have had no
need so TO do We have read its
principles and feel reasonably GER
tain that we understand the funda-
mental principles OF this most re-
markabie organization that is now
agitating the Industrial centres of
two hemispheres.
We have not intended 70 infer
that we do not take kindly TO social
ism or that we are bitterly opposed
TO its tenets. We are not a socialist.
We belong 10 the Republican Party
and accordingly believe in the re-
cognized principles Of that organf-
zation. Socialism is the Utopia OF
the workingman's hopes. II its prin
ciples could be put into practice, it
would be a panacea. a blessing for
the poor man and on the other hand
IL would be a sure cure for the rap
Id accumulations Of the wealthy.
AS we understand it. all wealth
would then belong to the state and
the masses of the people would re-
ceive their proportionate share OF its
benefits, disbursed as it would be
from one centralized point. II it's
plans could be perfected and its prin
ciples emphasized, 1t would be heav-
en- on earth The r,.gflant,-. 1919