The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-11-01
THE FALLACIEs OF SOCIALISM
SUMMARY OF AN ADDRESS DE-
LIVERED BY PETER w. COLLINS
AT THE X. OF C. HALL ON MON
DAY EVENING, OCTOBER 81.

DAY EVENING, OCTOBER 81.
The Minnesota State Council of the
Knights of Columbus has secured the
services of Mr.. Peter w. Collins, oil
Boston, to deliver lecture on some
phase of Socialism before the mem
bers of the different councils of the
order in this state. This is a com
mendable move, the first fruits of the
lecture bureau organized and financed
at the State Council held in st. Paul
last May
No better choice of a lecturer could
have been made. Mr.. Collins has de
voted years to thorough study OF
Socialism, especially in it's relation to
trade unionism. He has witnessed
the baneful results that follow the in.
PRODUCTION of the virus of Socialistic
principles into trade unions of all
kinds. He is of the working class
himself and knows the ideals and
aspirations of the toiler. For some
years he has devoted his whole time
to combating the insidious intrusion
of Socialism into the ranks of the
toiling masses.
His address last Monday night was
a clear, concise and practical exposi-
ton of the fallacies of Socialism as
they affect the working man. He said
in part:
Socialism may be studied from two
different standpoints, namely, the
academic and the practical. Academic
Socialism clothes itself in the lam
guage of the schools, a language not
understood by the average working
man. The high-sounding phraseology
in which the doctrines of Socialism
are enshrouded, serves to hide it's
real meaning from the laboring class
es who are often caught by glittering
generalities of whose true meaning
they are ignorant. They do not grasp
the meaning of such a catchy phrase
as, for instance, 'the materialistic
conception of history until they are
given to understand that this means
sonal God and His influence in human
affairs. When the academic exposi-
ton of Socialism is translated into the
language of everyday, practical life
there are few working people who do
not fail to repudiate it's basic doctrines
as enunciated by such leaders as
Marx, Engels, Bebel, Lasalle, Deville,
Bax, Jaures, Blatchford and others.
Socialism makes no legitimate ap-
peal to the working man. 1t is not a
working mans movement It's foun-
ders were not of the working class
and it's present leaders are not of the
masses. Such a movement as So
cialism could not come from the work
ing man for he is inherently religious,
while Socialism SCOTS at religion and
regards it as a superstitious delusion
of weak minds
From an economic standpoint So
cialism never did and never can put
penny in the working mans pay
envelope. 1t has nothing in common
with his ideals and aspirations. 1t is
not constructive movement but de-
structive in the fullest sense of the
word, destructive of religion and of
society.
Why, then, the efforts made by it's
founders to propagate it's principles
in the labor world? For the express
purpose of fostering among working
men an illegitimate discomfort with
their surroundings and conditions by
striving to arouse class hatred be-
tween them and their employers. This
class struggle does not naturally exist
between capital and labor, but is man
ufactured by soap-box orators who
prey upon the passions of greed and
envy which they arouse in the breasts
of their hearers.
Socialism is the greatest menace to
Trade Unionism which exists today.
Trade Unionism is the only lever in
the hands of the working man that
can enable him to better his condi-
ton. 1t is a constructive movement
for the remedying of unsatisfactory
conditions in the labor world. So
cialism has nothing in common with
trade unionism yet it tries to get a
foothold in the labor unions and often
succeeds because of the apathy of
their members who allow Socialists
to get control without realizing how
detrimental their teachings are to the
real welfare of the laboring class.
This Socialistic elementgin the labor
unions is responsible for the upright
eous strikes which have caused so
much distress and financial loss to the
laborers and which are utilized by
Socialists as means of fostering an
illegitimate discomfort among the la
boring classes.
In this and many other ways So
cialism shows its antagonism to the
best interests of the working man. It
is his duty. therefore, to prepare him
self for the combat by getting a better
grasp of the fundamental principles
underlying the Socialistic movement,
principles which are diametrically
opposed to his best interests. Once
the working man is made to realize
that Socialism is not in sympathy
with his aims and hopes, that it is
not a constructive movement which
can aid him in his efforts to better
his condition in life, that it stands
for avowed opposition to God, religion,
and patriotism, then, and not until