New-York tribune., 1912-02-25

them are monopolistic it does not follow
that the whole system Of industries IN
verging toward monopoly and that man<
kind can save themselves from industrisf
oppression only by revolutionary aoo-
iltion of private property and a uni
versal assumption OF state ownership.
A wise craftsmanship will retain vai-
liable existing institutions. but eliminate
the evils to which, whether accidentally
or necessarily, they may give rise. And'
in fact. this is the course which the
modern civilized world is pursuing. Ir
Is the course followed in the policy ocs
public ownership, regulation Of industry,
factory legislation. old age pensions, etc.
If these measures be called socialisfic, /
the modern world will not be prevented |
from resorting TO them wherever they
are demanded by justice and expediency.
The great point is that these policies do
not abolish the existing system OF pri-
vate property in general. Nor for that
matter, does public ownership involve
socialism in distribution or any social 4
istic features in the conduct OF business. I
These measures do not aim at the CONS
plete removal of inequalities by the de-
struction OF the existing system of prop |
erty and production, but the mitigation
of the hardships and the intolerable in
equaIitles to which that system has given 4
rise. !
The fundamental. evil which socialists
deprecate is that the producing classes
are to-day excluded from the possessions
this divorce Of the workers from the,
agents and instrumentalities of produces
tion that the socialists propose to over-i
turn existing society. They are contenT
with nothing short of reform by whole-
sale. But the course Of human progress,
little" as has already been said. Ands
il the socialists were not carried awayi
by their dream of a universal revolu-i
tionary reform, they would find mucEl3
to encourage them in the industriaId
changes taking place at the present time.
If the underlying truth of socialism, /
is that industry should he carried on by |
free, associated workers utilizing a joints
capital with a view TO an equitable sys-
tenn Of distribution, 1t Is already in oper-
alton in different parts OF the world.
There are in England vast co-operativea
societies answering to this description.
One Of them provides for the consump- |
ton of about one-ffth OF the entir p
population. These cooperative societies |
have fourished more abundantly I'm the
Old World than, in the New, but in the 4
United States the system Of profit-shar.
ing and the purchase of stock on favor !
able terms by workmen are important
and hopeful features Of our industrial de- 1
velopment. 1t is in these and similar ,
voluntary and evolutionary movements I
that we may expect to see the realiza- 4
tion Of all that is sound in the ideal /
Of socialism. And though such modest
reforms may be disappointing TO the
socialists Of the school, they may at
least have the satisfaction, to which !
they are Justly entitled, Of having cham (
pioned with an energy and enthusiasm
uneuualled by any other secular organi-
cation the cause Of the poor, the guar
antee OF decent comfort to all, and tho
IMPERATIVE duty Of everybody TO render
adequate service for the income which
he receives from society.