Political Demands
The absolute freedom of press, speech and assemblage.
The adoption of a gradual income tax, the increase of the rates of the present corporation tax and the extension of inheritance taxes, graduated in proportion to the value of the estate and to nearness of kin—the proceeds of these taxes to be employed in the socialization of industry.
The abolition of the monopoly ownership of patents and the substitution of collective ownership, with direct rewards to inventors by premiums or royalties.
Unrestricted and equal suffrage for men and women.
The adoption of the initiative, referendum and recall and of proportional representation, nationally as well as locally.
The abolition of the Senate and the veto power of the President.
The election of the President and the Vice President by direct vote of the people.
The abolition of the power usurped by the Supreme Court of the United States to pass upon the constitutionality of the legislation enacted by Congress. National laws to be repealed only by act of Congress or by the voters in a majority of the States.
The granting of the right of suffrage in the District of Columbia with representation in Congress and a democratic form of municipal government for purely local affairs.
The extension of democratic government to all United States territory.
The enactment of further measures for general education and particularly for vocational education in useful pursuits. The Bureau of Education to be made a department.
The enactment of further measures for the conservation of health. The creation of an independent Bureau of Health with such restrictions as will secure full liberty for all schools of practice.
The separation of the present Bureau of Labor from the Department of Commerce and Labor and its elevation to the rank of a department.
Abolition of the federal district courts and the United States Circuit Courts of Appeals. State courts to have jurisdiction in all cases arising between citizens of the several States and foreign corporations. The election of all judges for short terms.
The immediate curbing of the power of the courts to issue injunctions.
The free administration of justice.
The calling of a convention for the revision of the Constitution of the United States.
Such measures of relief as we may be able to force from capitalism are but a preparation of the workers to seize the whole powers of government in order that they may thereby lay hold of the whole system of socialized industry and thus come to their rightful inheritance.
Perhaps you have a friend who believes he knows what Socialism is, but doesn’t. If so, a copy of “The Truth About Socialism” will be mailed to him for twenty-five cents. Prices for larger numbers follow:
| Quantities | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | copies (prepaid) | $1.00 |
| 25 | copies f.o.b. New York | $4.50 |
| 100 | copies f.o.b. New York | $15.00 |
The Socialist Party maintains a National office, for the purpose, among other things, of furnishing any desired information about the party. Upon request, it will furnish lists of Socialist books, newspapers and magazines. Services of this sort are rendered not only freely, but gladly. Address,
National Sec’y of the Socialist Party
111 North Market Street
Chicago
The Truth About Socialism
As the reviewers see it
Philadelphia North American
Nothing in the current and accepted literature of economics avails entirely to controvert the arguments and offset the data here presented, in lucid and almost colloquial form. Mr. Benson’s book takes on readily the aspect of a burning and a shining light.
New York Globe
Many writers have told the truth about Socialism, but not many have told it so racily and with such fire and no beating about the bush as Mr. Benson....
In writing his book he has evidently had in mind every doubt that was ever expressed about Socialism, every question, foolish or otherwise, that was ever asked.... He has sought to write about Socialism sensibly and practically and in the present tense.
J. B. Kerfoot in Life
But the book that did the biting, a reading of which inspired this review ... lays before us not a theory, but a programme ... instead of being merely intellectually alive, Mr. Benson’s book is emotively living and magnetically, radio-actively in earnest. And unless you are mighty thin-blooded or mighty thick-skinned it will raise a good, big itchy lump either on your enthusiasm or your combativeness.
Horace Traubel in The Conservator
The man who can’t make out Socialism after reading Benson ought to suspect himself. There’s something wrong with his machinery. There’s an idiot around somewhere. And that idiot’s not Benson.
Detroit Times
The book will appeal to the thoughtful who desire a concise expression of Socialist thought and argument. He has written clearly and forcibly; he discusses his subject from the practical, not the technical side.
Springfield Union
It is a clearly written statement and the book may be regarded as authoritative.
Send for catalogue of miscellaneous books published by
B. W. HUEBSCH, 225 Fifth avenue, New York
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
- Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in spelling.
- Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed.