GROWTH OF SOCIALISM IN AMERICA

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4289, 23 February 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

GROWTH OF SOCIALISM IN AMERICA

Mr Maurice Low, chronicling American affairs in “The National Review,”’ reports from the general figures of recent elections that’ the Socialists have made gains. They refused to coalesce with the Democrats, and ran a Presidential candidate of their own—Eugene Debs, leader of the great railway strike. .‘‘Men who keep in touch with organised labour say that Socialism is spreading,” and is stronger in the older settled communities of the East. Mr Low goes on to mingle narrative and prophecy : “In Massachusetts the Mayors of two important cities, avowed Socialists, were elected; and in New York Socialism is a factor, trifling, of course, at the .-resent time, but still a factor. The trend of American thought is towards Socialism, although many men who are unconscious Socialists—if the expression is permissible—would bo horrified at the mere suggestion. But when . you see the efforts being made towards the municipalisation or public utilities —the ownershij) of gas and waterworks by the community and the agitation in favour of Government ownership of telegraphs and railways, an agitation not confined to merely visionary cranks, one is forced to the conclusion that it is significant of the spread of Socialistic doctrines. It has been predicted that the next contest in this country, although not necessarily the next campaign, will be a death grapple between Inuividualism and Collectivism, not precisely the Collectivism of Carl Marx, but a rational Socialism in accordance with modern requirements. This, of course, is a projection into the future, and merely interesting as a philosophical speculation, yet the fact should not be overlooked that the causes which contributed to McKinley's election —the multiplication of trusts, the accumulation of colossal fortunes by a small number of men, and the control of transportation facilities—are doing _ more than anything else to make thinking men believe that the only remedy is to be found in enlightened Socialism.