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writes one Tomoyoshi Murai： 〃The interest of our people on Socialism has
been greatly awakened these days； especially among our laboring people
on one hand and young students' circle on the other； as much as we can
draw an earnest and enthusiastic audience and fill our hall； which holds
two thousand。 。 。 。 It is gratifying to say that we have a number of fine and
well…trained public orators among our leaders of Socialism in Japan。 The
first speaker tonight is Mr。 Kiyoshi Kawakami； editor of one of our city
（Tokyo） dailies； a strong； independent； and decidedly socialistic paper；
circulated far and wide。 Mr。 Kawakami is a scholar as well as a popular
writer。 He is going to speak tonight on the subject； 'The Essence of
Socialismthe Fundamental Principles。' The next speaker is Professor Iso
Abe； president of our association； whose subject of address is； 'Socialism
and the Existing Social System。' The third speaker is Mr。 Naoe Kinosita；
the editor of another strong journal of the city。 He speaks on the subject；
'How to Realize the Socialist Ideals and Plans。' Next is Mr。 Shigeyoshi
Sugiyama； a graduate of Hartford Theological Seminary and an advocate
of Social Christianity； who is to speak on 'Socialism and Municipal
Problems。' And the last speaker is the editor of the 'Labor World；' the
foremost leader of the labor…union movement in our country； Mr。 Sen
Katayama； who speaks on the subject； 'The Outlook of Socialism in
Europe and America。' These addresses are going to be published in book
form and to be distributed among our people to enlighten their minds on
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the subject。〃
And in the struggle for the political machinery of society； Socialism is
no longer confined to mere propaganda。 Italy； Austria； Belgium； England；
have Socialist members in their national bodies。 Out of the one hundred
and thirty…two members of the London County Council； ninety…one are
denounced by the conservative element as Socialists。 The Emperor of
Germany grows anxious and angry at the increasing numbers which are
returned to the Reichstag。 In France； many of the large cities； such as
Marseilles； are in the hands of the Socialists。 A large body of them is in the
Chamber of Deputies； and Millerand； Socialist； sits in the cabinet。 Of him
M。 Leroy… Beaulieu says with horror： 〃M。 Millerand is the open enemy of
private property； private capital； the resolute advocate of the socialization
of production 。 。 。 a constant incitement to violence 。 。 。 a collectivist；
avowed and militant； taking part in the government； dominating the
departments of commerce and industry； preparing all the laws and
presiding at the passage of all measures which should be submitted to
merchants and tradesmen。〃
In the United States there are already Socialist mayors of towns and
members of State legislatures； a vast literature； and single Socialist papers
with subscription lists running up into the hundreds of thousands。 In 1896；
36；000 votes were cast for the Socialist candidate for President； in 1900；
nearly 200；000； in 1904； 450；000。 And the United States； young as it is； is
ripening rapidly； and the Socialists claim； according to the materialistic
conception of history； that the United States will be the first country in the
world wherein the toilers will capture the political machinery and
expropriate the bourgeoisie。
But the Socialist and labor movements have recently entered upon a
new phase。 There has been a remarkable change in attitude on both sides。
For a long time the labor unions refrained from going in for political
action。 On the other hand； the Socialists claimed that without political
action labor was powerless。 And because of this there was much ill feeling
between them； even open hostilities； and no concerted action。 But now the
Socialists grant that the labor movement has held up wages and decreased
the hours of labor； and the labor unions find that political action is
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necessary。 Today both parties have drawn closely together in the common
fight。 In the United States this friendly feeling grows。 The Socialist papers
espouse the cause of labor； and the unions have opened their ears once
more to the wiles of the Socialists。 They are all leavened with Socialist
workmen； 〃boring from within；〃 and many of their leaders have already
succumbed。 In England； where class consciousness is more developed； the
name 〃Unionism〃 has been replaced by 〃The New Unionism；〃 the main
object of which is 〃to capture existing social structures in the interests of
the wage… earners。〃 There the Socialist； the trade…union； and other
working… class organizations are beginning to cooperate in securing the
return of representatives to the House of Commons。 And in France； where
the city councils and mayors of Marseilles and Monteaules… Mines are
Socialistic； thousands of francs of municipal money were voted for the aid
of the unions in the recent great strikes。
For centuries the world has been preparing for the coming of the
common man。 And the period of preparation virtually past； labor；
conscious of itself and its desires； has begun a definite movement toward
solidarity。 It believes the time is not far distant when the historian will
speak not only of the dark ages of feudalism； but of the dark ages of
capitalism。 And labor sincerely believes itself justified in this by the
terrible indictment it brings against capitalistic society。 In the face of its
enormous wealth； capitalistic society forfeits its right to existence when it
permits widespread； bestial poverty。 The philosophy of the survival of the
fittest does not soothe the class…conscious worker when he learns through
his class literature that among the Italian pants…finishers of Chicago ｛9｝
the average weekly wage is 1。31； and the average number of weeks
employed in the year is 27。85。 Likewise when he reads：｛10｝ 〃Every room
in these reeking tenements houses a family or two。 In one room a
missionary found a man ill with small…pox； his wife just recovering from
her confinement； and the children running about half naked and covered
with dirt。 Here are seven people living in one underground kitchen； and a
little dead child lying in the same room。 Here live a widow and her six
children； two of whom are ill with scarlet fever。 In another； nine brothers
and sisters； from twenty…nine years of age downward； live； eat； and sleep
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together。〃 And likewise； when he reads：｛11｝ 〃When one man； fifty years
old； who has worked all his life； is compelled to beg a little money to bury
his dead baby； and another man； fifty years old； can give ten million
dollars to enable his daughter to live in luxury and bolster up a decaying
foreign aristocracy； do you see nothing amiss？〃
And on the other hand； the class…conscious worker reads the statistics
of the wealthy classes； knows what their incomes are； and how they get
them。 True； down all the past he has known his own material misery and
the material comfort of the dominant classes； and often has this knowledge
led him to intemperate acts and unwise rebellion。 But today； and for the
first time； because both society and he have evolved； he is beginning to
see a possible way out。 His ears are opening to the propaganda of
Socialism； the passionate gospel of the dispossessed。 But it does not
inculcate a turning back。 The way through is the way out； he understands；
and with this in mind he draws up the programme。
It is quite simple； this programme。 Everything is moving in his
direction； toward the