West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-04-29
SOCIALISM AGAIN.
Three Essentials OF the System Nee.
essary for Success.

Three Essentials OF the System Nee
esssry for Success.
Socialism is movement by the workers
OF the world TO obtain the wealth they
create, and thus TO Danish poverty from
the earth. The workers are tired ''divid-
ing up" with nonproducing exploiters,
who by various means rob them of the
larger portion of their products. They
want their own-and they are finding the
way 10 get il.
Three things are necessary to the sue
cess OF socialism, viz:
First-Collective ownership of the means
OF life. Second-Direct legislation. Third
Honest money.
In reference to our first proposition let
us say that competition for living makes
it certain that childhood, womanhood,
and manhood will be sacrificed by whole
sale for the advantage of the few. Differ
ences OF physical and mental strength,
differences of moral and mental tempera-
ment, differences of inherited wealth and
opportunity, make an equal chance i'm
possible under competition for the means
OF life.
Collectivism alone will enable all To
have fair chance. This involves the
support and education of children. the
care OF the sick and infrm, and the pen
sioning OF the aged.
Wherever collectivism has been tried
as in public roads, public schools, public
parks, the postal service, the army, the
navy, and other public utilities, il has
been eminently successful. 1t does moi
abolish private property, as falsely charged
by the enemies of socialism-except il be
private property in other people. Col
lectivism guarantees that each shall pri.
vately own what he produces, but not
the means OF life whereby others may bC
exploited. The general principle is thai
what is collectively used must be collec
lively owned, and what is privately uset
shall be privately owned. And it forbid.
the fruits of labor to those who will not
work, unless they be too young, too old
or too infrm.
Coming to our second proposition, di
rect legislation, we will state that Will,
| collectiylsm is the center of the socialist
position, direct legislation is the right
! wing. This involves three main features
the initiative, referendum, and impera.
tive recall. % The initiative, by which
a certain per cent of the people may fore,
a vote on any question they please. thu,
initiating legislation in city, state, or ma,
| ton without waiting for the action o
unwilling ofiicials-as in the case of s
| prohibition amendment in this state las
winter-the popular will deciding In,
matter without the consent of corrup
officials or other malign influences. (5l
The referendum, by which certain pei
cent OF the people may compel the sub
mission TO the whole people for veto OF
| approval, any law that may be pending
thus giving the people absolute power Il
| prevent unpopular legislation. CD The
imperative recall, by which unsatisfactory
| public officials may be dismissed from
| office before the expiration OF their regu
lar term on demand of dissatisfied con.
stituency. This compels the officials 10
be public servants, not bosses AID grafters
These three forms Of direct legislation ar,
essential TO any truly democratic govern.
ment. Without them full freedom anC
seli-goyernment can never be. With then
the people are in no danger of being en-,
shaved or robbed by their officials. The
| socialist party has all three forms of di
rect legislation in active operation in n,
constitutional organization.
by means Of direct legislation the busi.
ness OF the socialist state can be safely
easily, and satisfactorily managed. Under
this system political graft and oppression
are impossible.
Coming TO our third proposition, honest
money, we would lay it down az an axiom
that the only honest money any one car
ever have IS what he has given society an
equivalent fOr-whath lac has earned. When
socialism Is completely established the
people Will work for the government. that
Is, for themselves, ~ politically and in.
dustnally they will constitute the govern.
ment, and the government may receive
their products, issuing credits therefor nc
cording 20 time spent in production. These
credits can be made exchangeable for any
goods the citizen wishes 10 buy. Thus he
viii get the iull social value OF his labor
in money issued by the government, and
nc spends u exactly a. he pleaseq. IA /,
not expected that there will be any occa.
sion Tor bartering among the people
therefore exploitation will be unknown
Money will not then be a means OF extor.
ton as now; II will be nothing but n true
medium Of exchange.
III necessary 10 prevent gambling on
robbery, the labor check can be- made
nontransferablc; it may be Cancelled like
a postage stamp when used, OF be made
perishable by time limit like n railroad
ticket. Such q simple matter will be
easily adjusted, 80 that no schemes for
making a living without work will he
successful
Thus the money system may b. said Ia
Dc the left wing Of the socialist position
and with collective ownership Of public
utilities NJ the center, direct legislation Mt
the right, and an honest medium of ex-
change 81 the left our fortress will he
utterly imprcgnable and universal plenty
and true liberty will be established ON an
enduring foundation. r.. H. w
TunneItOn, w. Va.