Why I am in favor of socialism.

by Various.

=London, Jack.= (Author.)

I am in favor of Socialism because I am an individualist, and because in Socialism I see the only possible social organization that will give equal opportunity and an even chance to every individual to develop and realize what is strongest and best in him--and in her, if you please.

Because Socialism is in line with social evolution, is foreshadowed as inevitable by today's social tendencies, was foreshadowed as inevitable by the social tendencies of ten thousand years ago and ten thousand generations ago.

Because I am convinced that it is the only form of social organization that will give a square deal to the little boys and girls that are coming into the world today, tomorrow, and in the days after tomorrow's morrow.

=Cutler, James Elbert.= (University Professor.)

I am in favor of Socialism as regards its aims and purposes, because I believe it to be in this respect in harmony with the fundamental principles of social progress.

=Loveman, Robert.= (Poet.)

I believe Plato favored an ideal commonwealth, and I favor Plato.

Walt Whitman was inclined towards the Utopian theory--and Walt was a poet with a "yawp," that was perhaps barbarian--but it was emphatic.

I am something of a Socialist--a little of a Communist--I hope not much of an Anarchist--and I believe with Lincoln that "G.o.d must love the common people--He made so many of them."

Wm. Morris, the English poet, had Socialistic theories--and headed a movement in 1884, I believe--so we have plenty of example. I do not hate the rich--but I pity the poor--and I do not think a few men should own billions--and h.o.a.rd the wealth--and that millions of human kind starving, barely exist. We are still savage.

=Post, Louis Freeland.= (Editor, The Public, Chicago, Ill.)

I am in favor of Socialism because it aims at abolishing the exploitation of labor.

=Smiley, James L.= (Clergyman.)

I am in favor of Socialism because--First: It stands for absolute justice. It guarantees to every one the full product of his labor. It provides that children and infirm and aged persons be cared for by the strong. It demands that all the natural resources of the earth be equitably administered for all the inhabitants.

Second: Socialism will abolish capitalism, which is a grand system of gambling.

Third: Socialism will abolish the evil fruits of capitalism, such as internecine commercial compet.i.tion, the white slave traffic, preventable poverty and disease, and war itself.

Fourth: Socialism means brotherhood, industrial and commercial. It, therefore, harmonizes with the teachings of the Bible, making the Ten Commandments and the "Sermon on the Mount" perfectly practicable.

Fifth: As an excellent example of its practical value, Socialism will solve the intricate liquor problem. By public ownership this traffic will be purified from all adulterations and excessive abuse, allowing (in harmony with the Bible) the temperate use of pure beverages.

Sixth: Socialism is the economic expression of Christianity.

=Gates, George Augustus.= (President, Fisk University.)

I don't think I am wholly in favor of Socialism, though I believe it would, even if actually in power, be better than the present reign of stark capitalism.

I am in favor of about nine-tenths of what Socialism advocates. Nearly all of the world's real troubles arise from selfishness. Some way must at last be found out of that regime. The world is keyed to mutual helpfulness; consequently there is and ought to be discord as long as we stupidly play the great game of life in the false key. There is, as a matter of fact, mutual helpfulness anyhow; we cannot live without each other, and more so as our civilization rises. The trouble is that in the present order this helpfulness is an incident, not the motive.

All gospels must unite to make it the motive.

=Chancellor, William Estabrook.= (Lecturer and Author.)

It all depends upon the definition and description of Socialism. I am heartily in favor of what I call Socialism. I was indeed mayoralty candidate in my city upon a Socialistic ticket. I do not see how any good or intelligent man can oppose my notions of Socialism. To ill.u.s.trate: I believe that G.o.d made the earth for all of us and that it is a crime, vile and terrible, to allow any man or woman as landlord to collect rent from the father of a family or the mother of babies for a place upon which to rear their children--G.o.d's children, my brothers. Yet I, myself, am both a landlord and a rent tenant because of a pitiful legalistic and economic regime that does not allow me to solve my problem. I am a landlord of a trust estate and yet unable to buy a home where my business is because I cannot sell.

It is a mere ill.u.s.tration. There are tens of thousands of others as pertinent.

To ill.u.s.trate again: I am sure that it is absurd and wicked that some should rot in luxury without working, while others die of the diseases of starvation though working diligently. I am in favor of changing the statute laws so that these kings shall no more be, than chattel slavery of blacks, or the punishment of religious heresy by death. I believe that the Father in Heaven does not intend the vicious inequitableness of this pa.s.sing economic system and of this social regime upon which the habit-minded look with such apish pleasure. I refuse to eat the leavened bread of the Pharisees and to sit silent amid these wrongs; but at the same time I suspect that I am rather an opportunistic reformer, a Christian Socialist, perhaps a Social Democrat, than a revolutionary all-or-none, now-this-minute Socialist, for I can be charitable to most other men who still worship the idols of the market-place. Some, however, I cannot forgive; I cannot forgive the hypocrites or the malicious.

=Burgess, Gelett.= (Author.)

I am in favor of Socialism because I believe that co-operation, rather than compet.i.tion will the sooner bring about the brotherhood of man.

Because the conditions that surround the majority of mankind are continually growing worse, and Socialism offers a radical solution for the problem of the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Because the rich are steadily growing richer, and the poor, poorer, under the present industrial system.

Because the concentration of this wealth in the hands of a few has shown the possibility of a centralized control of the industries, and has taught methods of handling big business, so that these activities may and should be in the hands of the people.

Because of the enormous saving through co-operation, both time and opportunity will be increased for the benefit of the people.

Because the use of this time may be used by the people for education, for culture, for travel and for larger mental growth.

Because this change in economic system will emanc.i.p.ate woman by making her man's equal and will thereby develop her mind, her self-respect, and her inventive capacity.

Because with a rational industrial system and the opportunity for leisure natural and s.e.xual selection will work more freely amongst men and women by giving both a wider choice, a better approximation of the ideal mate.

Because this effect will result in a benefit and happiness not only to the present but to the future of the race.