Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-12-01

A LECTURE ON SOCIALISM.

Carl d. Thompson. member of the
Wisconsin legislature, delivered the
first lecture of the winter course before
the Mems club Of the Universalist
church last Monday evening. Mr.
Thompson is graduate of the Chicago
university, where he also took course
in the School of Divinity and after
wards served for good many years as
clergyman in one of the churches of
the Congregational denomination at
Chicago. His church was in district
inhabited by working people, and this
fact brought him in contact with the
sweat-shops and factories, where the
children of the poor are forced to work
in order to help support their families.
Observing the deplorable conditions
against which this large class of humsn-
ity in the cities is obliged to contend in
order to keep body and soul together,
feeling keenly the christian need that
something should be done to help them
and having studied for years the ques-
I ton, what, under existing laws, could
be done. that might give promise of
more than temporary relief, reading, in
the course of his studies of this subject,
the writings of others similarly aroused
and interested, he came across the
book, Social Reforms" by Prof Ely,
of the Wisconsin university, and, al
though that author disclaimed beinG a
socialist, yet Mr.. Thompson became
convinced, by reading his book, that
the socialist movement is the only one
now in existence thai proposes to deal
with these problems in a scientific man
ner. He therefore joined that move
ment, believing that there he could do
more effective work than elsewhere
in bringing to realization the social
Ideals of Jesus, the carpenter of Judea
In poor and inadequate way we
have attempted to condense what this
eloquent and well posted gentleman
said in the opening of bis address, con-
corning the causes and inducements
ment.
He followed with remarks as to what
socialism is not 1t is not anarchy, but
the exact opposite,-the anarchist be-
lieving that social wrongs would gradu-
ally cease if there were no law save
| public opinion, while the socialist be-
lieves in enlargiDg the scope of the law,
to take in many subjects at present :
| Al Il <,
ment looking toward coniscation of
private property: Property, by what
ever questionable means acquired, wiz
not be disturbed under socialism, but
all questionable means of acquiring
enormous wealth are to be legally pro-
hibited, and thereby the evil will gradu
ally die out. Socialism is not an effort
to distribute the wealth of the rich
| amoug the poor; on the contrary social
ism is opposed to division of property,
and seeks to abolish the present. .distri-
button of the property of the producing
class-among those who are not pro-
ducers, but merely exploiters of their
fellow men. Socialism proposes to get
rid of this evil whereby portion of
every producers earnings or products
now goes into the pockets of some trust
magnate, tariff beneficiary, or other ex-
ploiter who gives nothing in return,
but is thereby enabled to corrupt con-
gress, Legislature, municipal councils,
and, sometimes, even the courts.
| The speaker next spoke of the prac-
tical program of socialism what it
proposes to do, and what it is doing, in
the way of legislation for the better
ment of the conditions of children and
working men and society in general !;
| it is a world wide movement, strong
in some European countries, weak as
] yet in America, because young here,
but growing rapidly. In some Euro
pean countries its representatives IL
parliaments are strong enough TO hold
the balance of power; in several large
European cities, the socialists control
absolutely, directing the city govern
ment, and, almost without exception,
furnishing the people, under municipal
ownership of public utilities, betterser-
vice, at cheaper rates, while shortening
the hours of employees and at the same
time increasing their wages, seeking
not to make millionaires out of public
utilities, such as water, street railroads,
and lighting plants, but to run them
without loss, at less cost to the people,
and to the betterment of the condition
of the employees. 1t is the most num-
erous political party in the world to-
day. having already $4,000, 600 mem
| bers.
Many other facts and explanations
relating to the general subject were set
forth, and sat the conclusion of the
address the president of the club
stated that Mr.. Thompson would
be glad to have questions asked
as to points concerning which any of
his hearers were interested. Many
questions were asked by divers of his
listeners, and all were answered by the
speaker A rousing vote of thanks was
then given him, and, after adjourn
ment, an informal reception, during
which the matters hit upon in his lee
ture were talked about still farther, un-
til long into the night. We have never
seer oody % men who evinced great
sr interest than Mr.. Thompson aroused
among his hearers. He is an able, and
JEALOUS maR. well posted OF all
points resating to socialism. He does
not expect Socialism to come at once,
as revolution, bat gradually, as an
evolution,-in the way it is now CON-
ing. through the extension of the ac-
tivities of state and municipal govern
ments, and laws that are being adopted
for the bettermea at of children and
workers