New-York tribune., 1920-06-14
Soviet Socialism
Government BY Group Nom The
Leaders Aim

LcddeTS 4Aln
10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Socialist party movement
in America, like the similar movements
IN at least several other countries, has
clearly demonstrated that it is a fraud.
lake, humbug, and has been so for
number of years. 1t is not run for
the purpose Of establishing truly
socalistic government in this country.
1t is run first and foremost for the
personal profit of its promoters. Sec
ondly, if these people should ever
have the opportunity to establish
government TO their own liking it will
be socialistic in name only.
Whether or not one believes in the
theory of purely socialistic govern
ment, there can be no question that a
/ government to be really socialistic
must be government of the people
government in which the whole citi
zenry with certain age and residential
qualifications, Of course) have voice,
and in which the majority rules. That
IS the sort of Socialist government
that rs per cent of those who call them
selves Socialists think they should
get If their party ever came into power.
Inc Socialist leaders are content to
have the public think that is what thew
stand for.
but every one who has had an op-
portunity to learn the real govern
mental policy of the party now knows
that they do not want a government of
the people. They want a government
OF self-limitlng group or class. That
is the only sort of government that
any Socialist organization holding
connection with the International has
ever tried to establish. 1t has been in
part disguised in each case, but the
power Of the general public has afe
ways been made just as small as pos
slble. That is the kernel of the soviet
idea We are permitted to understand
that the soviets are the people, but a
soviet is a -perpetuating BODY which
admits or excludes whomsoevcr it WILL
and is itself subject to admission or
exclusion by the powers higher up.
The Socialist party of America is not
| publicly committed, as | understand
to the soviet plan Of organization
Ninety per cent of the leaders we're en-
thuslastic over the idea when the soviet
system began operations in Russia;
but now that the public is beginning to
understand what the plan really is
they do not talk about it very much.
Now they are trying to revive the idea
mat they do not necessarily stand for
class or group government. But
none OF the leaders really want nny-
thing else. The soviet idea is not their
only plan for working it out Several
dliferert schemes have been advocated
by leading Socialists of this country,
but not clearly explained to the general
public nor to the lay members of their
own party. All have contained under
some sort Of disguise the same idea
OF putting the power into the hands
Of certain group organizations, which
would make it possible, when the time
was ripe, to exclude any desired ele-
mcnts or individuals.
Socialists as a rule believe that a
Socialist government would be demo-
cratic form of government, differing
from our present form chiefly in the
TACT that the government would own
and operate in part or in whole, the
various public utilities and industrial
enterprises. Socialist leaders are will
ing that their dupcs should think so, bu.
among themselves they agree that
sweeping changes in other respects are
essential "to keep rcactonares from
again gaming power" ! have no fault
TO find with tho man who honestly be-
hevcs IN a sociAlstc form of govern
ment, and there are many such; but
nave no use nor respect for the element
that has dominated the Socialist party
for the last score of years and who sold
that movement to the pro German
propaganda when the war began in
Europe EDWARD CORMAN.
Detroit, Mich, June 10, 1920.