Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-05-29
the one on which the convention spent
the most time, relates to the farmer

the one on which the convention spent
the most time, relates to the farmer
question"
In recent years, many Socialists have
become convinced that the party cannot
succeed by appealing merely to the
working classes in the city. Two years
ago a report was presented to the So
cialist National Congress at Chicago,
which emphasized that Socialism could
not go on forever ignoring the interests
of the farmers, 1.-The largest single div
ision of the working Glass;" That re-
port recommended the exemption IF
farm buildings and stock from taxation
up to the amount Of one thousand dol
lars, and the imposition of graduated
tax or the value Of land, whether the
land were held for use or speculation.
1t was charged by '1eft"-wing revolu-
tionists that this proposal was false to
the MARKHAM principle; the report was
tabled, and me problem was put in The
hands of new committee with instruc-
lions to report in 1912.
The report now adopted points out
Every largely on the basis of Govern
ment statistics) that there has been
rapid concentration CT farm-ownersh;p
in the hands of small class Of pro-
prietors, and a corresponding vast in
crease Of renters and mOrtgagers N
farm communities. The recommends
tions put forward are more vague ana
less consistent than those embodied in
the 1910 report. In general, this modi-
icatiOn reflects the desire of the oppor-
tunist to avoid the charge of unortho-
doxy made by the revolutionaries; and
| it led to dissatisfaction among the "fac-
mer" delegates. . g..
The Socialist Party now comes before
the farmer with a complex program
which involves a number of contrary
principles: Taxation of uncultivated
farm land at it's full value. Retention
by the public of land now under public
title, and the requirement of "other
land by reclamation, purchase, conde n
nation, taxation, or otherwise" in order
that there may be established system
of socially operated farms for the con-
duct of collective agricultural enter
prises." Social ownership of the meats
| of transportation and storage, and of
the plants used in the manufacture of
farm products and farm machinery"
| This bulky program is dictated more
fully from the Socialist point of view
than that advocated in the 1910 report
The Socialist is bound to put capital
at the center of his philosophy. Other
wise the comrades" are likely to sus-
pect his orthodoxy.
| According to Marx, anything that can
be treated as an item of sale, on the
basis of income-bearing quality, can be
viewed as Capital In this, Marx diff
fered from the classical economists; but
he foreshadowed the tendency of pres
ent-day academic theorists, and he was
also at one with the businessman
point of view" The capitalistic logic
of Marx must be held constantly in mind
when studying the proposals of his fol-
lowers.
The Indianapolis convention of 1912
will be distinct landmark in the evo-
luton of American socialism.
Political socialism in the United
states has advanced in voting power by
leaps and bounds during the last TWEEN
ty years.. Starting out with a few thou
sand votes, it had 100000 votes at the
last Presidential election; and it expects
to poll a million or more votes in the
election of 1912.
AS the party energies more conspicu.
ously on the field Of political action, il
more and more takes on the character
of huge, amorphous mass, held to-
gether by the name Socialism" In or.
der to maintain party solidarity and the
fprestige of a united, mass organization
it finds itself under the necessity OF
compromising the problems of both
right" and left" wings. The left
wing is more and more influenced by
revolution. The right wing is more
and more affected by Singletax tenden.
cies. Neither faction can be satisfied
permanently with the indianapolis com
promises. ,.
| LOUIS WALLIS.