The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-23

When and why did you become a
socialist" / asked him.
"Oh. there is no time or particular event
from which 20 date any change in my
feelings My mind has always been open
to the liberal side of things At Yale.
for instance. In our debates. I argued for
the governmental ownership OF our trans
pOrtatiOn lines I reconect that I sent
small parcel from New Haven 10 New
York by express and paid . cents
freightage. The same parcel could have
gone 10 the Philippines by mail for
cents. The incident. small as il was,
gave me something 10 think about
While a member of the legislature Of
Illinois, I worked and voted for a bin
authorizing che city OF Chicago to buy
and operate street railways. II the peo-
pie were DESTROYS Of making the expert
ment
Seeks for Reform.
= quit my place on the Tribune 20
stump for Edward T. Dunno. who was
running for mayor on a municipal own
ership platform. took Office under him.
becoming commissioner OF public works.
hAA l'AAL AN1AE liNt i q maps i 4-4ttI+ a
mistake some OF the socialists thought
had. bur I was young and impatient.
and reforms, I thought. were not coming
fast enough. With me. the socialistic
view of government and the means of
production is inherent. I might say, and
was developed into conviction by exper-
fence and reflection. None Of my ideas
came 10 me from books
LAS an oficeholder in CHICO, 7 saw
many evidences OF graft. OF large BUSH
ness interests obtaining valuable favors
denied 70 small business and small men
such as cheap water. for instance. I saw
the shore of the lake made into new land
and confscated by rich corporations
Being unable 10 check or end the graft. l
thought ii a duty to emphasize my pro-
test by resigning the Office held
Would the common ownership Of all
the means OF production include land?"
I inquired
Il hope not" Mr.. Patterson replied.
"Of course. il is we'll understood. or
ought TO be- that the last details in the
management Of a sOcialistc government
have not been worked out as yet Mani
testify, they cannot be worked out until
after a start has been made. There can
be no revolution without destruction.
Socialists believe. therefore, in orderly
evolution, in going ahead slowly and test
ing each reform with care
Personally. I do not think Il would be
necessary or advisable 10 prevent all pro-
duction on the part Of the individual him
"a, oil, 81.
the shoemaker, and the blacksmith, work
ing In their own little shops. should be
let alone. in my Judgment My idea is 10
take over the property of the trusts and
10 operate Il, az cost, in the interest of
the public. The railways would be in
cluded Were a railway 10 object its
lines could be duplicated. government
railway would soon drive a privately
owned railway, loaded with watered
bonds and stocks. out OF business
Now land, on the contrary Is un-
IKE any other property In the matter OF
labor and management. The farmer
must know his fields and the character
of his soil, where 20 plant this year and
when TO fertilize Moreover. results are
invariably slow and uncertain An
orchard must grow. Wheat sowed In the
autumn is cut the next summer. \ colt
cannot be put to the pillow until il be-
comes a horse. A calf Is not a COW
short of two years. Consequently. agri-
culture is a waiting and hazardous bust
ness, demandins complete knowledge OF
all the local conditions.
Il would not have the government at