The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-25
I'm A WAGE. SLAVE"
WRITES ROOSEVELT
Former President Continues
Magazine Articles on the
Subject of Socialism.

NEW YORK, March 25.-''Where we
can work with socialists" is the caption
of the second part of former President
Theodore ROosevelts editorial on social
ISM, appearing in the Outlook for April,
the publication of the first installment of
which aroused socialist leaders to a bit
ter counteR attack.
The later portions were written at one
time. but were published separately be-
cause of length, say the editors of the
periodical. and Mr.. ROOsevelt's second
article is in no sense a reply to the crit
icism of the socialists.
There are many schemes proposed"
Mr.. Roosevelt writes, which their (the
socialists) enemies, and a few of their
friends, are pleased to call socialistic,
or which are Endorsed and favored by
men who call themselves socialists, but
which are entitled to be considered each
on its merits with regard only to the
practical advantage which each would
confer. Every public man, every re-
former. is bound to refuse to dismiss
these schemes with the shallow state
ment that they are socialistic-
Called SocialiStic.
There are communities called social
iStic where our system of State educa-
ton is still resisted and condemned as
socialism, and we have seen within the
past two years in this country men who
were themselves the directors in ma
tlonal banks which were supervised by
the Government, object to such super
vision Of railways by the Government on
the ground that il was 'socialiStic.' An
employers liability law is no more So
cialistic than fire department, the reg
ulation of railway rate is by no IN cans
as SOcialiStic as the digging and en-
larging of the Erie canal ar the expense
OF the State.
doctrine, equally hard and foolish, that
the welfare of the children in the tene-
ment house district Is no concern of
the community as a whole.
Socialism strives to remedy what Is
evil alike in domestic and in economic
life, and its tendency is to insist that
the economic remedy 5 all sufficient in
every case The first thing to reCOg-
nize is that while economic reform is
often vital, ii is never all sufficient. The
moral reform. the change of character.
is the most necessary of all
Evil Marriage Doctrine
In dealing with the marriage rela-
ton, the socialist attitude is one of IN
mixed evil. Our efforts should be TO
raise the level of self-respect, self-con-
troll. sense of duty in both sexes and
not TO push down TO, an evil equality OF
moral turpitude by doing away with the
self-restraint and sense of obligation
which have Deen slowly built up through
ages.
SO with our industrial system. In
many respects the wage system can be
bettered; but screaming about wage
slavery is largely absurd: at this mo-
ment, for instance, I am a wage slave
of the outlook.
I'VE should do everything that can
be done 70 keep the avenues Of occupa-
ton, Of employment, of work, of inter
est, so open that there shall be, SO faI
as it is humanity possible, to achieve At
an equality Of opportunity for each man
10 SHOW the stuff that is IN him.
Reward Follows Service
when II comes to reward, let each
man within the limits set by a sound
and far-sighted morality get what by
his energy, Intelligence, thrift, courage
he is able to get, with the Opportunit!
open We must set our face agains
privilege, just as much against IN,
privilege which would let the shiftIes.
and lazy laborer take what his brOthe
has earned as against the privileg,
which allows the huge capitalist to TAX,
toll 10 which he Is not entitled w,
stand for equality OF opportunity, bu
not for equality OF reward unless Their,
is also equality Of service"