The Washington herald., 1908-08-31
Defines Socialism.


Eiito- The WasA-st1n Herald
The editorial socialism as q Cam
paign Bogy." which appeared IN The
Washington HeralG Of August >. IS in
reresting and instructive one statement
is made. however. which IS somewhat
misleading. But this IS excusabIe. because
Of all the MISCONCEPTIONS OF socialism, It
IS probably the most common
In the statement referred TO. competition
is spoken 0f as 'the very antithesis OF
socialism" As a matter OF fact compe-
titfon in general is not the a1tithesis Of
socialism. nor is Il al all foreign 10 social
ism The statement Is often made that
socialism decries competition in wealth
production. and would abolish IL This
statement is untrue in both its parts
Socialism objects not to competition IN
general. but only TO the enforced com
petition OF the workers for access to the
machinery Of production and raw mate
rails This is the only feature Of cOmpe-
titioa that socialism opposes NOT would
the Socialist party forbid this competi-
ton To forbid the competition without
removing the conditions that necessitate
competition. would simply make bad
matter worse To enact legislation
against evils. without removing the
causes Of those evils. are the tactics Of
the old parties
Socialism contends. and 10 one disputes.
that the producer should have access 10
the machinery Of production. &c. as
nearly free and unrestricted as IS possi-
bic in cooperative wealth production.
When this free access is gained. there
IS no valid reason why competition in the
actual productive process should be elm
mated Human nature being as 1t IS. very
probably competition in production viii
prevail. But whether il viii prevail or not
is a nonessentLaI question that the future
alone can determine.
Socialism will merely. remove the con
ditic1s that necessitate competition FOR
the means Of life
In order II live. man requires food.
fuel clothing. and shelter In order TO
live well, TO develop and improve. he re-
quires much mere than these. But things
that minister either 10 the animal or 70
the spiritual life Of man. are called
wealth In order to live. then. man must
have wealth. But this wealth is pro-
duced in our present complex society
Cc0mpIeN only because the means OF
wealth-produuction IS complex solely by
the application OF human labor to the raw
material by means Of machinery. Since
this machinery is operated socially. It is
impossible for each individual producer
individually to own the machinery where
by he applies his labor. II is impossible
for example. for each individual operative
in a shoe factory to own that factory
In accordance with our present system
Of property relations. which system was
determined by. and Is adapted TO the
! economic conditions prevalent twenty cen
! turies ago. one man. or corporation. must
own this machinery and raw material
| that scores, hundreds. or thousands must
use in order 10 produce the means Of life
Permission 10 use these social necessities
I is granted only 10 those who will accept
the conditions named by the owners
! These conditions are that the producer
shan work when. where. and as the owner
/ dictates. and shall forfeit all right to hi.
I product IN favor Of the owner and receiv,
I back from his product enough wealth {,
/ keep him alive This portion is called
wages. The smaller the portion he /!
/ willing to accept. the more chance j,
stands of getting the job. Others mus
/ accept similar terms or starve This Il
| the only feature Of competition to which
socialism offers objection. The trad
unions have a tendency to mitigate tn,
| horrors Of this competition for the neces
sites of life. but many Of the more i'm
4 portant tactics upon which they rely hav,
/ been declared unconstitutional by tn
United States Supreme Court
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