The morning journal-courier., 1908-10-10
THE MOVEMENT OF SOCIALISM.

The presence in the city of Mir, l1u- gene V. Debs, candidate of the so- cialist party for the presidency, calls attention to the cause which he pres sents. There have been many ab- surdities charged against socialism which have proceeded either from a superficial or preiudicial knowledge of the subject. Socialism is an extraor- dinary movement and in it's rapid pro- gress Is presenting questions of pecul- far and serious import to the pub- licists of every nation, engaged in the making of western civilization. II is international in character. Already it's declarations of political expediency have been adopted in q measure by older political parties II Is present as a leaven in what Is known as the modernist movement in Europe on the side of It's Humanitarian phioso- phy and ideals 1t has received en- dorsement by the Pan-Anglican con ference of the Protestant Episcopal church, recently held in England. Throughout other branches of Prot estantism in England and in this country 1t is receiving careful study by clergymen and in q number of in stances is receiving approval as a movement that presoges a new era for human welfare.
 As any socialist, competent to speak regards the movement, social ism signifies the next stage of econom ic and industrial organization based on the collective ownership of the means of production, with private property, in It's fundamental meaning fin the means of individual enjoyment This is primary, and such economic organization is necessary, in view oi the socialist, In order to provide an adequate economic foundation In the interest of equality of opportunity fol all men to secure a larger culture ir the things of mind and spirit. To SC. cure this fundamental economic or, ! ganization the extension of the prin, clple of democracy in the industria field is a necessity. Most of those op posed to socialism have no quarre with its ideals but question whether { drastic reorganization of property re lati3ns Is necessary.
 To the mind of the socialist tn, 1 movement is inevitable, having it roots, economic and moral, historical ly grounded in the past. It has {, proceed as a phase of social evolu ton. The best that any who see thj can do is to interpret it, and to pro vide the political expediencies that tn nature of the movement calls for. l can not be assumed that Karl Mar. spoke the last word. The body O economic thought goes on expandinl as experience reveals new form an content from what is already estab lished truth. The special work O Karl Marx was to provide an econom ic interpretation of history and h so systematlzed the facts of the econ omic life of the last century as to pro vide scientific basis for the movement He took of ideas incohate, loosely call ed socialistic tendencies, and gave { these modern forces opposed to unre strained individualism, dynamic powe, He has done for socialism what Joh Calvin did for Protestant theology, O w. E. Charming for American Unita rian faith--gave an impetus that ha carried far in It's results on practica life. Whether the socialist party doe or does not gain political power tn impetus is being felt in every natio