Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-18
He Replies to Writer'S Plea for
, Aid in the Cause, and Rejects
the Proposed Remedy for the
Social and Industrial Evils.
Cites His Own Sociological Ac-
tiyities and Quotes Labor Heads
as to the improved Conditions
Existing Under Present System.

iEW YORK. Jan. NJ ptOn Sin
clair prOtc an open letter TO Vincent
Aston Iasf rcet He pointed ont the
bad social tendencies Of the times,
ond asked BouHg NJ. Aston to use his
rost fortuAe to aid Socialism as a
I cure for prcrdient miseries.
w. ASfor Qlues his reply, rhich he
has mojcd to Mr.. Sinclair:
Dear Sir:
Your open letter of December 20,
received which ! have read with in
leresJ This is the first opportunity
I.have had to reply.
You call my attention to a com
ulation of social and industrial evils
and invite me to make study of
socialism. with a view to my lending
aid to the Socialist Party, through
which y0u hope these evil conditions
may be remedied.
Replying, | write to say that
am fortunately, associated with va
rious organizations which are inter-
eSled in the study of sociological
questions In one of these are many
Of the leading officers of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and the
| whose lives and energies are devoted
TO the study and to the solution of
The social and industrial problems to
which Your letter refers.
Il have had the benefit of their
experience and | believe myself
somewhat familiar with their views
and their general policies. 1t is not
oYerstating the matter to say that
not one of those members of the la
Dor organizations whom l have met
accepts your philosophy as a cure
Tor the evils which we all recognize
and deplore, On the contrary, they
reject as fallacious and impracticable
the program of the Socialistic Party,
VI whose interest you speak.
Reviews Socialist Policy.
This program, boiled down, as l
gather it from the socialistic papers,
magazines and books that | have had
opportunity to read. is contained in
nutshell in a statement of a recog-
hI1ed leader of the Socialist party,
VT. Norris EIillquit, to wit:
Stated in more concrete terms, the
SoG'dhsuc program requires the pub
'E or collective ownership and oper-
'"oh OF the principal instruments
ana agencies for the production and
"slIoutlon of wealth-the land,
"'nes railroads, steamboats,, tele-
s''pn and telephone lines, mills, fac
'oFles and modern machinery.
Inns Is the main program and
"e ultimate aim of the whole social
sue movement and the political creed
VI al Socialists. 1t is the unfailing
: 'ssl OF Socialist adherence, and ad-
'"''S OF no limitation, extension or
'"'auon Whoever accepts this
F''srdm is a Socialist, whoever does
bot is not
DUTY of the Individual.
rs the result of my association
'',' the representative labor men
'''''I7d to, | am fully convinced that
serious evils which have attend
our Industrial development can
0hu viii be in time eradicated
''"ou' oNerturning the fundamental
> upon which our government
social fabric are founded.
y" saying this, | am not unmindful
TACT that far too many evil
""hS exist, that there are great
10 be righted. and that it is
'''N Of every man who has the
e't of his country at heart to
what he properly can to establish
maintain Industrial and social
''aieousness.
'"e from my necessarily limited
''ehce, | do not have the fullest
nation and therefore do not pre-
s4 10 speak with authority, | am
Vo TO dissent from many of your
'0S''ns. especially that the. con-
'l the working people are
'ued on Pace 2. Column 6.