United labor bulletin., 1912-01-11
WHAT is SOCIALISM?
FRENCH GIVES ANSWER.
CONTINUED from Page ~


is the conservation of energy by the CO
ordination of effort and need, as opposed
to production in competition or for mere
profit.
Socialism is common sense and COM
mon decency. 1t recognizes that the pro-
ducer is superior to the thing produced,
that the creator owns the creation, and
that lin the words of the great Lincoln)
capital is only the fruit of labor" 1t
is thought, not blind belief; for it denies
that property, commodity, material
wealth, is the foundation of national or
individual welfare, and questions the
world-old theory, that the right-to-have
is the basis of equity of true social
science. 1t is a fact, not fancy, for 1t
is based upon the eternal truths that
the whole is greater than any of its
parts, that the greatest good to all is OF
more Importance than the selfish ag-
grandizement of the few, and that
strength lies in unity, not in division.
1t is human nature blossoming under
rational environment. 1t is the garden
of humanity where every young shoot
is given equal right to sun and soil and
rain. and where all growing things are
protected from the cutworm of COM
merce and the blight of the fungus greed.
Socialism is community of interest
for the community, not for few gentle
n-bythe-grace-of-gold 1t is the final
universal corporation of labor, the in
dissoluble union of the brain and Drawn
of the body polite, the head in partner
ship with the hand. 1t is the solution
of the problem of production and the
answer to the question of distribution
Socialism is the philosophy of the
right of enjoyment for all. 1t is the in
heritance by humankind of its birthright
in force and matter, its vested in
terests" in the earth and the fullness
thereof"
Socialism is a trust "of the people,
for the people, and by the people,"
trust whose unwatered stock will be the
united labor of united states; a trust
which will produce enough for the pro-
ducers and for neighboring people in
need; a trust whose policy will be hon.
esty, whose wages will be the normal
/ earnings of the copartnership of indus
try and intelligence. whose hours of toll
will be the shortest compatible with do
ing the needful work of the community;
trust which will neither rob nor de-
ceive producers or consumers; a trust
of open doors and open books. a trust
amenable to the laws of the land. not
skulking under class-made legislation;
trust managed by women and men of
the highest integrity, not grated by
gamblers, promoters and wreckers;
| trust not at the mercy of a self-seeking,
greedy and INSCRIPTIONS clique of bank
ers, brokers and underwriters; trust
not affected by initiation. depreciation,
| liquidation and spoliation: a trust
backed by the credit of nations; a trust
| without lobbies, bribery. corporate coun-
sci, or the corrupting influence of a
stock market, and without oily saints,
| anthracite angels. insurance philanthro-
pists. packers of poison. kings of grand
larceny. or million-dollar presidents; a
| trust managed for the benefit of the pub
| lie. not for mere capital; trust with
malice toward none, with charity for
ALL" a trust TO insure life, liberty and
/ pursuit OF happiness" to every child and
adult: trust which will take, in yolun-
| tary, self-chosen. joyous labor. from
each according to ability" and will give
Ito each according to need" a trust
which will guarantee to every one the
right TO work and play, to think and to
be free. with abundant leisure for the
highest individual development. a trust
whose officers viii be the servants OF
the people, subject to the peoples will.
and paid by law; and trust that will
make OF this weary, toil-wrung, poverty
stricken old world. fit habitation for
human beings too long cheated. of their
rightful heritage of justice, happiness
and comradeship.
Socialism is collective ownership and
operation, for use, not profit, of all nat
ural and artificial opportunities that are
inherently monopolistic in character. or
that are in any sense public utilities. 1t
is the common. democratic management
of the great instruments of production,
distribution. exchange, and communica-
/ tion through public service corporations,
| belonging to the people, administered
by their directly chosen servants (whose
salaries, promotions and tenure of Office
will be fixed by law, not by themselves).
safeguarded by direct legislation and
proportional representation, and further
secured from financial. political or bu-
reaucradc corruption by the initiative,
referendum, sovereign recall and impera-
tive mandate. 1t Is government by the
Will, direction and command of the
whole people of the peoples servants in
the national household. These servants
will be removable at the pleasure of the
public; they will serve the state. not
rule it; and their highest duty shall be
, obedience to the mandate of the COM
monwealth. II is the government of the
representatives. the agents, the mouth
pieces of a united people by the master
that employs them, not the rule by
elected, appointed. or self-constituted eN-
ecutives. legislatures. judiciaries. or bu-
reaucrats irresponsible. irresponsible,
and clothed with dangerous power) OF
the citizens of n free state. II is gov
ernment of the few necessary servitors
in each nations house by the house
holder. not the subsection of the own
ers and employers to the dictation and
coercion of the hired domestics. 1t is
the protection of all citizens against the
tyranny of the minority of power and
wealth; and II is the protection of the
minority in their rights to life liberty,