The Mena weekly star., 1910-07-21
SOCIALISTIC COLUMN
WHAT SOCIALISM IS.
Socialism is Misrepresented Just as Every New Idea is Misrepresented-


 it sometimes with knowledge that they are false-sometimes in the be- lief that they are true.
 A brief statement of what socialism is may be in order.
 Socialism is a plan to set aside the robbery of the workers through profit, interest and rent, and to insure him employment at all times, and the full social product of his toll.
 It is proposed to accomplish this by placing the highly developed tools of production-too large and expen- sive to be longer owned and operated as individuals under collective ownership and democratic control.
 This would at once place the whole people, who would own these things, in possession of what they produced, without the intervention of an owner or boss, and enable them to retain all they might produce. This is all there is to socialism. It has no secrets. It | is not a system of laws which it wishes to impose on others, but plan "a method-through which it would give the working people control of their own lives. It is nothing more than the extension of the American principle of democracy. a further specializing of things, began when roads, schools, postoffices and like things were socialized.
 It is socialization of industry and no more to be feared, no more diff cult of understanding than the social ized or common schools.
 Socialism is not opposed to private property. Indeed, it's whole aim is to make it so all people may have private property, rather than a few millionaires as at present. Socialism is not un-American. It is merely ar extension of the principles set forth ,y the revolutionary forefathers.
 The American movement is, as has
 een found by careful census, com. aosed of more than so per cent native 1 Americans.
 Socialism is not a scheme depend | ing entirely on agitation for success It is the growth of an idea. As proo of that fact, it is world wide. Socialism, on essential points, is the same all over the world
 | Socialism is not opposed to tho | American flag, but they use the rec flag also as an international symbol The stars and stripes would not do in England or Germany, but the red flag Representative of universal brother hood, can be used anywhere. Tn, red flag is not the symbol of anarchy Anarchists use the black flag. III Socialism is not anarchy. It is tn, opposite of it.
 Anarchy believes in no government Socialists believe in further organi zation-a perfected organization, tha
 shall include the social life. Social ism is not narrow. The fact that i includes all races and all belief proves this. It expects to win tn, world, and it could not do this, anc would not deserve to do it, if it hat . designs on censoring the beliefs O peculiar mannerisms, or ways o thought of anyone. It wishes onl, to end exploitation and secure { , higher and juster civilation.
 1 Socialism is opposed to dividing up
 The workers now divide up with thu
 owners of the machine, and Socialism
 would stop this outrage.
 Socialism is the friend of the home : Under capitalism two-fifths of tht 7 people are renters and another fiftl
 own homes under incumbrance. So cialism will make it possible for all tC own good, comfortable homes, free o , debt.
 Socialism is friend to religion. A l present, so called Christendom is ar , armed camp where poverty anC
 crime are visible everywhere. Social ism will end war and poverty and es tablish full religious tolerance. Unde ? these conditions religion could thrive , as it cannot now
 Socialism is a friend to marriage
 Under the present condition thous ands of girls are betrayed into whit, [ slavery for the profit of it, and othe, , thousands forced to prostitution by economic necessity.
 Many men and women are unable to marry, and many who do marry . cannot raise their children as they
 should be raised. When Socialism
 insures to each worker employment al
 ali times. and the full product of hi.
 toll, there will be no more forcing o women to prostitution. no more stun life. no more fear of getting married because of poverty. Then marriage can occur and every family will b,
 safe. Robert l.. Dalrymple, Grannic Ark