Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1908-07-17
WHAT IS SOCIALISM?
Journal Correspondent Gives His
Views on this Subject.

Socialismis the elimination Of exhibit
alton Il also removes all possibility
Of its practice. Exploitation means the
appropriation Of part or al Of the
product Of another's labor. The hold
Up, the thief, the bankrobber. the
CRATER, the cpeat, the liar, the gam
bier, the adulterator Of wares are Il.
legal exploiters; the Spectator. the
banker, the merchant. the landlord are
ga exploiters. All take more than
Ay give, else his business is failure.
Business is the process Ofexploiting our
felIowman legally. It is the process Of
getting something for nothing without
risk Of punishment on earth. 1t is the
means by which we are enabled to eat
orr bread, and have our clothing. shell
ter, amusements and education furnish
ed by the sweat of anothers face.
Business colleges flourish because it is
hoped the knowledge there gained will
enable the pupil to make sumptuous
living by legal (cowarly) exploitation.
Exploitation is dividing I'D of the
products Of labor between the employ
er and employe. Occasionally we hear
it said that Socialists want 10 divide
up. But for the necessity to stop
dividing up no Socialist would be in ex-
istance today. Capitalism could not
exist 4S hours but for dividing up":
for exploitation. There must be an
army Of labor on the point Of starva-
ton to allow capital to make favorable
terms Of exploitation for itself, or it Is
doomed. It's life fattens on saualor
and want and misery. Its life blood is
wickedness and its vital breath is
scoundrelism. No one can uphold cap
italism for minute and worthily wear
the White Ribbon Of social purity: nor
the blue ribbon Of temperance sobrietv
nor enjoy a decent self respect: nor
consistently entertain hope OF Heav-
en- and immortal glory: nor by any
possibility escape Hell and Damnation.
Socialism stands for justice and hon
or. There is nothing in its program
that any honest person can take any
exception to- 1t guarantees to every
one the full reward of his effort includ-
ing insurance. 1t insures every eater a
sweating, and every sweater an eatingi
1t insures equality Of opportunity TO
all alike; but recognizes the fact that
this does not produce uniformity.
Socialism is not a scheme. It IS
scientific and as certain TO come as 4
total eclipse of the moon and probably
no more remote. It is as sure as death .
and Ike it it may be hastened or defer
red. 4 careful study Of vast economic
conditions and results viii convince the
candid mind that Socialism is the next
step in the evolution of mankind. He
viii discover that the means Of pro
duction of the necessities and Injuries
of life have been changing constantly
but somewhat spasmOdically owing to
sundry inventions through al pressed /
ing years; and that our ethical code
changed in conformity. largely, 70
changed economic conditions. He viii /
never again be guilty OF saying that
humanity must be reconstructed
II is constantly changing and with
great rapidity just now when the worn
cut political parties are accusing each
Of having stolen the others policies.
And what are policies? When the
strain of the evils Of capitalism become
so acute at one point that it is no long
er endurable some so called means Of
relief is sought This experiment in
embryo IS policy and inasmuch as
sands on the seashore a multitude Of
legislators are kept busy invent;ng
policies and enacting them into laws
presumably to better conditions. But
It viii not be denied that we need re-
preston laws now than more any time
in our history: and this significant fact !.
should cause close investigation OF the
Socialist program. Exploitation being :
the prime. cause Of crime with the par :
tial exception of the relation OF the :,
sexes, its elimination will cure them all. !
Land is one of the principal means .
Of exploitation.
The writer is compelled to live under T
capitalism much againnt his will; but :.
he is compelled to make his living IN
Ter the system which veil certainly =
AXE him to hell along with the rest of
But his efforts however
humble are made to upbuild humanity
Lid this alone constitutes moral act -
Nothing purely selfish is moral So
.ialism removes every incentive for
rhine; Capitalism foster and augments :,
very evil propensity Of which the a
human heart is capable Of acquiring. E,
How bad do we want it? o.
Socialists, really altruistic persons. III
ruly christian people, want it more
han they want anything else. Thieves III