The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-07
81 Am Not a Socialist
How Do You Know? Perhaps You Really ARE
Socialism, Various Ways.

Mr.. Clinton Collins sends in pamphlet and II am
not Socialist because Socialism would compel the sacce
of intellectual independence forfeiture of character and
abandonment of really laudable ambition
To this and other gentlemen say that you may be
Socialist or less without knowing it.
Do yon great park maintained and PAID Tor by
taxes on all the people? That is Socialism
Do you belong to club that costs much more than
you could possibly afford to pay Individual one that
put within your reach because thousands help to
the bill? That is Socialism
Do you cross the ocean-when you do erosion your
private yacht do you go great ship finer than
the yacht of any king and travel at fair price because
many use it? That is Socialism.
Have you children in public schools educated at public
expense books supplied at public expense, medical exam
nations paid for by the public? Gould you think OF any
real Socialism than that?
Do you live in city that owns its own supply and
that will its street railroads? Do you live In
nation that has taken control of railroads away from the
socaed owners of those national veins and arteries7
That is Socialism and Socialism with vengeance
In each generation a majority look with horror on
Socialism, and say eve are not Socialists.
Yet each generation and each individual is sociastc
compared with those that went before.
President of the United States early in the last
fury, complained bitterly in public speech because he
couldn't hire frstass American workman for less than
500 per year.
He would look upon this age with its comparatively high
and its labor unions made legal not as mere Socialism
but as rank anarchy
former governor of Virginia publicly thanked God
that there public school in his State and prayed
that there might not be for many centuries to come
What would he say about modern schools and Socialism?
The Socialist when he really Is Socialist and not
merely incompetent jealous of somebody elses more
fortunate condition. is who believes that it is possibe
to improve human society," and thinks the task should be
undertaken systematically.
He may be wrong to the immediate possibilities he
usually is.
Darius Green of the U. S. A., was wrong when he
thought he could fly And Daedalus probably broke his
neck eventually after he few out of the labyrinth But
now people fly and don't break their necks.
Socialists are like little boys that want to be pirates or
have whiskers. They want to do too much too soon.
You cannot be pirate or have whiskers when you are
eight years old
You cannot have ideal society," with unselfshness
generosity for ALL while society made up of selfish savage
You cannot have the ideal commonwealth today, for
today you gave SIS apiece to every in the country
ninety nine out of hundred would do work And
you gave $4,000 to each of 100 Socialists there would
be perhaps two Socialists left
because you can't do it TODAY it is not safe say
that you will never do it.
Once each savage wanted fifty wives-now is some
times than he really cares for.
Once every ruler bishop and Lord of the Manor Eng
land demanded the right to have his private gaows and
hang criminals including little thieves Now nobody would
hang another unless compelled to do so by law.
Today the great Americans want to own hundreds
of thousands of millions and keep eshly for themselves
what their brothers need. The day will when they
won't want this.
We are all Socialists without knowing it. For all
trying make social conditions better-and making
them better