The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-07-22
Socialism,.
BY DR.. F. w. Blackmar, Professor
of Sociology and Economica,
Univrsity of Kansas.

people is anindefnite term suggestive
usually of Utopianism. 1t has been
assigned every shade of meaning
from complete communism to rank
Individual anarchism. Moreover
In recent years nearly every person
who has advocated radical reform
in political or social affairs has been
called a Socialist. 1t has become a
habit of thought TO dismiss indivl.
duals who have attempted radical
changes in the conventions and
traditions of society by calling them
socialists, meaning thereby that they
are dreamers of the impossible or
the impracticable. 1t would be
conductive to clearness of thought
and to social progress if the word
Socialism" could be striken from
the English language.
Moreover, the people who call
themselves Socialists are possessed
with every sort Of idea concerning
the constitution and government OF
society, especially of industrial
society; and each is apt to be
dogma .ic in his advocacy of the idea
he has espoused. The only uuiver-
sal idea in it is that of dissatisfacti ton
with the present order. This nigh,
apply also to all good people who
are seeking to make the world better
The differences occur in the plan!
for remedy.
Socialists admit of classification
in two general groups, namely
Communists who wish to hold al
property in common, and Socialists
proper whose fundamental princlplt
is dlstributive justice. Distinc
from these, but frequently er
roneously classed with them are
Anarchists, who are against the
present order of things and are only
satisfied with destroying 1t and be-
ginning over on plan of rank
individualism.
Those of the first class organize
into societies which fail sooner OIL
later as they presume upon the
uniformity and constancy of human
nature. They level down and out
Those of the second class are
seeking more equitable method Of
distributing the products of industry
Their plan is for the community tc
own and operate all of the product
I've means, such as lands, stores,
railroads, mines, factories, etc.
Money, and hence banks, would be
eliminated. Those who advocate
this extension of government
functions are known as state
Socialists.
There are two groups of Anarch
lists, namely, theoretical Anarchists
and practical Anarchists. The
former consider government a rob-
Der and organized society a fraud.
The practical Anarchists accepting
this theory, would blow up the
works.
Socialism has been growing rapid
ly in recent years, largely from two
sources. A large number of intelll-
gent people from the ranks of
editors. writers, lawy teachers,
laborers, philanthropisls and others,
are impressed with the injustice of
the present system, and believe that
Socialism, as they define it, will
make the desired improvement.
The other source is from the ranks
of the disconnected or wretched
who have made life a failure and
have seen that the other fellow has
more to enjoy than they do. The
greater number of this class while
they profess to be Socialists are
really, possibly without realizing it,
recruiting the Anarchists.
Socialism has been changing
greatly In recent years, especially
in Europe. The old Utopian
Socialism which tolerated nothing
but an ideal social system, is
changing into an opporiunist
Socialism. Socialists of this class
hold to ideals hut eeeL in eyery 49,.