The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-04-20
The Simple Aim
of Socialism
CBy Charles Lincoln Philer. ,

cialization OF industry .Eoth;ns
more Nothing less. All over the
world The same
Because This Is the aim. mere re-
forms, that leave tho private control
or industry intact. with the profits
that 20 with private control, cannot
tIfn aside the movement from its III.
innate aim. Socialism may work for
fuller democracy as a means OF secur.
Ing and aiterward OF assuring this
control: It may advocate ii hundred
measures that are calclil;fed to cripple
the private control. of Industry and
to ameliorate the coalition Of the pro
Queer OF things; 1t may favor reforms
hat give the working class greater
power anu advantage; but al! these
are merely means to an end, and that
end is tn. specialization of industry
But il is not working for the social
ZatiOn OF anything but the means
with Which the people make living
This means that it is no, seeking to
socialiZe or en0 al! private property:
that it does not consider wOricn rs
property and so does not and cannot
favor community Of women.
Wha, is meant by sociali2atiC:' Of
industry? The collective ownership
and control OF the means of making
living in every industry Tnls means
the collective ownership of all the
means OF trans portution: of tn" yrea.
manufacturing plants; of means o,
communication such as telephones
and telcgraphs; OF mines: ami OF suf-
flcieutj lands to enable the government
to provide employment for all who
cannot obtain it in otl.cr INDUSTRIES
But it means more than collective
1t ...I
ic control OF these things. This con.
troll rha!ics the Socialist proposition
entirely different from mere public
ownership propositions proposed by
others. Collective ownership and
dcmoncratic control. taken toS2thcr
imply sclf-enlploymcnt and an end OF
profits IT you own Il business yor
cannot pay Il profit to it. If you
own Il business YOU have right tc
employ yourself in it. If YOU have
control as workers. instead Of going
TO another for a job and being under,
mis- orders. you. collectively. select an"
change your own managers TO suit
yourselves, a:id arc your own
bosses. 1t is true even now and
will he more true when tine change
of system ends the entire prof, sys
TEN
The things sought to be socia!iZot
are even now partially Socialized
and the Socialized features are giving
splendid satisfaction. In the mat.
ter of transportation, the pubic roads
are socialiZcd. now. II tho railroads
were similarly owIed and managed
there would be no toll collected b;
them. just rs there is none on dirt
roads The mail service. II b.ancl
1i,,, ; i,,,,
ure sccia'iZ"d nov: aud while it Is.
subject tc graft and abuse because
under private control of Il vicious
system, there is no profit in it. M
advertising" it necessary TO sci.
stamps. there are 40 dup!ica,ions ui
many coinDctln" offices in one town.
thus pll'nC up expense. and the SCI
vice is quick and the same to all. II
Telephones and tplCGraphS served al
me peoplc at cost. that would mprel,
be an extension of the collective ser.
vice already begun in the matter OF
communications. The government I.
beginning to reserve minin. RIGHTS
If there was an extension of the prin-
ciple. coal would be furnished to the
people at the cost OF production The
government has already assumed col.
l"cuNe control OF much land Lane
10 HSlu' Ao", apart from individuals.
Tor sites tor public buildings. 70,
parks. foi roads and streets, for tim
per reserves and FOR various othCi
purposes In some places it i; now
oclhS reserved as Il means of employ.
inS the IDLE in production. II tn.
ldca was cNtcnhcd il would do ,r,icl
70 rc'leVc the labor market and in
"oihS that would give the worker.
'apliltE 20 cope with those who ure
exploiting them by enabling them t.
secure. even lrw. greater returns for
'heir toli Manufacture is already g
Ao'lai work: it is no longer done Nv
l''''\ ld"aiS. i'll small shops but is er.
'ccted IN great institutions. through
TIE use "i costly machinery. by man,
P'o2i" ""fNlrS together. each at bis
Spetlai'H SCcializing the work in
th'S way has. statistics SHOW. Increased
III" prodnciiritS about twentvfolG
over the Old. individual ,uachlcless.
method. Socialism purposes Il fur.
lhcr organization 50 that nct the work.
hlollc. eut also the products. shall b.
SNcl;ulHcu, cuttn" Oh; The profits Of
INC noh-prcdurinS capitalist and Si.--
ing the worker his fun social prod,c,
i"c HFihclpie OF socialiZalion. then.
Is a matter that has been abundant,
'S9lcu ana proven thoroughly Dracti
'al even though the application Of
II" principle to the particular thr:.
In we" has never becu made But
II t'!' prlnclpl" has worked well when
partially teStCu.thc cOuClllS ion j.. oh