State s Newer California 'gional cility c THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GIFT OF Mrs. Ben B. Lindsey The State's Newer Ideals By Kate Campbell Robertson (f\rs. G. H. Robertson) Inspired by the Memory of rare Parents : a Father Versed in Litera- ture and Statecraft; a Mother Who Lived in Unfaltering Touch With the Infinite, AND LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO MY SONS FOUR EMBRYO STATESMEN Modern aristocracy, the new aris- tocrarcy, has still to be discovered and understood. It is not a question of blood but of character. Fear is a great limitation; under the new order there will be no fear. What men need above all in this day is more wisdom, more discre- tion in the use of life. Some one has said: "We need more leisure to study psychological problems; an invisible world lies near us, that might become visible if we had time from the struggle for bread to study it. It calls to us with its wonders and opportunities. If we would embrace in our government the principles of ethics we have al- ready learned, and let the Golden Rule become the order of state poli- cy, we would have a foundation from which to reach upward to un- dreamed of spheres. Thus an op- portunity for limitless living would be attained. 1122164 A state without divisions or fac- tions, where co-operation and not competition is the order of thought, means a state of strength, beauty, happiness, power. That state is strongest whose parts or individual members possess a living interest in the whole. "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," were the most practical words of The Master Statesman. All the kindness shown from Cap- ital to Labor or from Labor to Cap- ital will avail nothing towards bringing satisfaction; the divine Ego in each individual must have its di- vine right to be answerable only to its State and Nation, which stands for God on earth. INDEX. Page Introduction 7 1. The State, the Over-Parent 11 2. Love, not Force, for the Criminal.... 15 3. Progressive Legislation 21 4. Remedy for the Daily Grind 25 5. Different View Points 31 6. Attempt to Socialize Germany 37 7. Socialism, Anarchy and Love 42 8. Organization 47 9. A Last Word.... .. 54 INTRODUCTION. Some years ago when I had com- pleted the work in my nursery, and my own healthy, well nurtured cher- ubims had been safely located in the school room, I turned my atten- tion to the study of conditions sur- rounding other children in our community. My life had been, for about fourteen years, an entirely domestic one. Shut in by the four walls of my home with my jolly, fat, baby boys I had not had time to think that the whole world was not as gay and prosperous as my envir- onment. So it was with horror and amazement that I found families of bare footed, half fed, untaught children almost within a stone's throw of my own neighborhood. That was six years ago, and the con- dition of childhood, in our commu- nity at that time, was deplorable. Those who worked with me in the crude charity organizations of which our town then boasted, will echo these words. 7 After working for some years and setting on foot the Tennessee Branch of the Congress of Mothers and striving to make popular the Parent- Teachers Clubs in the Public School, I discovered that things we wanted to do would come easier if mothers and women in general had the use of the ballot; I worked for awhile along this line, but now see that the system of government hampers and keeps us back in the dark ages of selfishness and poverty and strife; and I want to hammer away awhile on this line of thought, for a new system will mean everything to the children and women as well as the men. Women will, as equal citizens and actors in the State, get the ballot and much more than the ballot. We often hear it said that "human nature does not change much," when the fact is we do not change our systems (political and social) to keep pace with human changes. Human nature can not show its growth with an antiquated wall around it that was its suitable pro- 8 tection in years that have passed. Let us keep up with human chang- es and change the selfish system to one of unselfishness and the system of gain to a system of service that will be in harmony with the spirit- ual growth of our times. K. C. R. (Do not confuse the word social- ism with any party; to "socialize" a State is to make it the property and concern of all members of that State.) There was a time when we believ- ed that the man was made for the state. That time has gone, save from the minds of a few statesmen of the old school, who believe in clinging to dead timber. The old idea was that the child was made to serve the parent; we know today that the parent is to serve the child; the state to serve its citizens. Let us step into the new regime boldly, feeling with confidence that the new is better than the old. He who clings to old ways when new and better ones have made their appearance is old and decrepit, no matter what his years may be; and he who goes with martial step into the ranks of the leaders of the new- er ideals is young even though he count his years threescore and ten. Keep young, friends, by keeping your minds polished and shining and ready to reflect if not to origi- nate the newest and best. 11 When we say that the state is made for the man, we mean that the state is to serve man, not punish him; that the state is the great care- taker of its citizens, the weak and the strong, the rich and the poor, the aged and the young, the willful and the obedient. The state is the over-parent ready to serve and conserve, ready to train and protect its children. The old way ran something like this: A man has committed a crime. Hark! A terrible thing has taken place; make a great noise about it! State, call out your blood- hounds, run him into a corner, beat him, drub him, take his liberty away from him, that is not enough take his very life itself ! You have dragged him into the court room now point your finger at him, tell the jury that there never was such an infamous scoundrel on the face of the earth before, that he is a menace to his state, that he is not fit to live with his kind; take him, drag him into a cell and there keep him. 12 All because he has done one thing unlawful. No good to humanity, of no use to the world! Sometimes when I have listened to the speech of the prosecutor I have wondered that the vision of the Master did not float betwen his face and the jurors whom he addressed and whisper the words said long ago: "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." Yet even as the prisoner, crushed and humiliated, hangs his head, the prosecutor's head goes up and he exclaims in a loud voice as if he were proud of his diabolical work: "I have won.*' "Won," have you, friend? "Won" what? There is no victory unless your work is according to nature's constructive plan; and chagrin, hu- miliation or mortification heaped upon a fellow-man, anything that crushes or disheartens another is against the Natural Order of Life and is a crime. The statesman with the newer ideals will do away with the old order. He will not only know Na- 13 ture's Plan, but have the courage to step out as its advocate. Given enough of these men and the old order of punishment and force and crushing out of pride will be gone, for the statesman of the newer ideals will only call it a victory when he has made the wrong-doer hold up his head and look him in the eye and say to him : "I will sin no more; my self-respect has been restored; you have taught me to love my state; no more can I sin against it." Oh, for 100 such Tennesseans! The state that adopts the newer ideals will have no more human bloodhounds to use their natural gifts against Nature's Plan but friends of humanity will take their places, that will not tear down what is left of a weak life, but construct and build according to the Great Plan, in which patience and kind- ness and brotherhood is the law. 14 II. We were discussing in last article the new method of handling our criminals. We were suggesting that they needed to be befriended more than condemned and punished. Now the question is, shall we follow the law absolutely when not best for the offender or shall we consider his welfare first and seek to change the law? "Oh" we hear the old-time states- man exclaim, "but we must uphold the law." The masses echo "Up- hold the law!" Of course, be very careful about the shell of the egg, it makes no dif- ference about the meat, the kernel of the nut is valueless, we will put all the stress on the outside. The letter of the law is of course vastly more important than the spirit of mercy, justice and truth be sure you do not sacrifice the former for the lat- ter. Pardon this bit of sarcasm. Ser- 15 iously, friends how did the court of equity originate? Blackstone de- fines this court as one serving as "a correction of that wherein the law, by reason of its universality, is defi- cient." As a matter of fact it is a court wherein real justice is the order. It is the crowning peak on the great legal pyramid. This pyr- amid was built by the greater minds of the ages. Looking back we find laws were made long, long ago a long while before even women were considered people. These old laws were the best that the minds of that day could conceive of they served in their day beautifully, they repre- sented the conception of justice and truth of their time no age can ask more. But as time grew they be- came inadequate. New minds plac- ed new blocks upon the legal pyr- amid. It has grown into a great structure, ponderous, heavy, almost immovable, yet growing, each year seeing additions that force the old into disuse. The time has come for a new block in the pyramid; we may 16 be nearing the apex, who knows? Some one will lay the new stone who will it be? The old stones are getting musty and out of date and when this is true the new and clean is not far. Some one of great mind, great will, great courage, will place the new block on top. Our young thinker shakes his head "all very true all very beautiful but had it ever occurred to you," he says, "that one must 'make a living'?" He means of course that the dreamer dares only to dream of reform; that the state pays for the work done in the old way. That he dare not pull out of the time-worn rut for fear he will "lose his job." Well, some men and women have done great things even in the face of starvation; and some men and some women will continue to serve the world in the face of danger. It is much braver in the light of today to declare for a new truth than to enlist for war. The brave man will decline to fight, knowing that fighting of any kind is wrong. The coward follows with the 17 herd. The brave man will step out in the court room and take the hand, figuratively speaking, of the ac- cused, the coward will not dare. The brave man will work overtime in his study to develop a system of state policy that will conserve the good in the race and the individual and will "cut out" the dead order. He will not hesitate to work for a change even in the stiff leather-bound code, if his conscience commands. To sum it up, the offender of today must have different treatment from that which satisfied long ago we cannot stand for the old order of punishment. If the law calls for it change the law. Work out a new system that will satisfy new ideals. So the first reason against practicing love toward the criminal we will dispose of in three words : "Change the law," rather than uphold one out of date. The other great cry of the old-time thinker is, we must punish as an example, for fear others will do likewise." This is vicarious atonement, and was popular in old 18 days when one slave was whipped to keep the others straight. We cannot hold to it today, we know too well the value of each individual soul. We value too highly the personal misson of each being. We know the great depth of usefulness that lies in the soul of the wrong-doer if he is awakened and started on the right track. We .need only to look to the great work of Jane Addams and her followers to see that out of what is called "the scum of Europe" the unfit and often criminal, she has brought out such wonderful things. She has found histrionic ability so rare in her people of the "submerg- ed" class, that one of the most able troupes of Irish players, now tour- ing in their native country, trace their origin back to the "slums of Chicago." This in only an example mentioned, the talent, gifts and depths of thought which have been brought out of these people in Miss Addams' neighborhood considered worthless in their own land as well as in America, would make an inter- 19 esting volume, but she rarely writes of her achievements a soul has be- come useful to the world and its race that is all she asks. That brings her content for the greatest thing that an immortal soul can accom- plish is to bring out the latent use- fulness in the souls of our fellow- men. 20 III. The conclusion reached from reading the last two articles would be : that the state, in the light of its newer ideals, standing as father to its citizens, should change its pro- secutor to a defendant, thus provid- ing its erring children with a friend and following the constructive plan of Nature, which conserves and uses all that is good in man. It was planned to devote this chapter to the discussion of the mo- nopolizing part played in life by the daily struggle to exist but the sugges- tion of repealing the anti-capital punishment law brings up a new subject. If we are afraid to go for- ward we will tamper with this new and progressive piece of legislation. The idea of the state puting a being to death is barbarous. I know it is a savage in the Lebanon case, (case of negro killing a white citizen) , but even a savage is a soul, and is sent to us to use in some way. 21 As we know, each evolutionary step at first, brings disaster. By re- moving the capital punishment law, we have ceased to try to rule our citizens through fear (any educator will tell you this is an advance step), fear is like a stone over a boiling volcano and when removed shows the fire we are trying to extinguish. We had better know the quality of the material we are seeking to smother and just what is under cover if we would help our state. Education and patience will bring out in the Negro race what will make good citizens of them; we brought them here a short time ago in chains to work for us. We owe them much. Let us not forget. Some will say let us rule them through laws that create fear while they are in the savage state and after they have changed we will change the law. That is not in ac- cordance with the evolutionary prin- ciple, nothing grows under fear. Do not let us be alarmed over the terrible deeds which happen after 22 our steps forward, for while each movement forward removes some- thing that has marred the race and our state it also opens new prob- lems for us to solve. We will not solve them by becoming timid and crawling backward into old shells. Be brave friends, do not tamper with a piece of legislation that should be the pride of Tennessee, and in a few years you will see that this is true. Be brave and struggle forward despite the obstacles you meet on the way. Some say when women speak through the ballot there will be things to deplore; this is improb- able, but should such be the case, to prevent the step which means their growth would be a psychological crime. Our state is climbing towards the Light. The trouble Jackson is having with juvenile delinquency is the same old thing. We have passed a law which keeps us from confining the children in jail with hardened 23 criminals, we certainly do not want to change that. Now we must handle the consequences, which as we have seen, always follow a change. The remedy for the trouble is this: We must have a school which will care for the delinquent child until he is normal. The best teachers we can find should be in charge of this school, for all depends upon the personal touch. A board- ing school for West Tennessee delin- quents. There is not much use in dis- cussing the institutions of our state, however, as long as there is personal ownership in business, etc., the state institutions will be inadequate. State ownership in all lines of busi- ness will solve our problems for then our state could bloom out with all remedies necessary to cure our ills. 24 IV. How much genius lies hidden under the daily struggle for "a liv- ing" will be known only when that burden is lifted. Then and then only will the flowers of thought bloom as they should, then and then only will dreams of the perfect life come true. Day in and day out some men and women know nothing but toil and sleep. Worse than animal's life; this is the life of a machine. It is the entire life of many. Others manage to accumulate by middle life enough to have an idle hour or so daily, but it is too late to mean much to either themselves or their state. Is there a remedy for the "daily grind" and the joys and dreams that it crushes? There is. It is perfect co-operation of every unit or individual of a state. This can only be brought about by state ownership. Perfect co-opera- tion is only secured when all work for the same end. 25 Place the picture of a perfected state before our Tennesseans let each feel that he has a share in mak- ing it perfect, let each feel an indi- vidual ownership, let each draw from it his existence, let the state ap- point his hours for work, his hours for leisure, development and recrea- tion and he will work as he never worked before, study political and social questions as he never studied before, will dance and sing in the public parks and halls like a child free from fear of what tomorrow will bring, free from thought of self knowing that he has only to do his part for the whole state and life and joy abundant is his. Oh, the bitter- ness of the personal, selfish struggle ! How it cramps and hampers! It could then be forgotten and real growth and beauty of soul would be- gin and our state attain its true per- fection. Think what it would mean to do away with competition in the com- mercial world. Competition keeps alive the savage instincts in the race. 26 There are some who have not gotten above the savage line and they glory in the life. It is a strife between brother and brother; hours are con- sumed in planning to draw the crowd and the money our way. The strain to outdo a brother is wearing on nerves and brain and in the end what? A life spent in trying to get the material comforts, with scarcely time to think of the higher joys that music, art, literature or the contem- plation of Nature would have brought. The broadest life is the most joy- ous life. The soul that is least per- sonal is the greatest soul. The prac- tical way to attain this broad life, this great soul, is to believe in and work for state ownership. Would we like our mail handled by corporations or individuals? No. Then why do we permit our rail- roads, our groceries, our clothing to be? Has any one thing done more for humanity than the education of the child by the state? Then why not 27 have the sick treated and nursed by officers of the state? Public parks with music and dancing pavilions, public automobiles and street cars, art galleries and caffetieres. Why do corporations and individ- uals wish to hold on to the various enterprises when they would have all the comforts and luxuries of life with more ease than they have to- day? Their hours of work would be regulated by the state and their only responsibility would be to do the state's work well. State ownership would give all an opportunity. State education pre- pares all for the various occupa- tions. State amusements would give each community a chance to become harmonious for it is in the natural joy hours that souls flow into each other. The problems of handling the mail and of educating the children has been solved, the other branches of life can be just as easily managed. We would not go back to the old way with either the letters or the 28 children, and when once tried we would not let our food, clothing, means of transportation, shelter or amusement pass back into the old personal ownership. One hundred good, live young men and one hundred interested women could bring Tennessee into this state of mind if they would work to that end. Oh, what an achievement that would be ! No poverty, no crime, for there would be no opportunity for idleness or cause to commit theft- each unit would be compelled to do his part or go elsewhere where another system obtained. There would be different grades of work as there are grades in the school and men and women who desired and were fitted for higher places would advance. How great it would be to have our little state first to adopt the new method of government. Why do we want these ideas adopted by de- grees? (they are sure to be advanc- ed with each meeting of the legisla- ture that grants a pension for this 29 and a pension for that) when a re- organizing through and through by some master statesman would bring heaven to us at a bound. Can we not find a leader who will so inspire our people with trust and love that fhey will be willing to place in his hands the right to re- organize and re-construct our state along modern lines? 30 V. In last article a plea was made for state ownership. We will now look upon it from different view points. The Commercial View. We know that what is called "big business" is far in advance of "little business"; we know that after con- solidation the same amount of busi- ness may be done with much less ex- pense and work, yet fear has taken possession of us and we cry "down with big business, back to the old ways." Why not make the cry "on- ward another step," and have the state buy in the organizations? This would be real progress. It is a shame to destroy the wonderful mechanism of a gigantic corporation. It is really a beautiful structure and represents the brain and brawn and hours of toil of some of our most talented men. It is the output of soul force and should be registered "good." 31 Good, but not complete. Not finish- ed, while one man or several hold the whip over others. Not perfect, while prices and hours of work and the benefits that all should enjoy do not radiate from a center common to all the state. "Big Business" means that the very best that can be secur- ed has been selected and bound into a whole; the step to perfect it for the use of humanity is to have all "big business" owned by the state. Not regulated, but literally possess- ed by the people's state. 2. The Political Viewpoint. Such a state will have no political parties. We have heard often that it would be impossible to do without parties in politics. Well, party poli- tics is about one of the oldest, most threadbare things we cling to. Why in the world we do cling to the meth- od, is hard to understand. By the time women get the ballot, civil ser- vice examinations will have taken the place of the elections and the ballot not used except for choosing rules. From the governor or head 32 commissioner down to the most humble official, applications and ex- aminations will take the place of elections and appointments. There can be no graft worked because the examiners and judges will have just what the state allows them for ser- vices and no more. 3. The Religious Viewpoint. To think of others before self is certainly the Christ life. And where state ownership prevailed the thought would all be for others or the good of the entire state, so there would be no chance whatever for selfishness. One can readily see it was the plan the Master had in mind when He made His two rules for the perfect kingdom: (1) Love for the best and highest; (2) Love for oth- ers. The kingdom of heaven being within each soul, it is necessary that it be manifested on earth, and state ownership bringing a condition op- posed to the selfish or personal life, meaning a life lived daily for others, is the practical way to mani- fest this kingdom. 33 4. The Social Viewpoint. Some one said: "None will be perfectly healthy until all have health; none will be perfectly pure until all are pure; none will be perfectly happy until all are content." We know that good and bad bod- ily conditions are contagious, just as good and bad mental states are con- tagious. There is a constant ex- change on both physical and mental planes, a constant flowing in and out, from individual, to individual. So of course one cannot be perfectly well until all have health. It is as necessary to our health that the homes of our cooks, nurses and washwomen be sanitary and comfortable as that our own are in proper condition. "That none can be perfectly pure until all are pure," is equally true for the interchange of thought and influence is more real and powerful than the physical contamination. "That none can be perfectly hap- py until all are happy," is a truism, 34 for we all are affected by the scenes of poverty, sickness and unhappi- ness that we see around us. When there is no poverty, when the sick are scientifically ministered to, when all have opportunity for joy, scenes of unhappiness will be things of the past. Crime causes much sorrow. When humanity has what it wants, food, shelter, employment, amuse- ment and laws which make way for the outlet of natural joys, there will be no crime; all this we expect to have under the new system. The Domestic Viewpoint. The minds of both man and wom- an will be fixed upon the ideal state and the part they are to play therein. This will make for har- mony and content in homes. There will be no time to think of the little shortcomings that each may have. It will be a constant putting their heads together and planning for something that will advance the state; this will bring perfected sympathy. Plans made together at night to execute next day busy and 35 happy because it will mean more happiness for others. In this state mothers will draw their compensa- tion from the government, for their work is the most essential work of all citizens. There will be no wants unsupplied and no thought of one family trying to eclipse another, as each will regard the other as a nec- essary part of the whole. So we see how commercially, po- litically, socially, religiously and in the domestic life this system shows its superiority over the old one now in practice. VI. The sociological psychology of Germany is very unique. The polit- ical construction of the nation is mysterious and almost incompre- hensible. The fact is it is a dual people. The home-loving, tranquil, music-loving people on the one hand and the feudal, aggressive lords, rulers and land owners on the other. Education in Germany is more general than in any other country; college education of the masses, common rather than rare. This gives strength and substantiality to the whole nation, it makes a dependable people. Underneath the upper crust of feudalism there is a people wonderful in their strength and power, but a people feeling that as yet they must for the sake of the state they love be subservient to the head. They have not yet seen the way to the full completion of better things. There is no country on our globe 37 where more social legislation has; been enacted. Underneath the hard adamantive crust, that prevents its bursting into light and power, grows and lives an almost perfect world. In our country, America, the po- litical philosophy allows every one to do very much as he pleases. In Germany the common good is a mat- ter of constant concern. State po- sitions are highly prized, are remun- erative, carry dignity and social po- sition and a pension on retirement. The state is the greatest of all agen- cies of service. We emphasize the rights of the individual in our pres- ent government, his property and rights are jealously protected by our constitution and laws. It is assumed that the state should have as little as possible to do with business and that all industries should be left to pri- vate enterprise. This is a philoso- phy born of pioneer conditions and we still cling to it. In Germany even despite the hard feudal crust the people have outgrown us. The field 38 of socialism in Germany is being constantly extended. At present all forms of transportation are in the hands of the state, railways, canals, waterways, docks, harbors, tele- graph, telephones and express. Coal, iron and potash mines are operated, while many great forests and agri- cultural lands are owned by states and cities. There are state printing works and banks yielding splendid revenues to the state the printing works in 1913 contributed $800,000. Oh, if the remnant of the feudal sys- tem could but melt away under the warm, common interest that the peo- ple in Germany feel, what a glorious country that would be! But, no, it remains to America to be the beacon light. Germany has made its mis- take in beginning at the wrong end and it seems very much like she would lose her all. The crown and the nobles or big land owners and capitalists have al- ways been in harmony in Germany, (this is unlike England where they are often in disputes), hence the 39 great strength and power to com- mand and rule the people. The great ideals held by the people can be only half expressed on account of the iron relic of feudalism that stands in the way. If the crown and land owners cry "fight," fight the people must; though their hearts be by their fire- side where music and love dwell. One of the great sources of the strength of the German people, as we have said, is that all are educat- ed. Vocational training is given to all. Farming and city planning are taught as well as training for all state positions. No one is allowed to step into a state or municipal office without being duly prepared and his qualifications ascertained by exam- ination. The care Germany takes of her aged, her unfit, the methods she uses for her unemployed, the laws for protecting her laborers in industry, the mothers of children, all should be lessons to other countries that are less thoughtful of humanity and more backward in philanthropic ideals. 40 With all her beauties and wonder- ful achievements we may far out- shine Germany and become perfect- ed as a state if we can but convince the public that a common interest in all things, that a common ownership and a mutual enjoyment of all bless- ings radiating from the state is the heighth of good government and the zenith of human happiness. The very fact that Germany has placed so much in the hands of the state which in her case means in the hands of her ruler gives more pow- er to that ruler to use for weal or woe. All telegraphs, railroads, etc., may be used at will. In our case such instruments would be not the crown's, but the people's, and the people's voice alone could command their action. Let us take the example of Ger- many's wonderful people and adopt lheir methods of government and education; we that are not afflicted with the oppression of crowned heads that have handicapped her best efforts, and grow into a won- derful power and example that the whole world will rejoice to imitate. 41 VII. When we speak of state owner- ship immediately a cry goes up, "Oh, that is Socialism and Socialism is anarchy and that means free love," and everything dreadful. Are we too busy in this workaday world to stop and get a clear idea of terms? Anarchy means violence against the state. Socialism means love for the state. An anarchist is an individual who wants his own individual way so badly that he will throw a bomb to get it. A Socialist is an individual who loves his neighbor as himself wants to see the community or state prosper even if he makes sacrifices himself. Anarchy means no law or order; Socialism, the highest law and order. They are exactly opposite in mean- ing so do not let us display ignor- ance by making the ridiculous state- 42 ment that any similiarity exists be- tween them. Then when we say, "Oh, Socialists believe in 'free love,' " that is also an absurdity. Love, whether "free" or "tied up," is a private matter and for the individual to decide; and wheth- er he believes in its freedom of ex- pression or smothering it for the sake of conventionality, has nothing to do with whether he is a Democrat, Republican or Socialist. The Socialist is one who advocates the birth of children and stands for their proper care and upbringing and as the home at present is the best place to achieve this end the Socialist advocates the peaceful, in- telligently ordered home. The Socialist deplores the fact that so. many young men on account of low wages and the struggle it takes to maintain a family, are deprived of creating a home and believes under a new system more citizens would be created and far less waste of life be perpetrated. There will be a more sane and 43 higher type of mating when the con- sideration of the whole state takes the place of individual rights. There will be fewer marriages for a sup- port. We will found our love upon similarity of tastes, we will love those who "love the things we love," rather than be drawn by some per- sonal pectilarity. Those interested in forestry and gardening will form a contract to live and work together for the beautifying of the state in that line; those interested in writing books or making speeches on latest discoveries in statesmanship will wish to spend their lives together, etc., so there will be closer bonds than now exist where the man is money-maker and the woman house- keeper. Housekeeping has become so simplified that it cannot absorb a woman's entire energy. Woman has ceased to be satisfied with the role of queen or toy or squaw; she must be comrade and friend and an equal partner and thinker. If she is not this, there will be un- happiness, dissatisfaction, incom- 44 peteness. H. G. Well's novel, "The Passionate Friends" is a wonderful picture of the yearnings of the wo- man of today. She is going through a rather painful step in her evolu- tion. She longs and feels the desire to be individualized, yet there is tugging at her all the old traditional training of primitive woman. The woman in the business world often feels that she would give up all for a home and the woman in the home feels a longing for a real partnership in her husband's affairs Or this energy has no special end in view and is wasted in affairs of vanity and trying to build up a machine to sustain her popularity in society. Wider, deeper, more beautiful in- terests will fill our lives and loves when state ownership prevails. We need not fear that passion will run riot quite the reverse will take place. There will be openness and sincerity and the spirit of life, rath- er than the mere letter and form, will be respected. Those who have branded Social- 45 ism with the "free love" theory have been paid opponents, and we sup- pose their foundation was that Socialists pride themselves on sin- cerity and cry out for a right ad- justment of affairs rather than de- ceit and hypocracy; and all who know anything of life know of the "under the surface" practices that abound today. Not the Socialists but the "powers that be" in Europe are clamoring for free and unhampered living be- tween men and women, that child- ren may be born to feed the war god. But that is in keeping with war. The Socialist believes not in war or in excess of passion, but in peace- ful citizenship, arbitration, open life, pure love and carefully cared for children. 46 VIII. "To give according to one's abili- ty; to receive according to one's need." This is the motto of the new state. Some will exclaim: "Yes, and we will be taking care of all the idle and worthless." Not at all. The need of one may be to be put to work; the need of another may be education or vocational training; the need of another to be sent to a san- itarium. No idlers will be tolerated; the unfit will be made fit or they will find no congeniality in this state. What we are all wanting to find is a way to help others, that is really helpful to others. We are trying this in a helter, skelter way that is a fail- ure. Anyone who has worked in any charity organization for a while and given a barrel of flour here and a ton of coal there, a few dollars to be expended as the donee desires, knows that there is really no good done the poor are just as poor 47 after such gifts and are more help- less. "It were good that there were no poor," says St. Augustine, and that is exactly the state we wish to create. We have all along been mis- interpreting the Master's words, "the poor you have with you, al- ways" begin work to do away with poverty and we will find the exact meaning of His words; many phras- es in the Bible are not understood because we have not the divine light to see; so do not let us rest on our oars and claim that we understand yet. We will have the poor as long as we are content with the Light we now live up to that is certain. State ownership pre-supposes a high degree of understanding and development. It will not prevail with those who are yet swamped in the ideals of the savage. "To get, to have, to hold," belongs to a race of people that we are supposed to have left behind. We teach our children in the Sunday school and school by precept to be unselfish we preach the community spirit and 48 when they look out from the school room what do they see? In the com- mercial world, in the political world, in the social world, in the religious world, in the domestic world everyone fighting for their own rights. The unselfishness that is practiced is that which bursts through the code and comes as a fresh impulse of the soul despite our systems. The growth to higher things is going on in the soul of man and we should arrange our state ac- cordingly. Yes, we really want to help others, we know it is foolish to hoard more than makes us com- fortable, we feel that we want all to be comfortable, to have fires in win- ter, ice in summer, food, clothing and some joy hours, then why not found our state upon these lines? If we do not embody our ideals in state policy we cannot enjoy their benefits or make them practicable. Unless we make the state the great receiv- ing heart of all good things, that may in turn pump out its blessings to the people, we will not have a 49 prototype of God on earth. We cry to God for all we need, but first we must give Him all He requires. Let us follow up this figure of speech. Suppose there is a wonder- fully organized State Health Com- mission that at the first intimation of sickness of a citizen sends phy- sician and nurse and medicine suffi- cient for cure? Would not this be like Providence stepping in at the opportune moment? Of course each citizen would have contributed his mite to the commission yearly. This makes the Public Health really a matter of public concern and con- verts what we call a private citizen into a public one. Nothing makes for the strength of a state so much as the co-operative interest of the in- dividual units. Australia is baking all bread for its people. A wonderful success this has proved. The people get bread at half former cost and the state has a revenue. As good as these bits of state-own- ership have proved to be, it is not 50 the wisest plan to let them creep in one at a time. The entire state should be reconstructed along mod- ern lines to make the system safe and sound. To the capital should be summoned at least one hundred leading men and women property owners, laborers, statesmen and bus- iness men; and a great Industrial Commission formed by combining the minds of the classes represented. This Industrial Commission to be subdivided into Capital, Labor, Statecraft. (This Industrial Com- mission would thresh out the State- owner-ship problem.) This great gathering or convention would rep- resent the welfare of the entire state no party affair, no time or brain wasted in trying to outwit an un- friendly faction, but an open dis- cussion of the entire state's interest. "United we stand, divided we fall." Our divisions and "pulling apart" attitudes have kept us in a tottering condition so long that to get into a sober, brotherly mood would be so novel and peaceful that we would 51 not know ourselves. If we do not think we are being fought against we soon lose the desire to fight, and if we can destroy the fear that just outside the closed door of a party convention there is another party planning our downfall we will have gained much. State ownership, officials chosen by examination and not by ballot, a strong recall law, and we could start things to moving on a plane one degree nearer heaven, anyway. Why do we cling so tenaciously to old forms? Why do we plod along in old ruts? In them we have found political strife and commercial war- fare. We preach against selfism yet we continue to plod its road. All nature around us calls upon us to give. We must learn the lesson. If we do not give cheerfully, that which we treasure passes from our grasp; so it were better that we step for- ward into the light and offer up our possessions to make the whole com- plete. "Service not gain" is the high- est order of life, let us school our- 52 selves to become at home in its ranks. That State or Nation is strongest, that has the greatest number of well educated, public citizens. Each child under the state system will receive an education; each citizen may be converted from a private, selfish citizen into a public one by adopting the new state policy of state owner- ship, and when all private citizens are changed into public ones the Golden Rule has come true. In that time we will hate war so that we will not let it come near us, we will love peace; we will hate idleness and love work; we will turn from self-indulgence and study statecraft; we will form a state abounding in wonderful state institutions and magnificent state industries; a state that will be our pride, our joy, our stronghold. 53 A LAST WORD. In the new state there will be no anxiety about sickness or old age; no fear that children will not be cared for and educated. There will be no slums, no unsani- tary houses, no cheap factories. There will be good roads, electric cars all over state, public clubs, parks, gardens, schools, sanatori- ums, music and lectures. Self-gratification will be express- ed in self-development, not dissipa- tion. Self-realization in service, not gain. You will pay the municipality for rent of home. If a farmer, you will pay state for land, and rent will come back to you in highways, public telephones, elec- tric cars, etc. If a merchant, you will become a member of the state distributing service. Your rise will be according to your worth, you will have security 54 for living, an assured old age, short- er hours, more freedom, greater opportunity. If a mother, you will have an in- dividual income from state in pro- portion to number of children. A physician will be an honored member of the great public system for maintaining health. A lawyer, while no private solici- tor will be needed, the state will be his field and points of state organi- zation and adjustment his occupa- tion. An artist will compete with the world through national critics and galleries; if he finds he is not com- petent, schools will be open to him and work until he is proficient. A cook will be scientifically train- ed, a master of pure food prepara- tion, heads of public kitchens, from which neighborhood meals will be served if desired. To the laborer or one having "a boss" we would say : that the dignity of his position will be increased one hundred fold; by working for the 55 State and having a real living inter- est in all industries he can assist in regulating hours, safety, etc., re- garding his daily task. There is an ego within each of us, that wants its own voice in its own work, and it matters not how good, how kind the master the fact that there is a master (perhaps a benefactor) makes an uneasiness within the in- dividual breast. The capitalist or landowner will perhaps not be bothered with tracts of land, but will become joint owner with fellowmen in his state, and a happier citizen. So our state becomes an orderly working organization in which all its citizens play an active, happy part. Friend, do you not like the no- bility of the system? Are you not tired of the old po- litical methods, that require that you scheme and plan behind a brother's back to win? Are you not weary of the strain that the old com- mercial methods place upon you? 56 Planning at night to advertise goods cheaper than your brother in the morning? Mr. Ford is a capitalist. He longs to divide with humanity his im- mense income. How very simple it would all be if he would sell out for a nominal sum to Uncle Sam. With Mr. Ford as manager the business would continue to prosper, but Uncle Sam would be the distributing power and we would see the great pile of dollars converted into won- derful school buildings with free lunch rooms for the children, or jitney Fords that would carry them lo the county high school or beauti- ful flower gardens along the public highways. To socialize a state is to make it one in policy and the property of the people. No political parties, no personal commercial centers prevail in the really socialized state. So do not confuse the term "socialize" with any party it is the only term that can be used to convey the unity conceived. The Democratic or Re- 57 publican party might adopt state ownership in its platform, but lit will not be effectual, any more than it has been in the Socialist party, until they give up the ballot and adopt examination for office hold- ers. It just happens that the Social- ist party, being a new organization, has adopted some of the latest, most improved methods of government so it will do no harm to the organiza- tion of the state as a whole to acknowledge that they have brought forward this good plan. We are in nowise going over to them, but simply bringing part of their plat- form over to us. This new state policy was a lead- ing topic of discussion in our last century; it will be the leading one in this. And adopted by all long before its close. The term state is used in a gen- eral way. National ownership and municipal ownership will be adopt- ed in cases where more expedient than state ownership. Let us stand for a moment on the 58 outside of all parties and see our state the center of justice and har- mony, the property of its citizens instead of a battleground of in- dustrial and political fighters; get- ting the vision well into our souls let us hasten to bring about its ma- terialization. 59 University of California Library Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. liCll; SEP 1 6 DUE 2 WKS FROM DA 21)04 UCLA ACCESS SRVICES Interlibrary Loan : '630 University x 51575 00 X72M fABLE E RECEIVED Research Library 0035-1575 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY A 000 084 538 8 Univer Sou Lil