Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-22
BOOK REVIEWS.


nile. to the state. BY John Spargo,
author of Socialism: A Summary
Interpretation Of Socialistic Princi-
pies" etc New York: b. W. Huebsch.
~HE socialists have only them
selves to hold to account for
a maze of popular misappre-
hension and distruct Of their
social and political intent.
Long before they themselves had learn
cd so much as even the bare theoretic
lessons OF socialism, long before they
had ripened to the task of teaching,
they became missioners and propa-
gandists. One by one. in proportion to
zeal coupled with gift of words, they
passed on an ever increasing bewilder-
ment of crude and contradictory no
tions of the subject. Features OBJ
noxious to society. as IT is established.
measures revolving to an acquired
social habit, Haunted or were said to
fiaunt. from this tree of reform. either
as growths from its roots or as sue
cessful graftings upon its boughs. And
a scandalized majority would have
none of it. What of private property
under socialism? What of personal
liberty: OF the family? OF religion?
OF remuneration of labor and the spe-
cial opportunity for genius and initia-
tive? Only when this complex of mis-
chief was well afoot We're socialists
themselves sufficiently Schooled in So
cialism 10 take on the important task
of setting il straight, of making it
tally on all sides with a world that
IN achievement and outlook, has moved
hundreds of years beyond the condi-
ton in which Marx and EngelS
wrought By way of socialistic fam
lily conclave-a disputatious and wrang-
ling conclave-with adjustment and
adaptability the aim on one hand, and
on the other a rigid adherence to pure
Marxism, the air surrounding socialism
cleared amazingly. Thousands now,
even outside its own ranks, can see
the logic of its growth, the path of its
movements where hitherto they could
make no more of 1t than dream of
Utopian nonsense. or baleful threat
of political chaos. John Spargo is the
ideal primary teacher of socialism, and
a widely diffused elementary education
is the immediate need Of the socialist
party. Mr.. Spargo has come out on
The far side of a long study of this
subject with a clearly organized body
of socialistic thought What Is even
more to the point this is expertly
GRADED to the different orders of popu-
lar comprehension. Adept III the art
of illustration, and as open as day in
the use of words, Mr.. Spargo here I'M
covers the spirit of socialism working,
guises. through the fabric of our eco
nomic life out into the full body of So
cialistic theory and practice. In this
eminently practical study the author
underbrush. He also answers clearly
the common list of questions belonging
TO this subject. He, moreover, actu-
ally builds socialistic commonwealth,
which he fits with a nearer approach to
working program than has yet come
10 the surface.
SOCIALISM As 1T Is: A Survey Of the
Worldwide Revolutionary Move
ment. BY William English Wallfng.
New York: The Macmillan Com
pany.
The excellent value of Mr.. Wallings
study is expressed in it's title. Too
much has been put out about what So
cialism hopes to be, or ought to be. or
was I'm the day of Karl Marx. This is
an Interpretation of organized social
ism as it is now manifesting itself in a
world wide many-sided movement On
the inside of the organization, the au-
thor sets clear the agents of socialism,
reform and revolution. These. one or
the other. shape its plans and define its
politics. The former objectifies in the
"reformism" of the United States,
France. Italy. Belgium and in the Ia
horism" of England. The latter, an
this author. embodies in La Sales dec
laration that true political power will
have 10 be fought for and cannot be
bought" Under socialism in action"
the author describes and paints the
present meaning of the various aspects
of the sureme class struggle. He
closes with an interesting and consiS-
tent plan for the transition to social
vey of our present capitalistic form of
society. This is made both by way
of definition and warning. The stamp
Of the social whole today is reform.
Much of IT looks like socialism. Much
IF il is socialism-not yet, but in the
making. And herein lies the warning.
Socialism cannot be destroyed. 1t may.
however, be hindered by proletariat,
deceived by the reforming overtures Of
capitalism and compliant to these.
Here in sharp definition. the author
differentiateS socialism in It's OBJECT
and essence from the entanglements of
a capitalistic society fronting upon
numerous and varied plans Of reform.
Comprehensive. cotempomneouS, direct
in exposition. consistent In interpreta-
ton. this study stands as one of first
rank to the student of socialism in its
present stage.
SOCIALISM AND THE GREAT STATE:
Essays In Construction. BY H. G.
Wells. Frances Evelyn Warwick.
Herbert Trench and sthers New
York: Harper & Brothers.
III. G.. Wells. Lady Warwick, G. r.
Stirling Taylor Cicely Hamilton, <.
G. b. and f. r. C. S. with others of
title and achievement. come together
here in a group Of essays. These. in
effect. are a conversation, character
lied by the loose unity that marks any
meeting of personalities bound by SINH
lar aims and related efforts. This
meeting is for the sake Of restating,
from a purely constructive standpoint,
the attitude of each OF these writer's
toward some single aspect Of the
change that is coming over the struc-
ture OF society. THE Ireat State" the
goal of these converging movements,
is. therefore. outlined by these dis
tinguished authors in its various re-
latfonS TO society-irst, to its own
past. then TO law and democracy, to
labor. to woman. TO health, to learning