Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-06-07

ty of room to expand. the results
We're not so disastrous.
The time is rapidly approach
ing, however, when a change in
our relations to each other will
surely take place, and it is square
ly up to the people to decide what
that change shall be and whether
it shall be brought about in an
orderly and peaceful manner or
through turbulency and bloodshed.
1t seems almost incomprehensi-
BILE that the present system of pri-
vate ownership of the worlds prod
ucts that are publicly used, could
continue unchanged.
To base our laws upon the as
sumption that this earth of ours
belongs to those who can grab it.
and when once they have acquired
their paper titles to its surface. can
use it or let it remain in its native
state to finally pass their owner
ship to such posterity as they see
fit, regardless of the comfort or
positive needs of the generations
yet to come, is equivalent to say
ing that industrial slavery is right;
that some are born to work and
produce. while others are entitled
to derive the benefits of such
production without work. There is
no escaping these conclusions; for
if person can absolutely own a
thousand acres of land, he and his
associates can own a township, a
county, a state or a nation; and
can say to all non-owners, keep
off my grounds until ! give con-
sent. 1t won't lessen such an alb
surdity in the least to say that this
is carrying the idea of private own
ership to an extent that will never
prevail and consequently 1t loses
its force.
Private ownership of the earths
surface and its products has al
ready been carried to such an ex-
tent that a majority of human be-
inCs now upon the earth { saying
nothing about the generations yet
to come) cannot live without the
consent of the land owners, and
the end is not in sight If capital
ism Is to continue, AS a matter
of fact, man has no more right
TO absolutely own and control, one
square foot of the earth's surface
than he has to own the air we
breathe. The socialist conception
of mans obligations to each other
10. that the earth and its natural
products is the common her-
itage of all, and cannot be
and controlled for the
exclusive benefit of a few. ms
makes the issue squarely and dls-
tinctly drawn, and while thousands
Of volumes have been written upon
this, the greatest of all human
the gist of socialism Is
contained in the ownership OF the
land. ..r.-.
Socialism is not a complicated
theory that needs an elaborate oe
to prove its correctness
and feasibility. 1t is the essence OIL
simplicity-and is now in the rlng'
the world over, for
final fight with this thing we can
capitalism. This does not mean
that the socialist has any grievance
!, rainst the individual capitalist as
such Not at all. Probably nine
mon ont of every ten who have
accumulated a fortune, have play
ed the game fairly according TO the
Jules, and are good, honest, liberal
citizens in the communities III
which they live, We would all De
if we could IheF
nave simply played the game pet-
.er than we have,
Capitalism, however, as an instl-
.ution for the human family TO
i've together under. has not one
'edeeming feature. 1t has nothing
whatever to commend it to a peo-
Die who love justice and the
;uuare deal between man and man.
L is cruel and inhuman; 1t Is
;winish in it's greed and tigerlsh
n it's bloody ferocity; it is degen- y
,rating mankind the world over
and morally and making
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