Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-21
The Purpose and Program
of Political Socialism

4 VI
tBy Rev. Marion D. shutter, D. d.,
apolis, Mini
How many have formed any clear
U Idea as to what Socialism really
Is, and what it proposes to do? It
may be that We want Socialism, that
we want the changes it will bring
about. Very good:Sbut let US at least
try to understand 1t. Then IL we want
1t, let us>say so intelligently. II we
find that we do not want it. lot us say
30 intelligently and decisively.
The Real Definition.
Setting aside the philosophical and
sentimental phase Of Socialism, we
may define the real thing to be a
movement for the overthrow Of the
present political order. for the pur-
pose of replacing it by what Is. called
the Cooperative Commonwealth, in
which land and all the means Of pro-
ducing and distributing wealth, shall
be owned and administered by indus
plish this, the first object of Socialism
fs to capture the existing machinery
Of government. This is Socialism as
the party platforms describe 1t. For
Socialism today Is more than an eco
>nomic theory or a pious idea;--it is a
political party and must be dealt with
as a political party.
1. The national platform Of 1912,
upon which Mi. DebsranAfor the pres
idency says: Such measures Of re-
lief as we may be able to force from
capitalism are but a preparation Of
the workers to seize the whole pow
ers of government. in order that they
may thereby lay hold Of the whole
system-of socialized industry and thus
come, to their rightful Inheritance"
What concerns us Just now is the
avowed intention of Selling the whole
powers of government to introduce, a
new social and. Industrial order. This
is confirmed by the national platform
of 1916, which declares that it is the
aim of the Socialist party to reorgan-
lie the life of the nation upon the ba-
sis Of Socialism. This is further con-
ffrmed by the congressional platform
Of 1913. in which. under, the pretext
of preserving the peace Of the world,
the workers Of the world are, urged
ITO seek continuously and aggressive
~ to secure control of their respective
governmental"
The Socialist platform of Minnesota,
for the year 1912. declares that the
political organization and movement
Of Socialism aims to establish the
collective. and public ownership Of the
means Of production, transportation,
and distribution, the democratic 'oper-
alton and management of such public
enterprises, and the remuneration of
the workers by the full social value
Of the product OF their labor"
Democrats aid Republicans strive
for the control of the government, not
that they may overturn 1t. or use 1t
for purposes that its founders never
intended: but avowedly, at least, that
they may give u wise and Just admin
istration, reform abuses. and guide the
destinies of the people. Their differ
ences are largely differences Of policy.
But the Socialist party is the only
party which asks to be put in control
that they nay wreck it. I say this
~advisedly; for the Cooperative
Commonwealth is something entirely
different from the representative re-
public. 1t is something entirely diff
ferent from nNn a puro democracy.
True Socialism, SAYS MI. Macy in
has Socialism in America. lis anti-gov-
rrnmcntal, anti-patriotic. anti nation
alist, and anti-militarist.. At bottom,
these ants are one and the same
thing; they cannot be separated from
each other or from essential Social
ism. The most eminent Socialists of
the last century were 'avowed enemies
of the state"
These quotations>show how the So.
cialist feels about the state-any state
or country. He has no love for it,
no patriotism. To him the Interna-
tional Brotherhood with it's red flag,
Stars and Stripes. Above this banner
he puts the red flag. His supreme
allegiance is to the Socialists Of the
world,.the ultimate aim for. which he
works and votes is to destroy the re-
public which has given MIN the rights
OF a man and q field for their exer-
else; and to build upon its ruins an
underlined something of Socialists, for
Socialists and by Socialists. 1 say this
false light; I say it because they say
It, because they proclaim it in their
platforms and glory in their proc
lamation. When the Socialist gains
possession of the machinery Of gov
eminent that he may wreck 1t. or
change 1t for the benefit OF himself
and his class or party, he reaches the
ummit Of political and industrial vir-
The first steb is to change the gov
eminent itself from a REPRESENTATIVES
republic into a Socialist democracy.
The national platform Of 1915 calls
for the abolition of the United States
senate and the veto power of the pres
ident, and for the adoption of the in
itiative, referendum and recall. ma
stionally as well as locally. In other
words. all power Of LEGISLATION is to
be vested directly in the mass OF the
r~esentatixe government r~enafninr
would b SubiAck tn rocou r,,or ~