Socialism

so'shal-izm, a theory of society organization based on the public ownership, that is to say, the government ownership of the means of production. It is to be distinguished carefully from anarchy. The anarchist desires less government regulation than we now have. The socialist desires more. Socialism should also be distinguished from communism. The members of numerous communities, as the Shakers, both in America and Europe, believe in the ownership of all property in common. The socialist believes that the greater part of the world's wealth should be held and controlled by the people through their governments, but that independent earnings, independent property, and independent homes should be not only permitted, but encouraged. Even then socialism is difficult of definition. The support of public schools, the conduct of a national postoffice system, and the maintenance of free roads, bridges, and ferries are socialistic measures. Municipal, that is to say, city ownership of waterworks, lighting plants, street railways, and their management in the interest of the public at as low charge for service as may be, are socialistic measures. State ownership of railroads, express lines, telegraphic and telephone systems are socialistic measures. National savings banks and national provision for old age and sickness are also socialistic tendencies. Socialists believe, however, that the people should go still farther. They hold that land, mines, and forests should never pass from the ownership of the people, and that individuals should never be permitted to own, but merely to use them. Socialists believe, also, that the people should own the mills, factories, and other industrial concerns of the country. For example, the people, through their government, should own the flour mills. The officials in charge should pay the farmer as liberally as possible for his wheat, pay good wages to the mill operatives, and sell the flour to the consumer at cost. The farm wagon may serve as a further illustration. According to the socialist idea, coal, iron ore, paint, and timber should be public property and should be furnished the wagonmaker at the cost of labor. It is estimated that the labor involved in mining, sawing, grinding material, and in shaping the parts of a wagon and in putting them together costs $10. This is for such a wagon as sells for from $50 to $70. If materials were free, i. e., owned publicly, the socialist argues that wages might be doubled, and yet the farmer could buy his wagon for $20.

By managing manufactures, transportation, banking, and other enterprises of a public character in this way, the socialist hopes not only to reduce the cost of living to the people, but to prevent the creation of wealthy manufacturers, railroad magnates, and bankers. By taking away the opportunity of engaging in enormously profitable undertakings, the socialist would prevent the rise of millionaires. The socialist has no desire to equalize property. He does not think it possible or desirable to reduce all men to the same level, but he believes that, through government management, the poor can be given a better chance and the wealthy brought down more nearly to the level of the ordinary man. He believes that much of the world's misery arises from competition which could be avoided under government management.

There is great diversity of motive as well as opinion among socialists. The ignorant socialistic leader, a man, very possibly, whose earnings, if any, are spent in ways reflecting little credit on his sobriety or judgment, shakes his fist at the large factories, banks, and office buildings of a city, with "Stolen, every brick and stone, stolen from us. We built and paid for those buildings; the owners are thieves,-social thieves." His chief political idea is hatred, hatred for wealth, hatred for its owners. The intelligent socialist recognizes the service that wealth performs in carrying on the world's business. He recognizes the need of vast accumulations of capital to erect buildings, provide equipment, purchase material, secure transportation, and to pay wages; but he argues that the people, that is to say, the state, might better own and operate, and that the great banks, factories, railroad stations, and other edifices should, like the postoffice, the schoolhouse, and the city hall, belong to the state or municipality. Between those who claim that everything is wrong and those who claim that some things are not right, there is every shade of opinion.

Both as a political organization and as a force within old parties, the socialists are gaining ground rapidly. They control a million votes in France; a million and one-half in Germany; and perhaps three millions in the United States. There is a socialistic organization in every civilized country of the world. A number of world's congresses have been held, as at Paris in 1889; Brussels, 1891; Zurich, 1893; London, 1896; Paris, 1900; and Amsterdam, 1904. The tendency for state and municipal ownership is marked. Trusts and other forms of monopoly are seemingly paving the way for socialism. The problem of taking over the oil or coal supply, or of assuming control of the railroads, is apparently much more simple when the state has to deal with one or even a few monopolistic owners than with a multitude of individual owners.

See Communism; Anarchy; New Zealand; Postoffice; Shakers; Brook Farm; Trusts; Marx; Karl; Lassalle; Ferdinand; George; Henry; Single Tax; Spencer; Herbert; Owen; Robert

The Socialist Laborer Party of Germany, demands as the principles of the state:

1. Universal, equal, direct right of election and voting, the giving of the vote being secret and obligatory for all persons belonging to the state, from their twentieth year, for all elections and votings in state or parish. The day of election or voting must be a Sunday or holiday. 2. Direct legislation by the people. Decision on war and peace by the people. 3. Universal bearing of arms. Defense by arming of the people instead of the standing army. 4. Abolition of all exceptional laws, particularly the laws as to the press, as to associations, and as to assemblies. Especially all laws which limit the free expression of opinion, free thinking, and investigation. 5. The decision of law-suits by the people. The free administration of justice. 6. Universal and equal education of the people by the state. Universal school attendance. Free instruction in all educational institutions. Religion to be declared a private matter.

The Socialist Laborer Party demands under the present society: 1. The utmost possible extension of political rights and liberties in the direction of the above demands. . . . 3. Unrestricted liberty to combine. 4. A fixed labor-day corresponding to the requirements of society. The prohibition of Sunday labor. 5. The prohibition of children's labor and of the labor of women that is injurious to health or morality. 6. Laws protecting the lives and health of laborers. Sanitary control of laborers' dwellings. The superintendence of mines, factories, workshops, and domestic manufactures by officials elected by the laborers. An effectual law making employers responsible for injuries to their workmen. 7. The regulation of prison labor. 8. Complete independence of administration of all funds for the relief or maintenance of laborers.-Platform of 1895.

In savagery each one produces separately for himself; in our recent civilization, the many produce mainly for the few; in a more perfect state, all will produce collectively for all.-Karl Marx.

The fundamental principles of society require men to regard each other as brothers, and to work together . . . for their common welfare.

Religion ought to direct society towards the great end of ameliorating, as rapidly as possible, the condition of the most numerous and least wealthy class.

Do not forget this! Remember that to do grand things we must have enthusiasm. . . . All my life resolves itself into one great thought,-to secure for all mankind the most unfettered development of their faculties.

What is competition as far as the laborer is concerned? It is work put up at auction. An employer wants a man. Three men present themselves. . . . One demands sixty cents a day because he has a wife and children to maintain; another has a wife but no children, and will take fifty cents. A third, who has neither, is satisfied with forty. . . . What becomes of the other two? . . . Who then is so blind as not to see that under the empire of unlimited competition wages must reach their lowest ebb? . . .

The motto of co-operation is to be:

"Every one to work according to his capacity and to receive the means of enjoyment according to his requirements. . . ." He who has received more strength and intelligence owes more to his fellow-men in proportion.

All social institutions must have for their end the moral, intellectual, and physical improvement of the largest and poorest class.

All privileges of birth without exception are abolished.-St. Simon.

Social Settlement. See Addams; Jane