Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-18
YOUNG AST0R
IN ANSWER
To SINCLAIR
DEN0UNCES.
SOCIALIST
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-
tivites and Quotes Labor Heads
as to the improved Conditions
Existing Under Present System

NEW YORK, Jan. T.-Upton Sin
clair lrrote an open letter to Vincent
Aston last tceeb. He pointed out the
bad social tendencies Of the times,
and asked young Mr.. Aston to use his
rast fortune to aid Socialism as q
cure for prevalent miseries.
Mr.. ASfor g,Ues his reply, ,ohich he
has mailed 10 Mr.. Sinclair:
Dear Sir:
Your open letter of December 20,
received which | have read with in
terest. This is the first opportunity
have had to reply.
You call my attention to a COM
p.lation 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 you hope these evil conditions
may be remedied.
Replying. / write TO say THAT |
am. fortunately, associated with vac
rious organizations which are inter
ested 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
chiefs Of the railway brotherhoods,
whose lives and energies are devoted
10 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 l 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 | have met
accepts your philosophy as cure
FOR the evils which we all recognize
and deplore On the contrary, they
reject as fallacious and impracticable
The program of the Socialistic Party,
IN whose interest you speak.
Reviews Socialist Policy.
This program, boiled down, as l
gather il from the socialistic papers,
magazines and books that | have had
opportunity to read, is contained in
nutshell in a statement of a recog-
| TZe0 lp4ITr Of he ict ri "
Nr. Morris Hillquit, to wit:
Stated in more concrete terms, the
"caUstic program requires the pub
lie or collective ownership and oper-
suon Of the principal instruments
ana agencies for the production and
distribution Of wealth-the land,
MINES railroads, steamboats,, tele-
Eaph and telephone lines, mills, fac
"rIes and modern machinery.
IhS is the main program and
"e Ultimate aim of the whole social
Ns'c movement and the political creed
all Socialists. 1t is the unfailing
vest OF Socialist adherence, and ad-
mis- Of no limitation, extension or
'ar!atIon. Whoever accepts this
program is a Socialist, whoever does
not is not
DUTY of the Individual.
As the result of my association
"." the representative labor men
s'sfFed TO- I am fully convinced that
we serious evils which have attend
our Industrial development can
anu Will be in time eradicated
"@out overturning the fundamental
S upon which our government
social fabric are founded.
!" saying this, am not unmindful
e'e TACT that far too many evil
buttons exist, that there are great
es TO be righted, and that it is
uuly Of every man who has the
"'efest Of his country at heart to
"'at he properly can to establish
-, maintain Industrial and social
righteousness
-. '''''e from my necessarily limited
&, ''''eilce' ] do not have the fullest
"'auon and therefore do not pre-
., - 10 speak with authority. ! am
10 dissent from many of your
'S'ohS, especially that the con-
"i the working people are
ID on Pane 2. Column e.