Evening journal., 1907-10-05
Consistent Socialism.

pie marry is the time to consider IL
they think alike"
"On what2"
"Weli, I'm interested In woman TAX
ing better stand than she has taken.
want my vote with you men,"
"I'm perfectly willing that you
should have e."
But supposing we differ politically"
"Whut are your political opinlonsT
81 incline to socialism, municipal
ownership and all that You don't
You're on the other side"
"But I'm ready TO be converted. 1
don't know that l understand the prin-
ciples OF socialism. Suppose you ex-
plain them TO me-"
"why. it's very simple. We all need
those things that are purchased by
money--bread. meat. fish, coffee. Some
are farmers, some ishermen"-
"rm fisherman. I'm trying to hook
you"
Don't be silly. That's the trouble
with women undertaking TO talk seri-
ously with you men. We barely get
started when you snub us with a bad
pun or something"
"well. go on"
1--WE also want clothes, houses and
thousand things that are not food"
"Such as kisses"
She looked very much hurt "How
provoking to be treated like n ninny"
"Kisses are one Of the things we
want"
"But they're not one Of the essen
tials"
-''I think they are"
"How would It do" he added. meas.
uring his words thonghtfully, "to ap-
ply that principle to matrimonyf
"What do you moanr
"Why, pool all the men and all the
women. When a man wants wife
she = furnished from the pool, and
vice versa"
"How sillyr'
"I'm reasoning from analogy"
There's nothing In your absurdity
analogous to socialism. In socialism
one needing bread gets bread. In the
other case one needs a companion, and
all are not equally companionable."
"That's Just II. II they don't suit
they go back into the pool"
IL supposed you wished to talk seri'
ously," she said. turning away. with O
trife OF hauteur. Suppose we talk OF
something else"
'Tll let you do the talking. Proceed
. with your explanation"
ut may be illustrated by matrimony
The husband works for the money e
, buy the requirements. while the wifi
D takes care Of the children"
Il thought you said she attended L
! her political obligations"
9 "She does that too"
c "And the man attends to bis polltica
{ obligations"
I "Of course"
Z "That's not economic. You said tina
I one person planted. another wove. an
d other built. Where's the economy o
both husband and wife attending 4
G the political duties OF the family7"
G She looked at him. troubled, reproach
4 fui. That's very unkind OF YOU" sh
Z said.
D ain what respectT"
a "Why, in You've turned my illus
!. tration against me-"
Il Forgive me I won't do 1t again"
n Il don't think want to explain an.
: more"
Il II fancy understand your position
8 I somewhat distorted the socialist
n family relation. The true relation /
?. this; Two people Of opposite sex d,
n sire companionship. They marry Now
' what do they need7 Food, clothes
n habitation. More than this. They nee
II endearment. That's where kisses com
n in"
K He paused and stole an arm abou
1 her waist looking wistfully into he
eyes.
''I said kisses were not one OF the s,
clalistic essentials" she said, ian
: they're not-at least not OF matr
- = mony, for they may be taken befoI
2 matrimony."
II said they were essentials in a ger
, !, eral sociallstic scheme, and they ar
= In matrimonial pool such as W
= spoke or kissing would be promisc'
g GUS"
And your argument isT
- 4 THE reductio ad absurdum."
She didn't like to admit that 81
= didn't know what that meant, so st
y said nothing.
= Ergo" he continued. "we two desi
y ing the true sociallstic state. the klssl
Dl fully legitlmatized, can only obtain
re by Sweetheart, say Yes Won
n your You've kept me In an agony {
y suspense for two whole days"
"AIust I to be socialistically consls
ent leave the political duties to your
III 'They should be attended to by OF
W of us. You might leave them to n
es and take a corresponding duty In pla'
q OF them"
ly "What. for instance"
It's Choose for yourself"
% do amusemeuts come into Il
a. scheme as well as kisses7"
al Certainly"
"Well then. IL you don't mind thIr
I'll go to the OPERA
The bargain was sealed with a voll,
OF one OF the socialistic requirements.
m. Presently she released herself. 81
nv had something important TO say.
es "Dearie, your argument, the what {
nj you call it?'
ssT2aductio Oh oheurdun, That,s ,