The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-05-23
AS TO- PRIVATE: PROPERTY.
Socialism Does Not Deny tho Right OF
Such Ownsrship.

Such Ownsrship..
Some believe that Socialism. would
deny the right to possess private prop
erty. No greater mistake than this
could possibly be made. ..:... -
One Of the main reasons why Social
ism exists is that, the present capital
istic system practically denies us the
possession of private property beyond
the barest necessities. Theoretically
we have a right to private property,
but practically that right might almost
as we'll not exist. -
But there is one kind of private own
ership that Socialism is opposed to,
and that is the private ownership Of
the means of life:. Nature intends that
these shall be free and open to all men
and does not intend that they shall be-
come the property Of the few. Capital
ism is therefore contrary to nature
and cannot long endure.
Socialism does not deny the right to
own privately everything that is pri-
Vately used. 1t only denies the private
ownership Of those things which from
their nature are publicly used and
which should therefore be collectively
owned. So we may say that Socialism
demands the collective ownership Of
everything that is collectively used
and the private ownership of every
thing that is privately used. Such "a
system would be just to all and would
show special >favots to none.
How many Of the working class have
private property today, worth mention
ing? More than two-thirds Of the
people in this country live. in mort
gagged and rented homes. In the city
Of New York only per cent of the
people own their own homes free from
incumbrance. Ninety-6ve per cent live
in rented and mortgaged homes and
are therefore practically homeless. The
furnishings in these homes is often of
the cheapest. The percentage of work.
ers who live In comfort and without
fear Of want and poverty is very small
| indeed. |',;,"
When you are thrown out of employ.
ment how long Is it before great ma
jority of you are on the verge Of want
and restitution ?.-z@Only a few weeks
and in many cases only a few days
will find youfin Ais condition: e 44:...:::
What you. fear would happen: under
Socialism is actually taking place un'
derEthe present system. IL 81 ..
The humar|raceS is steadily %advanc;
ing. At times the progress made seems
slow and discouraging AT others II
! is such as .to give us new hope and
new faith. IL Just now the progress IL
greater than It has been for many
years, and it SIS destined to be still
greater in the near future. Economic
! conditions are forcing US on, and So
1 cialism is blazing the pathway through
the fogs ofIignoranc nee, superstition anl
4 bondage, and the promised land to
4 ward which the human race has beer
creeping these thousands Of years 10 a
last IN. sight .5...5
1 The world .is ready for Socialism
The. time iasrape for its introduction
into the affairs Of men, and as fast a
|! people learn what It II they: are I'm
patient fors the. change. '*s <-S 4 ,~-s
i The present system. il becoming
more and morss incom petent to- proyid
( for the Increasing population. q nev
and lbStter SY1ten i1 III order, q sya
TEN \ whichI Sc rsc6 "a the necessity y
! just ana eq1it able disri bntion .
tho fruits @ labor sSs:35,
That new IA stem ~ AZ social ism "a.
Bu6alo Herr