The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-08

The other Place, Says Col. Lockweed,
 M. F.
 What would England be like under socialism, There are different kinds of socialism. There is that socialism and there is that socialism which Is laid down by the socialist party. It has many variations. many tributaries, many side Issues. and 1t is question: able if even the socialists themselves could absolutely and clearly define socialism In a concise manner.
 But let us briefly consider the ques- tion. taking socialism In the gem orally accepted sense of the term, and not bubble about It's multifarious variations.
 Under 1t England would be plunged into chaos. 1t would mean the entire works. with naturally correspond ing falling away of capital which would go out of the country. Think what this municipalization alone would bring. The socialists vaguely tell us that If every industry were controlled by municipality we should live un- der better and happier conditions
 Nothing of the sort
 People with money would soon take 1t elsewhere, and I think I should be right in describing the climes to which that capital would. in the or dinary course of events. depart as safer chimes.
 The Heavy Hand.
 When the capital had gone there would be widespread ruin among the people generally.
 Under socialism we should have the creation of an enormous and powerful bureaucracy who would govern their fellows with an infinitely heavier hand than the state and the private employ CT now uses.
 The socialists talk giibly of the equality of self government of 1t tend ency to give them voice in the management of the country. of the happy times when they would be able to control wealth and turn 1t to the best possible advantage.
 But they are curiously rettcent--- nay. one night even say siient-on the disadvantages. the periis. and the dis satisfaction which would naturally be caused by the establishment of this mighty bureaucracy.
 Further, socialism would mean the weakening or, probably what is worse still, the entire abrogation of both the army and the navy. It did not mean the abrodgation 1t would most cer- tainly mean the weakening of the army and navy to such an extent as to leave us at the mercy of foreign power.
 Ono might argue that we are at the present moment open to attack from these sources; but I will go farther and say that socialism on the lines indf- cated would place us at the mercy of the weakest foreign power in ex- istence.
 It would mean an absolute invita- ton to a foreign power to walk in and take possession of our land. But the land Is the land of the people, or should be, say the socialists. Even if this far-fetched proposition could for one single moment hold water. one is prompted to ask what sense there is In so weakening our defending forces as to make us the prey of any weak little foreign power who cares to come and swhallow us up. Inevitable War. As for the point which is some times raised that under socialism there would be no war. and conse- quently no need for the maintenance of any army or navy, this argument would only apply if socialism became universal. And this will never be. lhe BoOd sense or the people will be the first effectuaI barrier to it's adop- ton. and its absolute impracticability would constitute the second Therefore. one can dismiss as totally unnecessary the Idea that universal socialism will ever reign.
 The socialists have mentioned that they are as patriotic as any other Englishman.
 Very we'll. Let every Englishman read carefully through the speeches made by the members of the admitted heads of the socialist party. and will undertake to say he will not find any indications of patriotism.
 Words. wOrds-empty words in abundance--but real patriotism is lack ting.
 But if one wants really terrible picture of what England would be like under socialism, let him imagine what England would be without trained soldiers and sailors This picture should. in itself. be sufficient to con vince him that 1t Is not desirable to adopt it.
 The socialists have an absurd belief in national arbitration on dificuit subjects but such arbitration would have no power to enforce the awards after they had been made However you take socialism, take 1t even at its best-and at It's best I confess 1t is a high Ideal in some mems minds-I have never yet been able to read into 1t any possible practical good for England.