The Owyhee nugget. ([Silver City], Idaho) 1905-1984, 1908-08-21
CORRESPONDENCE.
SOCIALISM.
(By W. A. willis.)

Wy " = -. W ilAtr+J
1 Socialism represents a porti N of soc-
ETY. organized to meet an issue, and ac-
complish an end. That issue is the de-
structive inequality of distribution of
wealth created by the application Of la
bor power TO the natural resources of
the earth.
Under the existing regime. society
maintains an institution known as pri-
vate property rights, or the sole right
of the individual to own public utili-
ty, a portion of all the means of eubsis :
tence which society must socially use
in order to supply the elementary
wants. Upon this institution is fonnd
the profit system, under which the in
dusiries are operated today. This sys-
tenn has created wage, and also land
lord system. Under these, the wage
Garner, and tenant, in order to apply
his labor power to the machinery of
production, must pay for the privilege
in the shape 1f profits; be must first
create wealth to the amount Of his wages
or land rent, then the remainder goes
to the employer or landlord. Now it
follows that the employer or landlord
wishes to derive as large a margin or
profit as possible, hence society becomes
divided into two classes with interests
antipodal, and an unrelenting class war
ensues over the division of the wealth
created. The consumptive power of the
wage Garner or tenant is determined by
the amount of his wages or that remain
ing from his land rent.
By the revolutionizing of machinery
which has increased the producing pow
er of the worker hundred fold. an inc
quality of power appears, his wages hav-
ing remained practically stationary, he
is unable to buy back but small por-
ton of that which he produces, and an
under consumption is the result, which
is mistaken for over production. This
inequality, and 1t alone, is the basic
cause for our industrial depression or
panics, attended by increased poverty
AdbCl oBROaAo III biiC OAdPC OA
crime. Crime finds birth in poverty,
and poverty is a product of an econom-
ic condition, which in turn is governed
by our social system.
The socialist holds that politics are
reflex of economics, that both old polit-
ical parties are corrupt beyond redemp-
tion, having completely surrendered to
the "vested interests. He holds that
in order to abolish poverty and crime,
the "human menace, it is first necessa-
ry to remove the cause, private owner
ship of production and distribution of
wealth, also the profit system This he
proposes tc do in the manner provided
for by those far seeing patriots who
drafted the Constitution of the United
States; by the power of the ballot.
For that purpose he has organized
the Socialist Party political party the
aim and object Of which is to establish
a collective commonwealth; this party
representing the interests of the wealth
producing and distributing class and
its interests alone. This party is carry
ing on a systematic campaign of educa-
tion, preparing the worker to abolish
the private rights to utilities by the
power of legislation, and establishing
in its stead collective ownership As
yet this party is in the minority, but by
the driving power, necessity, is recruit
ing supporters to the ranks of social
ism by leaps aud bounds; not alone
from the ranks of the worker, but from
all classes. There are several million
aire socialists who recognize in socialism
the ''guiding star by which the helms
man of society will steer the social ship
clear of the rocks of disintegration and
dissolution.
The socialist further holds that if any
portion of society, however small, be-
comes the economic master, that power
being reflected politically, all laws, all
interpretations of law, will be in the in
terest of that portion of society, as
against the interests of the masses
That unless we have industrial selfgov-
ernment we can not have a political
government of the people, for the peo-
pie and by the people. In support Of
this contention the socialist points tc
the manner in which all legislation OF
benefit to the masses promptly meets
the judicial dagger of the Hessians Of
the Senate.