Socialism, the Salvation of the Negro Race

...We have in our progress reached a point in our social affairs where fair minded economists, sociologists, statesmen and intelligent leaders in all walks of life are turning, it seems, with one accord toward the one solution of our economic ills, the collective ownership and democratic management of the...

...position of the Negro, but on Us) other band, the satisfied disinter* est of the Negro populace is si inconsiderable factor in tat group's total economic dependence...

...As a great statesman would have said, had ho chose to be with us tonight, while there are poor we will have poverty and while there Is poverty we will have tbe poor...

...To be sure due to the researches of the greatest engineer of the Republican party, we are assured of an increase in population of 20,000,000 in the next decade, a numbe...

...Tbe Hope of the Negro In those few instances where this indictment does not hold true, Negro graduates were told to believe that by accepting the present economic and social order they could rise to the heights of a Negro ruling class...

...The Socialist Party is consciously and vigorously striving to attain its goal, a co-operative commonwealth, the highest conceivable state of man in collective society...

...The owners of industry, primarily concerned only with the making of profit, must reduce production costs by slashing wages and introducing labor saving machines et cetera...

...Today, the human race bai reached a place of scientific ant mechanical achievements thai would to Thomas Jefferson or Abi Lincoln be nothing short of divine miracles...

...No my friends, the poor will not die out...

...This fact is a tremendously important one and has resulted, in a large saving in statistical and Investigation expenditures...

...On every hand there is unmistakable evidence of far reaching changes of a fundamental nature impending...

...they blindly lead, what...

...B. B...

...Besides, food is cheaper now...

...The wealth only waits for humanly fair distribution...

...A national cooperative con* monwealth where all men, blacl and white, everywhere within It far flung boundaries, will be givei according to their needs and havi in reality the guarantees of oui constitution, life, liberty and tW pursuit of happiness...

...Whe Watt sat pondering the potentlt power of steam as it merrily Jig gled the lid above the boiling wa ter in the pot, his thought, defln itely radical for his time, achieve its success in revolutionizing th producing power In the world...

...We will admit that the world of white class control Is great]} responsible for the unenviable...

...The hope of the Negro masses primarily, as well as the hope of the white workers, Is In a new social order where work and worth will go hand In hand, where the machine, the heritage of modern man, will be collectively owned and democratically managed for the satisfaction of human needs and not for the accumulation of private profits for a few...

...For it Is the recognized right and even duty of radicals is the field of medical, chemical 01 mechanical science to change and improve upon the past discoveries of men...

...Instead of a true democracy, we have government over the people, for and by the bankers, trusts and capitalists...

...Business today is measured in terms of millions and even billions of dollars, so that neither Negro nor white worker may look for salvation or a greater abundance of the essentials of life through helping some few more fortunate individuals up into the ruling class...

...Do you think they do...

...This fact is little short of tragedy, for in the impending social, economic and political changes, the American Negro has more to gain and less to lose than any other element of the world's disinherited...

...Influential Negroes, leaders, political and social, who dp liberately sabotage the future of black America, in order to gain some individual security and prominence, have been the bane et progress to America's step-call* clrcn...

...Peonagol Shacks...

...And in a land of plenteous natural wealth there is no excuse for paupers...

...Embo Fawn, prominent member of the D.A.R.,""I realize that they have their place in the scheme of things, but,"-—she said —shaking with indignation, her famous jeweled stomacher shaking in sympathy, "can they expect food when there is no work for them...

...The processes of concentration and consolidation, motivated by the competitive greed of a few Industrial autocrats, Inevitably leads to over-production and unemployment, with poverty and suffering for the working people...

...I've lived up to the ideals and traditions of our family and class...

...no brutish mob violence and | lynchinga...

...Creative genius is the consult mate expression of radical though and revolutionary tendencies...

...so "We must not give up," said I. Cherry Strong, noted before-andaf ter dinner speaker who so amply fills the chair of moral philosophy in tbe University of Socony...

...We bad the worthy poor, the needy poor and tbe deserving poor...

...Many of these men stand guard over their minds, diligentiy blocking the entrance of any net thought or progressive Idea Steadfastly obedient to the W* of a social order that gives then the chance to live decently sad even abundantly but to the masfM of their colored brethren who...

...An Evening of Sparkling Wisdom Our Roving Reporter Snatches a Few Gems By Ben Blumenberg j-jLANS FOR combatting the Jtr dangers threatening the independence of the American workers were discussed by a representative group of citizens at a meeting of the Capitalist Welfare Brotherhood held in the Platinum Room of the Hotel Crasstorla, the other night...

...The Color Line Public institutions all through the land that are supported by funds raised through indiscriminate taxation, that is, taxes of which Negroes pay their proportionate share, give employment to millions of able citizens...

...Appointees for these numerous positions are selected from the averages of a competitive examination open to all citizens and having nothing to do with race, color or creed...

...Miss Always Doollttle of the Doolittle family, famous for its activities in society circles for many generations past, stated that she dlspaired of ever changing the Ipt of the working classes...

...I have danced at all the charity balls during the season and have been a blockader In all that concerns the welfare of the lower classes," she said...

...A society where workers of an nations will have recognized thsMj identity of Interests and go arm Jn arm up that precipitous slopf of human progress toward tkf crowning glory of man's achievements, universal harmony...

...Meaningless Democracy In a world of competitive industry, owners find it necessary to insure the favor of the government so that legislation that might affect their businesses will at least be favorable...

...Many Southern states with a preponderance of Negroes of voting age fearlessly disfranchise colored citizens and impudently elect to public office whites who, with hearts envenomed by race prejudice, are supposed to represent the wishes and interests of tbe despised, disfranchised blacks...

...Moder science and Invention have to a amazing degree conquered time an apace...

...Such a program should be the chief aim of the American Negro's political and economic endeavors...

...The group of people in the United States today who most need a new social order, who do, and have, occupied, unchampioned, the lowest and least desirable economic plane In our society unfortunately appear to be the most disinterested In the mighty changes taking place...

...Before our work became rationalized, before we got a grip on the situation, so to speak, much energy was wasted...

...are conspicous by their absence, As a result of the artificial barriers erected against Negroes in America, able colored men and women, many with college degrees, thoroughly equipped to take their places in managing the affairs at the nation, are consistently forced into the ignoble service of menial labor...

...On every hand may be seen that the work of the Society For The Preservation Of The Poor exceeds all former expectations...

...If loyalty and servlco to the existing powerful capitalist parties meant economic security for the Negro, then the colored masses of these United States should be the most solidly entrenched group, economically, within the utmost confines of the Republic...

...Here In the United States there is a radical party pleading for the privilege of leading the workers out of the wilderness...

...From now on the working class will have to get along without my help—If it can do so...

...Some political organization with a program that shall incorporate the needs, wishes and rights of the millions who labor is needed to asume governmental responsibility no as to avert the impending social catastrophe of an absolute industrial autocracy with all Its attendant evils...

...Ladles and gentlemen: I ask that you join me In a toast to this immortal bit of wisdom...

...If Uus be radical...

...Let us drink to it by quaffing this sparkling champaign of the year 1917, a year that marks a milestone In our program and a millstone to those who fought for tbe preservation of poverty...

...Tat National Post Office system remains the only public institution that employs any important number of Negroes at decent salaries and dignified work, but even here Negro foremen or executive...

...means of producing and distributing wealth...

...Now there Is just tbe poor...

...In our state of interdependent society, millionaires mean paupers...

...But the Negro has come too late upon the stage of competitive big business ever to hope to develop a powerful ruling class through tbe tortuous route of capitalistic processes...

...Other Interesting and well thought out proposals for the correcting of the present economic situation were presented...

...I have always been In favor of the American workers," exclaimed Mrs...

...Its largely a matter of buying the cheaper cuts in quantities before the prices go up...

...Yet we know, since the passing of a rule requiring the posting of a photo) graph on each individual appoat ! Uon paper, that discrimination a i rampant against Negroes and m • some places also against Jewi Schools bar colored teachers and professors...

...Al progress in all fields of human en deavor springs from the contemp orary radical minds of individual or minorities...

...Segregi tion and disease, to say nothisf of mob brutality and lynchinga The Time Has Come The time has come when Negro workers must know the truth, must plan and act for themselvsl in their own collective interests, must strike off the shackles ol custom and intelligently but djf termlnedly follow progress* leaders who have right befojj them, like the glorious rays of sf eternal beacon, a social staff where there shall be no race discrimination, no class antagonism...

...Fc essentially, the radical is a perao who tries to get something nev whether in the line of medical an physical science or sociology...

...see "Undoubtedly the food question plays a large part In the troubles of the world today," said M. Banner, noted meat packer, affectlonally known among his cronies as "Bully-beef Balmer," if only the wage earners understood food values, i "Why," said he, "there is just as much food value in the cheaper cuts as there is in this juicy quarter section of porterhouse steak that I hold on my fork...

...No intelligent person today will deny the fact that the world Is seething with unrest...

...Malnutrition...

...national, state and on...

...The structure of our industrial order la disintegrating and slowly burying the masses of workers beneath the poverty stricken debris of its collapse...

...Under such a system it is obvious that government of, for Riid by the people can exist In theory only...

...From the stroke of seven o'clock, until the diners left in the early morning hours, some of them unassisted, speaker after speaker gave without stint plans and programs that will solve national problems for all time...

...Professor Blabson, noted business forecaster, while guarded in bis statements, ventured tbe opinion that there are signs of a slight Industrial depression, but added a note of optimism by pointing out that figures show that the statistical business is In excellent condition...

...So, we find big business paying the campaign expenses of public office nominees, which places on elected governmental officials a debt of honor and an obligation...

...i nicipal departments employing armies of workers have a very netligible number of Negroes...

...Even if it were possible for a few Negroes to ascend to the higher realm of a ruling class via this route it would not helpfully affect the status quo of the working masses of the group...

...large enough to replace those who may be removed by high living, war, famine and other . orks of Providence...

...For example, this banquet costs us but $18.50 per plate, whereas a couple of years ago the price would have been $20...

...In a land where 4% of the population owns and controls 80% of the wealth, and all forms of business are steadily being merged into great chains, trusts or holding companies, it is only a natural development for all of us to some day be working for a few men...

...For the conserve tive is content with contemporary conditions...

...After over half a century of nearly absolute fealty to the Republican Party, the 13th, 14th and the 15th amendments have no real vital meaning for the millions of colored people dependent on the enforcement and inviolability of these Federal laws...