Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-02
CAUSE Of SOCIALISM
Wealthy Taking Up the CudgeIs
for the Fight.
WORK IN TWO CONTINENTS
Titled Ladies Make Street Speeches to
Laboring Men.
TYPICAL AMERICANS IN LIST
Would Divest Themselves of Their
Fortunes for a Government Sys-
tenn in Favor Of All.
Written for The Star.

Written for The Star.
A new alignment is taking place in the
never-ending war between capital and
socialism.
The millionaire is espousing the cause Of
the socialist. In both the great English
speaking nations Of the world the astonish-
ing spectacle Is at the moment presented
of the wealthy making common cause with
the laborer In favor of the idea of public
ownership of every source Of wealth.
In England titled men and women are
devoting their wealth to the cause and such
famous members of the nobility as the
Countess of Warwick. Duchess of Suther-
land, Countess of Aberdeen, Lady Somer
set Miss Lyttleon and Lady Balfour fire.
Quently address meetings in the public
streets.
In the United States the espousal Of the
cause of socialism by men like ]. G. Phelps
Stokes, Robert Hunter Joseph Medill Pat
terson and Daniel Nissan Young, all Of
whom are so literally blessed with wealth
that 1t might be expected that they would
be found firmly lined up against a program
which, If successful, would take from them
all they have, Is another demonstration Of
the same phenomena.
In the past the animating force of social
ism was the ragged, penniless orator who
When 1t was not his experience to be chased
by policemen as crank or firebrand, he was
regarded pityingly, even by those he de-
sired to help. Then capital had an easy
time to discredit socialism, but now that it
must fight assertions in its own ranks,
united wealth will have less easy time in
striving to repress the vigorous propa-
ganda.
favor of socialism has manifested itself in
all sections of the country.
Government Ownership.
The case of Joseph Medil Patterson was
one Of the first to claim public cttention.
This Chicagoan is son Of r. w. Patter-
son, editor of the Chicago Tribune. a most
conservative man, who is ardently opposed
to even the milder forms of socialism and
has not hesitated to characterize it as 1.-THE
widest fanaticism of the age"
Joseph Medill Patterson is only twenty
eight rs>pld. but he Is a student and has
spent a great part of his life in study Of
means by which the condition Of his fellow
man could be improved.
In the recent campaign where E. w.
Dunno ran for mayor Of Chicago on the
platform of municipal ownership of the
side warmly, and was IAN effective vote
getter on the stump. Partly in gratitude,
but mainly because of a belief in the abil-
ity Of the young REFORMED Mayor Dunno
appointed him commissioner of public
works. Patterson only held the place a
short time before he resigned In a re-
markable letter he said that for the peo-
pie to own only the railroads was merely
compromising a great question, and that
he wanted to be free to fight for a system
that would result in more equitable dis
tribution Of the country's wealth.
To Go Below Surface.
Two years ago when ]. G. Phelps Stokes
married Rose Pastor, a beautiful Jewish
cigarmaker and settlement worker, it was
understood that the pair intended to de-
vote their lives to alleviating conditions in
the slums and to. settlement work in New
York.
For a time they labored faithfully in this
field. but now they have abandoned II In
order to devote every energy to the fight
for tocialism.
In explaining this act, Mr.. and Mrs.
Stokes say that the extension Of charity
can only touch the surface. and that the
only way to really benefit the abject poor
OF the nation IL to force a system OF gov
eminent that win result In abolishing both
great wealth and extreme poverty.
Mr.. Hunter, Mr.. Stokes and Mr.. Patter-
son have really become the active factors