New-York tribune., 1912-02-25

TEN of private property abolished OUT
side the realm Of consumers goods II
will be seen that under the socialistic
organization of society there would be
70 class living from incomes derived
from the rent OF land or interest on
stocks or bonds or similar investments.
For when all land, all industrial enter
prises. all railways. etc. had been taken
over by the state, then mortgages, deeds
and railway and industrial securities
would disappear. along with the private
ownership on which they rest. Conse-
quently, in the socialist state, there
would be no idle class. If man will not
work. the socialists say. neither shall he
eat. And the incomes Of all adult MEM
bers of the community would be deter
mined solely by their labor.
JUST AN ECONOMIC CHANGE.
This complete transformation Of So
ciety is the essence Of socialism. And
if is 10 be noted that the transforma-
ton is economic only. In its essential
feature socialism postulates no other
modification of existing civilization ex-
cent. indeed, such changes as may neces-
sarlly result from that fundamental eco
nomic transformation. Morals religion,
politics even. might remain as they are
to-day So might the institution OF the
family also, except that when the state
instead Of the parents provides pveli-
hood for children this economic change
would inevitably produce some change
in the existing organization of the fam
iIy. Nor is socialism as an economic
transformation of society concerned with
theories OF government. In America
naturally socialists are adherents or de-
mocracy. And perhaps democracy is
the ideal Of most socialists in other
lands Nevertheless there have been
great socialists who accepted govern
ments both of the monarchical and
aristocratic type.
Socialism is a protest against existing
INEQUALITIES Of fortune and the helpless
ness OF the working man in consequence
OF the appropriation by capitalists or the
land. factories, work shops, railways ana
all the instrumentalities of production
and exchange All these properties are
m he transferred from their present pri-
vate ownership to the ownership OF the
state. The advantages which they bring
in production and exchange are TO lnure
not 10 the benefit Of favored indivduals,
hut 10 the community as whole. The
industrial revolution. the socialists tell
ne has developed a small number OF
propertied classes and a vast army Oh
unpropertied classes. And the antago-
nisrn between them has grown so acute
that private ownership in the interest
os the few must finally give way
IN public ownership in the interest
NJ all. Manufacturing, business, trans
portation would go on under the social
istic state as they do to-day. but the
properties by means Of which these rune
tions are performed would be owned ana
managed by the state for the beneht ot
/ the community as a whole.
a VAST IMPRAcTICA5ILITY.
Tho first thing that strikes one in the
socialistic programme is its Vastness
Socialists talk of the state as an almost
omnipotent and omniscient agent OF hu-
manitv. For all practical purposes
however. the state consists OF a small
rurber Of average men whom, in dem
ocratic countries the citizens elect hy
ballot To perform certain public rune
tions al the seat of government. In the
legislative and executive departments
tbev make and administer the laws and
conduct the public services. In the
United States the central government
nossesses under the Constitution min
,r,um of governmental functions. Yet
even among us the public business IS
conducted with much less energy ana
eficiency than private business. Al
though some European states own ana
manage the railways-never. however
with great successive hesitate 10 m
vest our government with this function
because of its incompetency as busi-
ness agent and the inefticiency TO which
II is doomed by partisan politics. Yet
/ socialists talk jauntily of throwing upon
this band of administrators and poll
ticians in Washington the burden O.
managing all the industries Of the coun-
| try.
We have millions Of farms and fac
tories, and their prosperity is the ad-
miration of the world. They are owned
by individuals and managed by lndl-
viduals. Individual ambition, selt-in-
terest and enterprise guarantee their
/ success. When they prosper the indi-
viduaI owners reap the advantage.
When they decline or fail il is the own
ers who suffer However il may be IN
the higher walks Of life, in productive
industry at any rate men do their best
only when they enjoy the fruits OF their
Iabors and suffer the consequences Of
their neglect.
The socialists defy this law of human
nature. They divest men Of response
hilitv for their own affairs; they turn
millions of farms and factories over 10
the state. The undertaking is so i'm
mense that If the Washington govern
ment were composed, not OF average
men. as it is, but of the ablest men the
human race has ever produced, the task
would overcome their powers and par
alvze their endeavors. The theorists
who propose such revolution in the
name OF reform are strangely blind to It's
far-reaching sweep and magnitude. 1t
requires a great effort of Imagination
even TO realize the value of the enor-
nous annual volume OF our products. IN
the census year of 1910 it is estimated
that our farms and factories and fish,
| -..s..nu r,rodncnd rorn odifiar 4 4