Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-26
SOCIALISM IS
AGAINST FORMS
OF GOVERNMENT
DR.. MD. Shutter Condemns
Principles of Socialistic
Party.

Before an audience which filled the
court room Of the county court house
last evening, DR.. Marion D. Shutter,
D.. D., pastor Of the Church Of The
Redeemer Of Minneapolis, exposed
the dangers Of the socialistic program
and pointed out the inevitable effect
of these principles upon the economi-
cal, social and Industrial welfare of
,i.tbe natjo4k. The speaker used as the
basis of his lecture the state and ma
tional platform of the socialistic par
ty during past years.
DR.. Shutter was in Grand Forks
undSr the auspices Of the North Da-
kota Standard of Lisbon. N. D., and
W. J. Arnold Of that city presided at
the meeting and introduced the
speaker. Many men, the speaker dea
clared, made the mistake of follow
ing the modified form Of socialism,
Hnpt realizing the real danger that
threatens with the development Of
strength.
The speaker said in part:
How many have formed, any
clear-cut idea as to what socialism
really is and what it proposes to do?
1t may be that we want socialism and
the changes it will bring about but let
us at least try to understand it. Then
if we want it. let us say so intelligent
ly and IL we find that we do not want
it, let us say SO intelligently and de-
| ecisivela. \.
The Real Definition.
Setting aside the philosophical and
sentimental phases Of socialism,, we
may define the real thing to be a
movement for the overthrow Of the
present order, for the purpose of re-
operative commonwealth, in which
land and all the means Of producing
and distributing wealth, shall be
owned and administered in common
and in order to accomplish this. the
first object Of socialism is to capture
the exi5Eing machinery of govern
platforms describe it. For socialism
today is more than an economic
theory or a pious idea: 1t is a political
party n must be dealt with as a
political party"
Dx Shutter than quoted from the
natiSnal socialist platform Of 1912
upon which Mr.. Debs ran for the
presidency n the socialist platform
for the state Of Minnesota, proving
'1Dat it Was their aim. to overthrow
something" which even the leaders
II of that party did not understand. He
then continued:
Democrats and Republicans strive
TO: control of the government. not
that they may o%verturn it or use 1t Tor
purposes that it's founders never in
tended: but avowedly. at least. that
they maye give a wise and just ad-
ministration, reform abuses, and
guide the destinies OF the people.
Their differences are largely differ
ences of policy. Selfishness and graft,
may often interfere. But the So
cialist is the only party which asks to
She put irecontrol of the machinery OF
government that they may wreck it.
d. I say this advisedly; for the Co-operx
ative Commonwealth is something
sentative Republic. 1t is something
entirely different from even a pure
democracy. They declare: Under
Socialism we workers will not be SUBJ
jects of any state or union, but we
will be citizens, free citizens, in the
industries in which we are employed
More than that, under Socialism, we
today, nor legislature. nor parlia:
ments, nor councils of municipal
tiles" True Socialism," says Mr..
Macy in his Socialism in America.
"Is anti-governmental, anti-patriotic,
tanti-natiQ1alist, n anti-militarist
At bottom, these 'antis' are n and
the same thing; they can not be
separated from each other or from
essential Socialism,. The most emf
nent Socialists of the last century
were avowed enemies of the state.
hes quotations show how the
Socialist feels about the state-about
any state or country. He has nc love
for It. no patriotism. To him the In
te.national Brotherhood with its red
flatg means more than America, with
its stars and stripes. Above this ban.
her he puts the red flag. His su.
Aprene allegiance is to the Socialist OF
the world, the ultimate aim for which
he works votes is to destroy the