The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-04-21
By RODNEY BUTCHER NEA Service Writer

washington-The socialist party, which represents your only escape if you can't get yourself to vote for republicans or democrats, be- lfeyes it has a splendid opportunity in this election year because so many persons are dissatisfied with the old system and the old politl- clans.
 The socialists do not expect to elect a president. They also real ize that these times of stress scarce many voters into complete con seryatism, as in the last Brltlsh election.
 But they hope for a peak so- cialist vote in November and ex- pect. at their party convention Tn Milwaukee beginning May 20, to plan an organization campaign which will inc.Goe intensive ef- forts in certain congressional dis tricts of Wisconsin, New York and Pennsylvania, where there IS reasonable hope of electing so- cialist congresmen.
 Thomas Seeks New System
 Norman Thomas, outstanding leader of the party, who propaoiy will be its presidential candidate again this year, thinks the capitai- istic system is dying and that no satisfactory economic plan can pe built upon the "wreckage.
 If a wide acceptance of that fact can be gained. he says, there will be more chance for peace full, orderly transition to a ne" system. "There never has been such a complete sense of the futility or the major parties" Thomas said in an interview here. And never such an obvious lack of strong. popular leader-even of a popu- far stuffed shirt. Hoover will be renominated to a chorus of faint damns-some not so faint. The nearer Governor Roosevelt comes to nomination the worse he looks. Nobody loves or hates him; they are just taking him. :,
 q see no chance of third party to make last stand for the capitalistic system. Roose- welt has enough of the so-called progressives convinced that he IS somewhat progressive to avert that. So he will have the two major parties fighting without any gesture toward native Amer ican radicalism such as we had in 1912.
 Says Old Jig Is Up
 "Even Alfalfa Bills program. except for standing on his head. is an echo of Populism and Bryan in the last century.
 "Our socialist job is to get the farmers, the hand workers and the brain workers to realize that the old jig is up. We want a peaceful change because this country is so geared that if we have to copy Russia we will have a far worse time than she did.
 with 200 corporations con- trolling about 50 per cent of your wealth, we already have collectiv- ism, but it isn't intelligent or workable.
 Socialists would socialize the key industries = public utilities and transportation, principal nat ural resources such as coal. oil, copper and iron and the banking
  be self-governed by groups Of workers and consumers, subject to the general strategy of en eco- homie planning board, producing for use instead of profit. Social ization would make the govern ment hold them as trustee for society and get rid of private landlordism of land by intelligent taxation. It would make an equality of class, would save the farmer by government mar. keting agencies and export-import control and would wipe out the favored position of . minority which has so mismanaged things that it now trembles in its boots. We will have socialization when we free ourselves from the hyp- notic mower of that minority.