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SOCIALISM—WILL IT WORK ? 
By Mr. MARTIN STANESBY. 17th November, 1903. 
Mr. Stanesby said Socialism was with us. Should we stamp 
it out? Before answering this, we must look at the various 
sides—what were the evils Socialism was intended to remove, to 
review as concisely as possible the various efforts which had been 
made for the removal of those evils, and to consider how far it 
was possible for a law-abiding citizen who wished the greatest 
good for the greatest number to obtain his object. No movement 
more than Socialism could say with truth, ‘‘Save me from my 
friends,” for the names of many of its agitators had, with good 
reason, become expressions of opprobrium and contempt. They 
rather should approach the subject as a scientific problem. What 
were the evils which Socialism was intended to remove? This 
was answered by the question: What was the aim of living? 
It was the experience in the greatest measure of the moral, 
mental, and physical happiness which earthly conditions would 
allow, subject to equal enjoyment of those advantages for the 
rest of the human race. Was the human race in a position to 
allow every member to attain those rights? The answer was in 
the negative. What, then, stood between the human race and 
the realisation of the ideal state and the opportunity of enjoying 
the full share of the conditions? It was not wholly intemperance, 
lack of knowledge, want of ability, and lack of thrift. The only 
answer was that the barrier was raised through the exploitation 
of the many by the few, which forced the majority to work, not 
for the good of the majority, but for the good of the minority— 
the competitive system, some chief effeets being cost of produc- 
tion greater, and uncertainty of continuity of employment. At 
the same time this system was the only one possible under 
present conditions, for to strike at the employer, who took the 
risks as to profits and losses, would only result in the worker 
having nothing to strike with. But it behoved them to see if a 
system could not be adopted to prevent waste of labour, the 
support of idleness, and starving labour. The law guaranteed 
sufficient food and clothing to everyone, but to get it a workman 
had to part with everything he possessed. After dealing with 
Socialistic efforts in the past, and stating that Socialism in such 
