Norwich bulletin., 1911-07-26
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
 Ex-President Eliot, Socialist?

MT. Editor: The announcement that Dr. Charles w. Eliot, president emer- 1tus of the most aristocratic university in this country, Harvard, has become a socialist will doubtless be a rather surprising bit of information to most of the readers of The Bulletin. And when it is recalled that not so very long ago when he was president of Harvard. Dr. Eliot was a pronounced anti-socialist and proclaimed the scao the great American hero and was a prominent member of the Civic Fed eratfon, which was organized to war on socialism. the change in Dr. Eliots mental attitude is quite remarkable.
 It may be only a coincidence, but it is of interest to note that ever since Dr. Eliot became ex-president of liar ward, and he was assured of a most comfortable old age pension provided by wealthy Harvard alumni his mental breadth and synpathies have gradual ly widened until at length he has con- ceded the gist of the socialist philoso- phy.
 A few months ago Dr. Eliot was in Milwaukee and although he was not socialist he visited the city hall and publicly expressed great pleasure at the thoroughness and honesty of the Socialist municipal administration.
 Next, word came that S. A. Eliot, Jr., a grandson of President Eliot, is one of the hardest workers in the So- cialist club at Harvard, which has membership of fifty.
 On July 4th Dr. Eliot spoke at the famous Faneuil hall, Boston, the era dle of liberty at which he most ap- propriately pictured a new declarati of independence suitable for the masses in the year 1911. He said that the average citizen is not really much more independent than the colonist before 1776. Monopoly and industrial yokes are to be resisted today said Dr. Tharn Oh in his new declaration of independence plank six being the one in which he comes out fat-footed for the socialist programme. It reads as follows Land and all instruments of preduc- ton and distribution of products should belong to society as a whole" If this is not socialism, what is it? The de- mand of the socialist party is the so- cial ownership of the means of produc- tion.' To secure this demand over eighty thousand men and women in the United States are organized into a class conscious body known as the so- cialiSt party, into which they are pay ing monthly dues to keep up the work of agitation, education and organiza- ton until the goal is reached, and over 6ee.000 voters in 1910 cast their ballots for the socialist programme. The party invites Dr. Eliot and any other like minded individual who in this year 1911 would like to become part of an OT6diilZtd DOdy OIklIl5 lHc6SSdHIly LOT the realization of a new declaration of independence. based upon industrial conditions today to fill out an appli- cation blank at once and become a member of the socialist party now for life.
 It is only by the adoption of the sixth plank of Dr. Eliots new declaration that the accomplishment of the other blanks will be carried out. Only by the abolition of production for private profit and competition among produc- CTS. which Dr. Eliot advocates in common with the socialists, will unem- ployment become eliminated, will the right of every man to the normal pleasures and enjoyments of life and the leisure to enjoy them, be assured Other provisions of this new declara- tfon which Dr.. Eliot supports, along with the socialists, are compensation to workers Tor losses due to acute sick ness, injuries and old age, larger ap- propriatiOnS for public education and the conservation of the national re- sources for the public welfare. The motive, method and mission of the so- cialist were beautifully expressed by James Russell Lowell when he wrote: '"The time is ripe and rotten ripe for
 ckArnge:
 Then let il come; I have no dread of Js called for by the instinct of man.
 kind;
 Nor think I that Gods world will fall
 apart
 Because we tear a parchment more or
 less.
 Truth is terenal but her effluence With endless change is fitted to the
 hour;
 Her mirror is turned forward to reflect The promise of the future not the
 past.
 He who would win the name of truly
 great
 Must understand his own age and the
 next,
 And make the present ready to fulfill It's prophecy, and with the future
 merge
 Gently and peacefully, as wave with
 wave"
 PRESS COMMITTEE,
 Local Norwich, Socialist Party Norwich, Conn.,, July 25, 1911. Meriden Girls Engagement Broken.