The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-09-08
=WH At
A TRAVELLER SEES
BY ESTHER L. EDELSON


village? Being nearer nature" some
will say. Very we'll Green grass may
be cause for exultation even to the
newcomer. But it becomes monotonous
if it remains unspiced with the fine arts,
like the drama. the opera, fine paintings,
sculpture, oratory and advanced social
intercourse. Does the villager get this2
Not much. Is it wonder that he COM
plains?
"Ah" you say. THE farmer, why NOT
own a little farm and be independent %
Is it possible? Most farmers do not
own their farms. Where they are not
altogether employed by the landowners.
they are racing along for sweet life, in
an effort to keep abreast of the APP
preaching foreclosure on their mortgages,
the interest of which bites out such a
large lump of the income. But the
farmers troubles do not end there He
is destined to carry some railroad trust
on his back, and as he grows more ad-
vanced in years, the rates of Transport
tation increase in proportion. Poor
farmer. How much of life does he en-
joy? From sunrise to shutdown he
plows, plows. plows under ever increas-
ing burdens and ever montonous loneli-
ness. It's enough to make any farmer
complain.
Organize economically" said some
people. And they organized. agitated,
struck and lost. Having to fight with
politically chained arms, the militia
capital, prejudice and politicians, how
could they be expected to succeed !?
Though strong in numbers, they were
weak in physic, in influence. in pocket
and in politics. To fight without success
is nearly as bad as not to fight at all.
Seeing this they began in politics. They
turned from one decaying party to an
other, but found no remedy. Instead
they began to feel that giving strength
to the other parties only tended to weak
en- themselves. What can be done?
Reform" was the next word. So they
began to reform. Even this did not work.
They found, to their expense, that to
cover an ulcer with plaster will not
remove the poison; for an ulcer is usually
more than skin deep. Finally they
thought out this philosophy. Since one
can not love the world as he does him
self, why not organize our own political
party. And they organized.
So effective is this organization that in
January 1907, the Socialist party of the
United States alone was organized in
80 states, with 1900 locals, and little
over $4,000 members, in good standing,
and in the same month of 1910 they
were organized in AZ states, with nearly
1000 locals and paid up membership
of 53,375. Within three years the party
has more than doubled its membership
while its numbers are rapidly increasing
since January. 1t has 70 publications
and thousands of books and pamphlets
explaining the Socialist philosophy and
ushering in the coming era,
In public office its numbers are not
great in this country. Else there would
be less necessity for discomfort, as is the
case in the 18th largest city of the United
States, where for the first time they are
enjoying an almost total Socialist admin.
istration. That city is Milwaukee, Wis.
consin. Any one following up the activi.
ties, the relief and reform work carried
on by the Socialists can see that they not
only promise to do things, but they actu.
ally buckle down and do them.
To try to define the Socialist platform,
what it is and what is not, is impossible
in one article. It's whole object, how
ever, is to own and control publicly all
the public utilities, in exactly the same
manner as is owned and controlled by
the government, the pastoffice, the
schools, the parks, the streets, the fire de-
partment, the highways, water works and
street lighting. The people employed at
these institutions have little trouble with
unemployment and underpay, seasonal
work, such as slack and overtime, reduc-
ton of wages, etc. While the public has
little trouble as to the privilege of max
ing use of these various institutions, such
as using the post office, walking on the
streets, sending their children to school,
strolling in the park, drinking water or
employing the services of the fire depart
ment. Just as every man, woman and
child has an equal right to enjoy these
things so must they have an equal right
to the food, clothing and shelter. And IS
must they also have the right to control
their jobs, as the other employees of the
present publicly owned institutions have
right to control theirs. Even more so.
for when no private business enterprises
are undertaken there will be no incentive
for graft and bribery And under Social
ism the people want to have-and are