Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1950-09-21
Let's Get This STRAIGHT

The remark of fellow American, hearing that the
socialists have held power in Sweden since 1892 is worth
passing ooh my, thought Sweden democracy"
So little distinction made between socialism and COM
munism here in America that in danger of over
looking the very conflicting aspects of both ldeooges
We are surprised to find that such highly competent
foreign correspondent G. Howard Smith, representing
of the outstanding newspapers of the country should
be afflicted with touch of this sort of political anapha
betism is he misinformed? In recent Stockholm dis
patch he writes: Scandinavian social democracy is
grounded in Marist doctrine. Right up to the Russian
putsch in Czechosovaka in 1913 Scandinavian socialists
had tended to hold up the Soviet Union modeat any
rate compared with the United States To swing free from
this attitude has not been easyespecay since the d
vidng line between socialism and communism is so blurred
both politically and within the labor unions
This writer worked in the Scandinavian press both dur
ing and after the last If anything made perfectly
clear after experience with three socialdemocratic
papers and leaders, it certainly this The sociademo
Gratis definitely did not hold up the Soviet Union as
model The fact that the communists did of the
underlying for conflict between these two rival
groups.
Scandinavian social democracy is grounded in Marxst
doctrine in Smith does not to imply 1t is
indebted to Marx mainly with regard to his analysis of
capitalism which, indeed is masterpiece of shrew in
sight But it embraces only very liberal (and vastly
vised portion of that broad program he prescribed for
abolishng socaed capitalist njustces and evils and
certainly doesn't follow his pattern for constructing
munlSt society,"
Is the dividing line really blurred Smith says?
No. The socaldemocrats Cor sociassas they often
called in this country in power in the Scandinavian
countries have long ago adopted mdleoftheroad pol
icy much than the socialists in Britain The moral
has been and still is: experience shall at all times prove
the need of social reform This Of moderation is
al of Scandinavia, noted throughout the world
AS for private industry they maintain that government
ownership should be considered only last resort after
private initiative fails 1t is true the socaldemocrats
foresee gradual transition to socialism, but only by
of normal democratic procedures Even this advanced
type of socialism would be subjected to the traditional
checks and balances of democratic system This is the
sort of dividing line the communists won't set their
foot across and socademocrats have been of
long before the last If it really blurred,
Scandnavans certainly would have split the vote between
socia-democrats and communists evenly instead of
giving the former such overwhelming vote of conf
dence
The sociademocrats have waged of their toughest
battles with communists within the labor unions However
Scandinavian workers much more politically con-
cous and alert than their counerparts in America for
instance that there chance whatsoever for dica
tor to impose say communist minority rule over the main
body of union.
Yes the socal-democrats in Scandinavia don't take