Imperial Valley press., 1913-04-21
BY STRAW MAN

II Is really an absurd situation
that is presented in Los Angeles with
all the several factions alarmed into
uniting against aggresSiv" Socialism,"
1t would appear that this word. and
not the intangible idea il represents.
has struck terror into human hearts.
But the fact Of the ease i that
socialism has no prospect If gaining
0oWer except through winning the
support of majority of the American
people. and when that majority shall
nave endorsed socialism. still il can hr
depended On for the sanity with which
il always has met public issues
The fact i that the world ie seek
lng a proper balance between tlIr
activity ~ ORGANIZED government and
the activity of tn" individual DlIrin.
recent years. in seeking that proper
talanr". progress has been i'll fhr Nj
region nf socialism. ana thi> lnlrnd
does not for moment doubt that
further progress Will b" made in that
same direction. and il believes such
progress should hc made.
/, Is great many centuries Since
Plato wrote his ''NrW Nlaut~." Il Il
several centuries since Thomas More
wrote Il t"pIa. amd il i quite mum
Der If years sine" Edward Belamy
Wrote Hooking Backward" Each Of
these books mad" great impression
influence mankind has Wri@hrh each
succeeding ISSUE with lIr balance Of
T.. f"''"IrN- Jnd has not yet gone elias
II after theory. liuNrNcr hrauiful.
nat IS - il Will M in ihr future"
aud In" Pres. can ~rp no menace ~
~'ie republic in tI" fact that o"riai-lir
meas are maxim" progress. and -XIrrrl
i'f'in I" c"htlnu" +" progress until the
sunght-fuF balance il attained.
l.,t IA ,,I.4
HiInlid succeed in preventing cunerry
atty" progress along This line. the
Socialist F1rty would in time come into
Jj0T'~r. But th9t. rrdhlniy. will not hr
1syue, CONCESSIONS Will continue ~ ~
-uddH III harmony viii. the new ideals
u the American people. ana "" Wlll
gradually approach that point of "Iui-
ihriun between the stat" and tfr
Individual Which IlIr Wi-"-t men ARE
seeking.
ID tli> connection. there has
,leVriuprd f"atur" which would hn
humorous If it We're not uf 80 serious
a nature. The national organ of the
Socialists. the Appeal to Reason. had
trouble with ia" po~tofficc department
and now the pustoffire Inspector who
performed the d"t"ctiV" work in The
case has made an affidavit which makes |
Il appear that the puStuflice department |
was seeking I" suppress tIr pap''
because Of its sociali-tic prup1=Imrn I
and tn" most serious charges are (
brought to bear against the department. !
1t happens that the postoffirr depart !
Inent is the on" branch of government |
n which Socialistic ideas are most |
closely approached. ana ii seems the |
irony Of fate that the Socialists should !
find 50 great shOrtcumin" in the one
s0clallstic branch of government. Pos
slDly TINS may suggest to the Socialists |
The thought that, after all. there is |
and Will continue tn be difference |
between ideals ana actualitirs
Lord MacaulrY. comparing Plato and |
Bacon. rontrastcd tn" beauties of |
Plato's ideals and the efficacy Of |
BacOn's ideas. It might he better for |
Los Angeles ana other cities if there
was more Of blending Of the idea, !
of the indiVidualists and tie ideals of Fl!
The Socialists
Meanwhile it is foolish for practical
people to BE- frightened by a straw man |
standing in their path