The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-01-29
Really, Mr.. Wilson, Are You
Serious?

only one thing liberal talking Communism"
but heading straight towards fascism.
1t is not Communism that Wilson wishes to
take away from Communists; the contrary.
it is the masses that he wants to take away from
the only path that can lead them out of the
morass of capitalism.
Let us look into the details of Wilson's article
In Wilson'S opinion. the time has come for lib
erals to reconsider their position. THE truth is"
he says, ''that we liberals and progressives have
been betting capitalism They recognized all
its evils but they believed that these could be re-
formed by means of the established machinery
of government.
In the past, Wilson says the liberals refused
to believe lin the MARKHAM doctrine that capital
ism must eventually give rise to class warfare"
nor did they take sufficiently seriously Marks
prediction that capitalism would never be
able to drive itself with enough foresight to avoid
a wreck The developments of the last few
years, however, have confirmed the correctness
of Marks contention. Benevolent and intelli-
gent capitalism not only has not developed
peacefully into socialism, but it has brought
national disaster in its wake.
In fact, Wilson is actually afraid that what
this year has broken down is not simply the
machinery Of representative government but the
capitalist system ITSELF" May we not fear,'
he inquiries pathetically, "lest our American So
ciety, in spite of its apparently greater homo
geneity, may not eventually collapse through
sheer inefficiency and corruption as ignominous-
ly as the feudal regime in Russia or France?"
In spite of Wilson's liberal use of such nom
committal phrases as May we not" and ''Does
it not SEEM" it is quite obvious that he trembles
for the rule of the capitalist Americans of the
twentieth century who Wilson thinks, "are GER
tainy more kindly and democratic people than
the landlords of the feudal age"
in Wilson'S liberal opinion, all the evidence
seems to point to the single conclusion that
American capitalism has entered its period of
decline. Not only has he lost faith in it, but
he believes that the Americans as whole have
begun to lose faith in the capitalist system
The present crisis, he feels really marks a
turning point in American history. THE Amer
leans at the present time seem to be experience
ing not merely an economic breakdown but
distinct psychological change"
The country has fallen into an abyss of bank
ruptcy and starvation. And in the midst OF
this national calamity Wilson maintains, it is
impossible to see a single sign of political lead
ership capable of saving the country. Liberalism,
he admits. has little to offer. And as far as
the present government is concerned. it is hardly
ullleIeuU, III Ills OplLlOu IIOul tlS IdCkeUeeIS
who are breaking the country's laws.
AS matter of fact sit may be true that with
the present breakdown we have come to the end
Of something. and that we are ready to start on
different tack" Previous crises still left room
for growth. Today, 1t may be that the Amer
lean people would be willing now for the first
time to put their idealism and their genius for
organization behind a radical social experiment.
The future is as blank in America today as the
situation is desperate. The very blindness Of
the present outlook may mean that things are
going to break in a new quarter"
The people and the conditions are ready for
it. People have been affected "by the example
Of Russia far more than the professional intel
lectuals,' who think that they alone understand
the Soviets. 1.-THE apparent success of the Five
Year Plan has affected the morale Of all the
rest Of the woodland Of the Americans surely
not the least" In fact, the Russian "experi-
ment" in Wilson's opinion, is not so far away
from the temper and experience Of the American
people.
In this desperate situation, the old program
of the liberals is inadequate. The time has come,
Wilson contends, when liberals must come out
openly for collective ownership of the means
of production and planned society Il. may
be objected" Wilson says, "that at the present
time to propose socialism in America Is utopian.
But with such administrations as No have been
getting. do not al our progressive proposals.