Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23
The Growth Of Socialism.

The spread of the Socialist
propaganda in the United States
is occasioning interest if not
alarm among students of State
craft, who foresee as a result, a.
new alignment with radicalisnl
versus conservative theories Of
government as the line of cleav-
age.
s. Pure socialism in the broad
sense is as far removed from
anarchy as are the principles ot
Democracy, If those styling
themselves Socialists were to con-
fine. themselves to securing "a
more just and equitable distribu-
ton Of property and labor by
enlightened cooperation and by
nationally advocating the public
Z ownership of such utilities as
sltould not be controlled by pri-
yate enterprises, they might be-
come power for good.
U Unfortunately, however, they
Seem to have imbibed the vaga-
ries of the worst elements of the
European Socialists, who are ems
gagged in fomenting class hatred
and arraying .GaBital against
labor, the poor against the ricn,
the drone against the worker.
So At the Same time, however
misguided they may be, it must
be admitted that they are altru-
lists according to, their lights.
and that they are not in politics
for graft or Office.
Speaking on the danger in the
growth Of Socialism, in the Unis
red States before five hundred
representatives of Washington
churches and religious organize
tions on Sunday, Raymond Rob-
bins, Social Service Expert OF
Chicago, said:
For many years there. have beer,
strange voices throug bout the land tax
ing the wrong side in religion and in
dustry,' said Mr.. Robins, The lead
ers of this movement are led on by
great enthusiasm their endeayor to
help the people. But they are wrong
in their prescription for the many evils
thai ale sapping the strength ot 4
nation. Unless some stop is put t.
their activity. hundreds of Thousands OF
workers will follow these leaders to
their Destruction.
The leaders are arousine their fol
lowers to the beginning Of a class strpg-
GLE. which has no place in America
This struggle between the tWoCdivisions
is alien to the church. They are SEEK
ing to divide the nation into new divi
sions, and the men are taught on each
side toview the others with resentment
They cant save the republic on those
lines.
The man who does not give living
wage to his employees and forces girls
from the path of right should not be al
lowed to have pew in church. Fouc
clothes, shelter, and decent housing con-
ditlons are the first concerns of Chris
tendon. There are $4,000 men in the
steel mills working twelve hours DAY
seven days in the week, and NOTHING
has been done by the employers for the
betterment of these men
Every child has the right to'a decent
physical life. but there are row thou
sands of children who are being denied
this right Unless the church steps
forward to aid them, the power will r.
taken away from the church We arr
facing great issue. that of the politi-
cal unrest, and if you do not act quickly,
in ten years you will not have the
chance You will get the new order of
Affairs unless YOU act. Take your
choice
Give US this day our daily bread and
leadus not into temptation, is the Lord
Prayer; yet how many of US are doing |
our part in seeing that the children of
the poor get their daily bread, and that |
the daughters of the poor work men are
not kept from temptation and sin?
He might we'll have added that
what is most responsible for the
discomfort and distrust which
have bred the dangerous features
Of Socialism in this country is the
j
disre gard of law real anarchy
Of the. dishonest corporations
debauched the suf-
frage until decent men Of the old |
parties have, IN despair, neglected
heir political duties and often
lines allowed the party rnachin-
cry to thus pass into the hands of
the corruptioniSts. s