Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1917-02-22
MODERN TENDENCIES
TOWARD SOCIALISM
Prof. A. A. Upham of Whitewater
Addresses Members and Friends
of Fortnightly Club

Modern Tendencies Toward So
cialism" was the subject Of an ad-
dress by Professor A A. Upham Of
Whitewater before the members and
friends Of the Fortnightly Literary
club ON Saturday e ening at the home
of Mr.. and Mrs H e. Cole. A num-
Der Of former pupils Of the speaker
were present to renew acquaintances
and to hear the address. While in the
city Mr.. Upham was a guest at the
home of his son-in-1aw and daughter,
Lieutenant Governor and Mrs. e. F.
Dithmar. The speaker made it plain
that he was not a socialist, but that
he believed in the modern tendencies
Of that element in our civilization.
His address was filled with tickling
thrusts for the newspaper folk, the
farmer, the apple grower, the coal
combine and other lines Of business.
Defines Socialism
Mr. Upham defined socialism as fol-
lows:
Socialism is political and eco
nomic Of social reorganization,
the essential feature of which is
governmental control Of economic
activities, to the end that competi-
zion shall give way to co-opera-
ton and that the opportunities of
! life and the rewards of labor shall
be equitably apportioned.
He said he knew the above defini-
ton was correct because be obtained
1t from an unabridged dictionary.
(Laughter.) He also read from the
socialists platform as found in the
Wisconsin blue book, where the aims
and purposes are plainly stated.
The speaker declared that as soon
as a man had placed one hundred dol
lars in bank at interest that he was
a capitalist. He did not believe in
the division Of property, because If
all the property in the world were di-
vided equally today it would not re-
main so for any length Of time.
He found that socialism really be-
gan when the common people were
permitted to travel on the kings high
way. There was time when roads
were built for kings, but that era has
passed, roads now being for everyone.
That is a tendency toward socialism.
II there is still toll road or bridge,
it is not for the common good, but as
soon as the toll is removed, there is
a tendency toward the spirit found in
the definition.
The speaker pointed out other ten
denotes toward socialism in the pub
lie school system, in municipal water
systems in the post-office department,
in publicly owned lighting plants
public sidewalks, public defense, the
poor house, grain elevators, packing
houses and other industries owned
by the government.
He pointed out that o number OF
cities in Wisconsin with municipality
owned plants had cheaper lights than
where corporate or private ownership
existed.
Mr.. Upnam said that diminishing
coal piles in cellars with prices fixed
by combines, soaring, made for So
cialism. AS the government takes
control Of this and that, it means
tendency toward the goal fixed by
advocates of the doctrine. Whether
or not the ideal will ever be reached
is another question.
At the close Of the address many
asked questions. and additional state
ments were made. by the speaker and
others.
The next meeting Of the club will
be held at the home Of Attorney and
Mrs. e. Aug. Runge on FRIDAY even
ing of this week. Miss Christian
Wright. Miss Ethel 8. Horton and V.
9. Pease will discuss American Lit
erature of Today"