Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-06-06
be allowed to eat all the swill.

NC dl1oHeu W cdL ali Lu0 swirl.
This can be quite easily accomplish
ed by establishing a cooperative
commonwealth, in which all utilities
of public nature shall be owned
publicly, instead of by private capital.
lists, and in which every citizen shall
have equal opportunity with every
other one and every worker in every
useful occupation shall receive the full
value of his labor-a system under
which Stock-watering, monopoly and
hoggish selfishness, and the getting of
something for nothing by the big
swine will be prevented. 1t is not at
all necessary that hundred millions
of Americans shall become pious and
good, and pure unselfish angels, before
we establish decent system of indus
trialism and democratic government
in these United States.
The opponents of Socialism are
lamentably inconsistent and illogical.
At one time they say Socialism IS not
possible until all the people become
so good that they will have no desire
to exploit their fellow men. At an.
other time they say: Socialism Is
wrong because; if established, 1t will
take from people their incentive or
(selfsh) desire to amass private
wealth, which would destroy all civili-
cation, flor" say they, "selfshness is
the motive power or force essential
to all human ,endeaYor, although only
a few of the fttest' succeed, while
the millions are thereby forced into
poverty, squalor and slavery"
Now, these pessimistic standpatters
look backward for all wisdom. They
are timid souls, who must have au-
thority and presidents for every
thought they think and for everything
they. do. If they had lived in 1875,
they would have opposed, George
Washington and the Revolution. II
they had lived before 1860, they
WOAA0 uOfC NOAlCu0S0 LudL StdbC1J
was divine institution. Every good
institution in this civilization is CO.
operative or socialistic. To operate or
carry on any enterprise collectively
or comparatively is to do it socialis-
tically. There are but two methods
or systems Of industrialism and goy-
eminent. One is known as '.Indivi-
dualism," and includes monarchy,
theocracy, plutocracy-the right of
the few to govern and exploit the
many. The other is "Collectivism,"
which includes cooperation, demo
cracy and Socialism, or government OF
the people by the people themselves.
The prehistoric savage with his
stone Ratchet practiced pure indivi-
dualism. His hand was against all
others. He lived for self When he
joined neighboring savage to united !.
ly fight against ferocious beasts or
savage enemies, he took his first step
toward democracy and socialism. The
most perfected civilization is the
highest expression of ,collectivism or
socialism. Socialists are evolution
lists. They are not trying to make
perfect angels out of people, bat they
are trying to educate enough of them
in the principles of cooperation that
they will vote to take the trusts and
other utilities of a public nature out
Of the hands of greedy mOnopolists,
and put them into the ownership and
control Of the public. They further
advocate the establishment Of an in
dustrial and political democracy in
which the majority shall rule. There
will be courts and jails and penalties
for violators of law, and teachers and
leaders, and men in authority, in the
socialist government, but that govern
ment will be a democracy in which the
people, acting by majorities through
direct legislation, or the initiative; re-
ferendum and recall, will be their own
masters-their own employers-their
own bosses.
Let us be done with the untrue, the
often refuted, and shallow objection
that Socialism proposes some vision'
airy, unattainable condition OF society.
They say civilization has arrived a.
the threshold of a ne% cycle or era;
that less individualism and more col
lectivism is necessary; that truss
should not be crushed, but owned and
operated by and for all the people col
lectively. Their rallying cry Is: Let