The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-11-30
SOCIALIST PARTY GROWTH.

SOCIALIST PARTY GROWTH.
Some people, including a large
number of newspapers, are very
much alarmed at the growth OF So
cialism and think they see in 1t a
great menace to our republican IN
situations. We are not in the least
alarmed, because in the first place
we do not believe there is any great
, number of people who believe that
the socialistic principles are practi-
cal or ever will be until the human
race is made over and Invested OF all
it's individual selfshness.
Socialism made its first appear
ance in this country as political
factor in 1892, when it polled II, "a
votes. At the last presidential cleo
ton in 1908 it polled only 42O, 1873
votes. A party that in twenty year $
time with a free press and free
speech can muster less than half
million votes in a. country is not
growing very rapidly, nor is 1t likely
to become a menace soon.
The populist party in much less
time, grew until it polled in 1892
over two million of votes for General
Weaver, it's candidate for president
that year. The populist party dis
banded in 1900 when the democratic
party nominated Mr.. Bryan for pres
ident the second time on a platform
that advocated the cardinal prlncl-
pies of populsm, and those are the
principles of the progressive demo-
cratic party, and those same prlncl-
pies are vital principles Of the So
cialistic party.
For instance, the populistic party
declared in favor of the government
or municipal ownership Of ali public
utilities 1t took the position that
all public enterprises should be gov
erned and operated by and in the
interests Of the public, and not for
private gain, but it stopped there.
The party did not advocate the COM
mon ownership of property and a
government such as that so pleasing
ly set forth in Bellamys Looking
Backward, which is beautiful but
idealistic and absolutely impracti-
CAL
Here are some Of the cardinal
principles advocated by the populists
which are also socialistic, and also
democratic since 1896.
The control and regulation of pub
,ic corporations and the destructl IN
of the trusts.
The control and regulation of pub
lie corporations and the destruction
of trusts.
The regulation of railroad rates
prohibiting rebates and discrimina-
lions, and limiting the income to a
reasonable profit on the physical val
uations, and looking to the ultimate
government ownership of the roads.
Municipal ownership of all princi-
pal utilities such as water works,
electric lights and gas plants.
Government ownership OF express
and telegraph companies.
Election of presidents and United
States senators by direct vote Of the
people.
The initiative and referendum.
Twenty years ago when the popu-
list party through it's Omaha plat
form promulgated these principles
they were denounced as revolution
airy and anarchistic, but today they
are recognized as living issues and
many Of them are now accepted as
sound and practical by members of
all parties. While the socialists are
now advocating these principles, the
populist party brought them forth
before there was socialist OrganiZ-
alton in the country and they are
now with one exception (the govern
ment ownership of railroads. dis
tinctively democratic issues.
But socialism advocated by Owen
Fourier, Bellamy and other expOund-
ers of the doctrines, means the de-
structon Of the private ownership of
property and the holding in common
of all property for the common good.
1t would if carried to its legitimate
ends as advocated by it's radical adj
vocates mean the destruction of the
married relation and the breaking
up of family ties.
The large vote cast in many OF our
cities for the socialist ticket, is SIM
ply protest against existing cor
rupt conditions and is not vote for
socialist principles, and looking at it
from this view point we believe will
do good. Men like Berger of Mil
waukee who was elected to congress
by the socialist vote will be found
working hand in hand with progress
SlVe democrats ana progressive re-
publicans for a better government,
but socialist principles that attack
private rights and individual owner
ship of property or strikes at the
American home as the unit Of our
social fabric will never gain much
Roadway in this ountry.-Creston
American.
An Associated Press dispatch