The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1912-10-04
A Socialist Answer to Father Saindon

abolish classes forever and to inauguratC
a new era of equal opportunity.
1.-The socialists will divide up
property, they insist. That is
something which is certainly ridic.
ulous and impossible. "
You are partly right, Father Saindon
Dividing up" is certainly ridiculous
but not impossible" The workers and
producers have been dividing up since
the dawn of chattel slavery. Since man
first began to live by the sweat of an
other mans brow land now of the sweat
and tears of women and children) the
worker has been dividing up" lie has
produced more than he has used and
some idler has collected this Surplus
value" To such dividing up, socialism
says STOP!
The Standard Oil company pays divid-
ends each year of $4,000 for each worker
in its employ. Each worker produces
his wages plus an average of $4,000 sur
plus. He then divides up" giving an
idle class the $4,000 he has produced, and
keeps mere wages for himself. He wants
this to stop.
Socialism offers you $4,000 a year
and six-hour day for your vote" not
a vain promise in view of the statistics
of 1910. Uncle Sam tells the worker
that he produces about $2,40O and gets
about $780, He divides up" the other
$1,000. This is ridiculous" and some
day it will be impossible"
Dear beloved, I wish you to
make clear distinction between
socialism and socialists. Socialism
is a system that is false. Socialists
are persons, individuals who join
the party and who believe the sys-
tenn of socialism is the remedy for
existing evils"
You are wrong again, Father Saindon.
Modern socialism reflects the mass de-
velopment of the modern worker. As the
working class evolves, socialism will
evolve.
The socialism of the future will be
the resultant of mass development of
future socialists. Evolution is in charge
of the whole thing, and evolution never
ceases.
"It is not a sin to be rich. 1t is
not a sin to be a capitalist. But
to be an unjust rich man, to be an
unjust capitalist is wrong"
Why, father, the Carpenter of Naza-
reth did not teach that. We cannot
understand you. If we produce $2,40O
and get $500, what difference does it
make whether the world calls the man
who collects 81 900 of what we produce,
a good man or bad manH He is a
"good man" for himself, but "bad man.
for the worker. But the wise man
doesn't blame the capitalist; he blames
the ignorant worker who votes to let
the capitalist do this.
Beloved, you may think that
socialism is something new. But
socialism is as old as the world, as
old as there have been false sys-
TENS. There were socialists in the
time of Christ. Even the disciples
themselves formed a society of
which we might call communism. -
Wrong again, father Communism
and socialism are two radically different
things. Socialism promises to each
worker all he produces; if he produces
a lot he will get a lot-if he produces a
little he will get little. Under So
cialism Judge Hanford or Harry Thaw
would have to change their ways or they
wouldn't get anything.
You are an authority on religion,
father; if you see fit to criticize the
Disciples" for trying Communism" we
acknowledge your right to do so. If
what you say about them is true, we
will agree that they were at least fool
ish. But then these matters about the
disciples belong entirely to you.
THE church has always fought
and even legislated for the poor,
and has charitable institution for
the poor.
You know, father, charity is an insult
to the working class It usually means
that someone gives something he didn't
earn and should not have, to some one
who is humiliated by taking it.
And usually the Inundated one
wouldn't need charity if he had received
what he has produced.
'The socialism of today is very
tame and different to the socialism