The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1912-01-25
Socialism

In serving, as nearly as il can,
all the people within its reach, this
paper. when opportunity and oc-
caSion arises, makes a practice Of
printing articles ON any subject il
deems Of interest TO any consider
able body Of lis readers. In This
capacity as dissemination of theo-
rics and ideas il has frequently, for
example, printed articles on Social
ism. Sometimes these have been
scholarly discussions, and some
times not--but they gave the views
of individuals on the subject as was
the purpose.
Having thus al times given space
TO this subject, Socialism, it IS
pleasing al this time to give a con-
siderable portion Of an article by
Charles Edward Russell, SOC laliss
candidate for governor Of New York
in 1910 and an eminent author, the
article in question being on So
cialism: Just Where 1t Stands To-
day. and published in the Hamp-
ton Columbian Magazine Of the
current month. After telling of the
great advance in recent years OF the
doctrine. the writer takes up the
subject with view to clearing up
the clouds Of misunderstanding and
showing what Socialism is, as seen
by the best thinkers certainly the
Kind of Socialism that, in strong
contrast with some of the violent
and ignorant ideas taught by vio-
lent and ignorant men-must have
an abiding influence on the world.
Following are the words of Mr..
RUSSELL
Socialism Religion.
10 these men and women Social
ism does not mean political party
organized to win elections and to
secure Offices. Socialism is to them
a religion.
They look out upon world in
which three persons III four dwell
az best in insuiIiciency, at worst IN
misery, squaor and intellectual
darkness. They know that this con-
dition is absolutely necessary. They
are perfectly certain that Socialism
is the only power that will abolish
il and give the majority of man
kind a chance to live and be decent
Therefore, they look upon then
propaganda as the practical saliva
tion of the world and comparing
what life in the mass really is with
what il might be under normal cone
ditions. they see that no sacrifice Is
too great for a cause 50 noble.
They say that the fruits Of lle
earth are sufficient for the chill
dren of the earth, that the earth
produces in abundance everything
needful or useful for the complei-
est life of man.
What the Socialists Believe mt
Purpose.
To their minds the reason VIII,
The majority of the children Of tn,
earth do not have enough If tn,
essentials of comfortable life is TN,
present system Of productions enc
distribution by which few get fal
more than they can consume ans
the majority get far less than they
need.
The proposal of the Socialists i
to so transform this system Of pro
duction and distribution that al
the children of earth may have ;
sufilciency Of all they need. on,
that knowledge. culture and tDpor
tunity shall no longer be the ex.
elusive possession Of few but Tn
common possession of all.
They say that at present. ant
solely because of the existing Sys
tenn. the vast majority of the chill
dren born daily into this world ar
lif they survived doomed 10 ike
OF drudgery, insullciency an'
darkness, and they say that Vii
fact is more important 70 manoin,
than any other in the world
Thaxy pifa fhn strape anl r,np