New-York tribune., 1906-09-23
ENGLISH SOCIALISM.
Ner Ideas Illustrated By the Ques-
tions Of Work-Old-Age Pensions.
London. September u.


The socialist asitstor now prociaims the right
20 live the inalenabls privilege Of honest
poverty. and the masses IN England are wellnigh
persuaded that he 1. right Lack cf employment
has come 20 he considered not a misfortune.
nor object for charity. but grievance
against society. The man out OF Job. instead OF
looking for work or trying something new. Joins
the procession OF the unemployed and raises the
cry that the state owes him a living. Let the
work he found for him. and he will do IL; but
~ none be provided he must have food and lodg-
iRg az public expense. and those dependent upon
him must have systematic relief, That is the
substance OF the new socialism as IL is preached
in the highways and byways. and IL is not
strange thar pauperism Is increasing In most
alarming way and that the tramps are un-
willing 70 wait until the first frost before setting
their battalions in marching order and heading
for Downing street. Already there are signs ~
a renewal 81 the agitation for work and tho
artificial creation of another distress campaign:
although the statistics offer proof that trade
was never better ~ home abroad, and po-
N'fcal leaders are confident that the country
has never been more prosperous. What has be-
come ~ that spirit 81 self-respect and independ-
enoe which made II a reproach and disgrace hfty
years ago for an able bodied man 20 be 'on the
rates. Little certainly can be left of II when
the doles 81 pauperism and the bounty OF char
course and the unemployed console themselves
with the reflection thnt they have a right 20 live
al the expense Of ratepayers and those bur
dened with a surplus of wealth.
Neither the Labor group In Parliament nor the
Trades Union Congress al Liverpoo; can he just
~ held responsible for every random remark or
vngary ~ judgment; hut straws show tho d.
rectiou - The wind when the new radicalism
has swept the country with the whirl of genuine
democracy. old-age pensions have been adV"-
cRted boy 50 businessike a political leader as M
Chamberlain, and royal commissions have COZ
sidered the question in detail and reported upon
a cornprehersively and thouEhtfully. II il not
p new question. hut e is presented by so
oialists End trade unlonsts with stark naked
cando- as o natural right ~ every worker witt
out regard for thriftessness. intemperanee ~
inefhcicn-y. Just % the the man out Of work is
declared 10 have grievance against a society
and a right 20 have employment provided for
him ar the expense 81 the municipality. 50 also
is a substantial pension claimed for him in his
old ace without regard for his own improvI-
dence. In Germany the pension funds are created
from the savings of the workers and the en-
forced contributions of the employers under
system subject 10 rigorous state supervision.
no qualifications of self-help and frugality
allowed by English agitators when they discuss
this question. Those who have not made any
effort 10 provide for the necessities OF old age
are 10 benefit by pensions equally with those
who have been sober, industrious and careful
They have a right 20 live when they are no
longer fully oapacitated for work and the lard
lords must be taxed for their support. one Il
the trade unionist delegates at the Liverpool
congress went far 10 declare that land
values should be taxed 20 shillings in the pound
IN order that a complete system OF pensions fo-
NvorEingmen might be established.
In tho snne strain education IS discussed as a
sweeping measure Of public charity. The chill
dren O. the masses. according 10 resolutions
passed at Liverpool. 20 be taught az full time
anti they are sixteen; they 70 be fed az pub
VIC expense: free medical attendance is 20 be
provided and they 10 be aided IN secondary
courses and technical training by liberal scholar
ships. IN short, according 10 the phrssng Of the
resolution. there must be a national system Of
education under fun popular control. free and
secular from the primary school 90 the uni
verslty and the children of the poor. without
sacrifice effort the part Of their parents.
ere 20 be the adopted wards Of the ratepayers.
and 10 have every possible advantage which il
enjoyed by tk- children Of the rich and priv
feged classes. Nothing Is Yet said about their
being clothed al public expense, but that may be
a detail Of a future socialism more radical than
the present advanced programme. Yet agitators
have gone a long way toward minimizing the re-
sponsibility of those who bring children into the
world. The state, instead Of protecting itself
against Ignorance by a system Of free common
school education as vas the idea in Mr. Forsters
time is under obligation 70 treat the children OF
the poor heirs 10 al the privileges OF wealth
and progress. 10 feed them and 10 pay their doc
tors bills 10 an1usc well 10 instruct them.
and 10 put them in the way u having the maxi
mum 81 opportunity through superior training
and education. The old fashioned notion that
sacrifices are 10 be made IN the humblest home
and that children are 10 be cared for and helped
in life through thrift and denial seems 10
be failing out of date. They the wards of the
state. according 10 socialist propaganda and
everything is 10 be done for them by ratepavers
as common right
The spirit Of the new RadicaIism is illustrated
by the discouragement Of voluntary organiza-
uons doing without expense 10 the munich
palities work which is now regarded by ad-
vanced men as the ordinary duty Of the state.
In London the Chndren's Happy Evenings As
sociation has been IN successful operation for
many years for the purpose II providing recrea-
ton for the pupils in the board schools There
are now 49, branches in the metropolis and sim
liar work Is carried on IN provincial centres
The association pays the expenses Of lighting
cleaning and Janitors services and uses the
school buildings once a week or once a fortnight
as playroorns Each branch has a staf Of work
ers; there are dollrooms, toyroonls dancing halls
and places flr games. story telling beadwork
handicrafts, quiet reading and other forms Of
recreation. and attendance al the happy even
ings" is reward for merit and good work in rbe
ordinary school sessions tickets being given ont
by the head master head mistress. Mrs
Bland Sutton. woman Of remarkable powers -
organization, is al the head OF the movement