Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-20
Socialism Bankrupt

THE American people should give Studious
i attention TO tho observations which Her
bert Hoover made shortly after his return
10 this country when he declared that social
ism a philosophy Of human application
has proven itself to be a fallacy: that il has
fallen OF its weight wherever put into
practical operation and that IL is perhaps
fortunate for the world after all. that this
experiment has now been made and that the
results have been clearly manifest.
Mr.. Hoover has cited primarily the case
of Russia. where the most rampant OF all
radicasm in the world today holds a nation
of more than i50. 900 goo people in its grip.
In that country under the guidance Of bencvo-
lent sovietiSn. that great country is now IN
a state OF economic collapse. Its productive
power has been reduced TO a minimum. Mil
lions Of mon. women and children are fac
ing famine conditions. There is not city
or town in the land that has not run red
with tho blood OF executions.
This has come To pass during the TWO
years that the Boishevist nladmcn have di-
rcctcd the affairs OF the old empire, Mr.
Hoover says. Even under the old regime
he reminds the country, when a monarchica
tyranny existed and when all Russians eX-
cept the ruling class were supposed TO be
under the heel of the opprossor production
went forward to such extent that Russia
exported more foodstuffs than tho United
States. Now that country is upon a sturva-
tion basis.
But tho Russian experience is not the only
circumstance cited BY Mr. Hoover He shows
that communism lasted scarcely three months
in Hungary: that ii rose TO control and
thrlved just long enough for the sane men
and women of tho nation TO see that it led
straight 10 national suicide Even the trade
unions themselves he declared were among
the first 10 recognize the evils of the social
istic order and they united in an oyerwhelni-
hat .
Covernmcnt--be created.
Mr.. Hoover does not dwell upon the OK
pertinent which Germany is making with a
near sociaiistic government. Perhaps the
new order in that country is not 50 pro-
nouncedly communistic. in his mind, TO make
a study OF it OF value i'll reviewing the results
of socialism in other European countries II
is quite true. OF course. that the present
regime in Germany is more of democracy
ihan 1t is socialistic bureaucracy. The
ultra-radicals in Germany have never gained
the ascendancy and bitter internal strife has
been waged between the Social Democrats
and the Spartcists Bolshevist element.
The conclusions which Mr. Hoover mas
reached from a firsrhand and intimate study
OF political and economic conditions I'm
Europe must have their weight in this coull-
Try where an increasing demand is being
voiced for tho standardization" OF basic in
dustries; where labor unions arc clamoring
tor participation IN business upon which they
I'VE and where there is spreading propa-
Fanda Tor type Of socialization which
threatens American institutions
ms witness is not a mere agitator He
Ia not an inexperienced amateur in economies.
ne Is perhaps the most thoroughly equipped
man in the United States 10 arrive N y fair
ana faithful judgment as 10 the failure OF
socialism in Europe And when he declares
! nat TINS idealistic and altruistic system has
become bankrupt his views must be received
with full respect