The Washington herald., 1907-05-04
colIeetivIsm vs.. IndividuaIIsm.

n. O. Nelson, Of ST. Louis, Is the most
conspicuous exponent in the United States
Of socialism applied to large industrial
enterprise. Several years ago he founded
what he was pleased TO call model town
around his big manufacturing plant on
the Illinois side of the Mississippi. oppo-
site the Missouri metropolis. At the same
time he converted his business into a CO.
operative concern. Every employe is
stockholder and at the end of the year
every one of them draws his proper
tionate dividend from the profits Of the
business. The Nelson plan Is as near an
approach to collectivlsm a. the most al
Turing dream OF socialism can attain ua-
der the industrial competitive system.
Students of socialism all over the world
have studied closely the practical opera
tions OF the Nelson idea and most Of
them have hailed its measurable success
as a complete vindlcatiOn of their fas-
cinating theory.
But. marvellous 10 relate, hundreds of
Mr. Nelson's employees went out on strike
a few days ago. They are all skilled Ia
borers, too. They demanded a 10 per cent
increase Of wages. which. being refused.
caused them to walk out. Every one of
them is a partner in the business. Thus
they present the novel spectacle Of strlk-
ing against themselves. And let us re-
member that they are practical collec-
twists. too. In "a speech 20 his striking
partners, Mr.. Nelson blamed the interna-
tional union for the dissatisfaction that
had creDt into their couEsels. He pointed
out TO them that at the present rate Of
their absorption OF the stock Of the com
pany the employees would virtually own
it all within three or four years But
chis did not deter them from striking.
Their strike, of course, viii appreciahly
curtail production. This means "A more
or less serious curtailment of sales, which
naturally viii result In reducing dIvi-
dends. The strikers. therefore. not only
viii suffer the loss Of wages while idle
but Will also receive reduced dividends at
the close Of the year.
Here. then we have trades uniOnism.
which is one form Of socialism. as capi-
talism; on the other hand is another
form, rejecting In the most pronounced
and practical manner the operations Of
one Of socialism's most cherished doc
trines. coUectivism. Individualism. bot
toned upon human natures strongest and
most unvarying impulse. sel6shness.
drives colIectivism from the field and as
serts its right TO rule.
If the Nelson strike means anything. IL
means that the problem Of the trust,
which, in the last analysis, is only the
problem of socialism, win solve itself
after while The wonderful fabric Of
our civilization was woven by the com
petitive Industrial system. Socialism in
none Of its forms can undermine it. The
law of the survival Of the fttest is as IN
exorable as the law Of gravity It may be
hampered and checked, for the nonce, but
a society that is healthy, vigorous, and
strong can no more escape its rule than
can the individual escape death itself In
our moments Of higher elation. when al
truisu possesses our souls, as in our mo-
ments of deep depression. when pes
simism possesses us. we all of us wish
that things might be different and we
dream dreams and. see visions. Guttering
phantasmagoria move in endless process
sion through our minds The spectacle
enthraus us. But the awakeningi
Let's get to work and cease dreaming,
An Ohio man has realized upon a gov
crnment claim filed only forty-two years
ago. Why Uncle sam was in such
hurry to pay this particular man is not