Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-08-18

| OOCIALISM as concrete political
pronosition and a factor in the recur-
~ ring battle of the ballots is retro
grading in the United States. Al tne
same time ideas first advocated by 80
cialism are taken up by both the Repub'
lican and Democratic parties in their APP
peals for votes and are reflected in lesls-
lation as well as in party platforms IN
number of the states. These conditions
were brought to light by an investigation
made by the New York Times through
its special correspondents in every state
OF the Union.
That the doctrines enunciated and put
into practice by President Roosevelt In
| his dealings with corporations are the
chief source of inspiration to the out-and-
out Socialists who vote under their own
party emblem was another interesting
discovery made. Victor Berger, the So
ciaHst boss of Wisconsin and one of the
founders of the Social Democratic party
in the United States at present, is de-
claring in public speeches everywhere
that President Roosevelt's attitude to-
ward the corporations is exactly that or
the Socialists, though until the govern
ment receivership idea was voiced abroad
he admitted that the president was less
of an extremist.
The declaration that President Roose-
Welt has annexed many of the basic prin-
ciples of Socialism and is now putting
them into practice on a national scale is
giving Socialists in all parts of the coun-
try a great deal of comfort and it is pre-
dcted, will give new impetus to the move
ment in the near future. In connection
with this the statement made by prom
inent Socialist in Kansas is interesting.
Here is what he said:
I'VE are resting now. Our cause is
marching on under the leadership OF
President Roosevelt. He is doing us more
good than we could possibly do for our
selves"
Show Failing of in Vote
The reports received by the New York
Times from its correspondents, while
showing a distinct falling off both in the
vote and the political influence of the
Socialists as such, fail to show any APP
probable growth anywhere, with the eX-
ception of Kansas and Missouri Wher-
ever strength has been added to the party
II has been purely local and chiefly in
the large municipalities. Even in Cali
fornia which has been called the Prom
ised Land of Socialism, where the labor
element in the last few years has been
strongly intrenched politically In the
principal city of the state, and where
our correspondent finds it extremely diff
fcult to tell where trades unionism ends
nd to1
where the Socialists have been able to
obtain political control.
OF the legislation which has been char
acterized by the correspondents as So
cialistic much is merely humanitarian,
or maybe mildly paternalistic. With all
parts of the country enjoying prosperity,
and with wages high and work to be
had for the asking, such indications of
social unrest and discomfort as our cor
respondents have been able to find have
been due largely to local conditions.
Resentment against corporations of a
monopoistic tendency on the other hand
seems to be general throughout the coun-
try and in great number of states has
found expression in legislation both puni-
tive and with a view of curtailing their
power. Railroads and insurance COM
panies seem to have been singled out for
popular vengeance, but broadly speaking
the legislation passed or merely presented
has been no more radical than the legls-
lation passed in New York with view of
curbing the insurance companies and sub
jecting public service corporations to
more rigid supervision and control.
Municipal Ownership Boosted
The dispatches indicate that the idea
of municipal ownership of public utili-
ties, such as water and lighting plants
and telephones in small cities, has re-
ceived a boost. In some of the western
states in particular omnibus acts have
been passed giving such communities the
right to own and operate such plants, and
in some instances local trolley lines. In
Connecticut the legislature passed an act
permitting the town of Willimantic to
conduct municipal business in natural
ice, and the Wisconsin legislature gave
Milwaukee authority to erect plant for
the manufacture of artificial ice.
Legislation of a tendency sufficiently
radical to enlist the active support OF
Socialists under the following heads
seems to have kept the legislative assem-
blies of a large number of states busy
during their last session: Public service
superyision, insurance control, two-cent
fare. shortening of working hours for
women and children, general labor legis-
lation. child labor, employers liability,
old age pension.
The BRYAN theory of government own
ership of interstate railroads has not
been echoed by any legislature, nor has
the idea of state ownership of public
utilities come prominently before the law
makers of any state.
The other pet doctrine of the Nebraska
of initiative and referen-
dum-came before the legislature of his
own state and was killed in It's infancy.