The Socialism of To-Day. Edited by William English Walling

19181 BOOK REVIEWS 67 there is little likelihood that it will be- contend with influences of the same nature come a permanent feature of any state’s as those which disturb American practice, system; but as a transitional state in the -committee arrogance, “pork-barrel” movement from the general property tax appropriations, and conflicts between the widely applied to cladcation for taxa- senate and the house. The American tion it will doubtless play an important situation is, however, peculiar in that part. In the states where it has been in- in it the senate has the superior weight, troduced thus far it has been a mark of whereas in other countries the superiority progress.” rests with the assembly. But this superi- The work is both factual and interpre- ority appears to be due rather to the fact tative. It is carefully done, and is a real that the admiistration is present in the addition to literature on taxation. assembly than to any intrinsic remons. ROYG. BLAKEY. This is but one among various circum- University of Minnesota. stances that suggest that effective budget * reform will involve extensive administra- THE BUDGET. By Rend Stourm. New tive readjustments. This is distinctly York: D. Appleton and Company. pointed out by Professor Charles A. Pp. XXVII+619. $3.75 net. Beard, who contributes an introduction This is one of the publications of the to this translation which enhances the institute for government research at value of the work. Washington, and is a companion to the HENRYJONES FORD. volume on “The Financial Administration Princeton University. of Great Britain,” issued by the same * THESOCIALISM OF TO-DAY. institute. The latter was a special report Edited by William English Walling, J. G. Phelps by investigators commissioned by the Stokes, Jessie Wallace Hughan, Harry institute. For a general study of the W. Laidler, and other members of a subject, covering the experience of other committee of the Intercollegiate Social- countries besides England, the institute judiciously availed itself of a standard ist Society. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 642. French work, the seventh edition of Pp. which was translated. The task was not This volume is designed to be a source- eesy as M. Stourm writes from the stand- book of the modern Socialist movement point of French experience and uses tern throughout the world. Its editors are not always readily intelligible to an such as will recommend it to the intelli- American reader. The translator remarks gent reader whether he be or be not a that “the difficulties of rendering official Socialist. By their joint labors these men and technical French into the English have brought together a collection of language, barren of corresponding terms, official Socialist documents, unofficial can be appreciated only by one who has Socialist utterances, and historical mem- attempted it.” These difficulties have oranda of exceedingly high importance. been sutticiently overcome to enable the A full table of contents, frequent cross- American reader to get an intelligent idea references throughout the text, and an of budget procedure in all the principal adequate index, greatly increase the value countries of the world, albeit some details of the publication. Its editors have well are so charged with technicality as to be fulfilled their purpose, for they have indeed difficult reading. The principles of sound produced a book which will lead to a better budget procedure are made clear, and the understanding, and facilitate the scientific information presented is of the highest study, of the modern Sodalist movement. value for light and guidance to the United The material collected is well classified. States. The first 369 pages, comprising Part I, Although M. Stourm views the subject are devoted to the movement interna- from the standpoint of French experience, tionally and by nations. Socialism in it so happens that reform there haa had to Germany is given 30 pages, Socialism in NATIONAL MUNICIPAL REVIEW [January the United States 44 pages, and so on. main in order to facilitate measures nec- Part I1 is devoted to “The Socialist par- essary to the hygiene and sanitation of ties and social problem.” Here the doc- cities, formal recognition of the right of uments and readings are arranged accord- city laborers to unionize, the eight-hour ing to subject matter primarily, and the day for municipal employes, abolition of documents within a chapter are seldom the octroi, at least on foodstuffs, munici- drawn from less than two or three nations. pal insurance against fire, and a score more Here are taken up, under their proper equally interesting. ‘Communal auton- titles, problems of labor unionism, com- omy” or home rule is the first plank in the pulsory arbitration of labor disputes, un- Italian Socialist party’s municipal pro- employment, high cost of living, trusts, gram (pp. 536-538, 544). government ownership, taxation, immi- In Italy the year 1914 was marked by a gration, proportional representation, and heated controversy within the party over other pressing social, economic, and politi- the question whether local Socialist par- cal questions. The purpose of each chap- ties should be permitted to fuse with other ter is clearly to show where the Socialist parties for purposes of temporary political parties stand, and to show, if need be, success. A strong minority insisted upon what controversies there may be within this right, and seceded from the party the party on questions of principle or ex- rather than yield. In the following sum- pediency. It is in this second part of the mer elections the Socialists united with book that there appears a chapter on other radical elements in Naples and “municipal Socialism” which will be of Ancona with consequent success in the exceedingly great interest to readers of elections, whereas in Rome, where the the REVIEW. Socialist party refused to soil itself by By “municipal Socialism,” according to fusion with the bourgeois Democratic bloc, the International Socialist Congress of the Clerical-Conservative candidates car- Paris, 1900, “is not to be understood a ried the day, while the straight Socialist special kind of Socialism, but only the vote was unusually small. The only pos- application of the general principles of sible explanation was that many Socialists Socialism to a special domain of poIitical had voted secretly for the Democratic activity, The reforms which fall under group of candidates. Had all the Socialists it are not and cannot be presented aa done so, some Democratic candidates realizing a collectivist society. They are would probably have been elected (pp. presented, however, aa means that the So- 539-547). cialists can and should utilize for preparing These are but specimens of the material and facilitating the coming of that society. in this chapter. Here are to be found The municipality may become an excel- also the American Socialist party’s 1912 lent laboratory of decentralized economic report on commission government, with life, and at the same time a formidable discussion (pp. 549-557), a tentative draft political fortress for the use of Socialist of a model city charter (pp. 557-559), and majorities against the bourgeois majority a suggested municipal program for the of the central government aa soon aa a United States (pp. 559-562). Then fol- considerable degree of autonomy is real- low the New York and Milwaukee Social- ized” (pp. 532-533). ist parties’ municipal programs, and a Municipal Socialism means, then, some- statement of the results of Socialist ad- thing more than municipal ownership. ministrations in Berkeley, Butte, Schenec- For example the French Socialist party’s tady, and Milwaukee (pp. 562-580). The municipal program of 1912 includes, chapter closes with a statement by Mr. among other “demands,” the following: Sidney Webb on municipal taxation (pp. proportional representation, the referen- 580-581). dum aa applied to city affairs, the right of How the Socialist party profits by the municipalities to form unions and federa- non-partisan ballot is interestingly at- tions, revision of the laws of eminent do- tested by two Socialists in the discussion of 19181 BOOK REVIEWS 69 the report on commission government. nitely arranged outdoor auditoriums which In the words of Delegate Wilson of Cali- would not only Serve a most excellent pur- fornia, “in every city in the state of Cali- pose in affording opportunities for the fornia where we were conducting a cam- presentation of other dramas in the open paign with the non-partisan ballot, the air than those concerned with baseball short ballot and the non-partisan ballot and football, but would be used on great . [we found] that the only political occasions instead of the abominable organization that could hold its strength wooden “grand-stands.” These are in- through the campaign, both primary and variably ugly, invariably of wasteful ex- find, was the Socialist organization” (p. pense, not seldom dangerous to life and 556). Delegate Le Suer gave exactly the limb, and almost always the reason for same testimony for his home town in that wrongful use of our national flag North Dakota. The convention of 1912 which occurs when it hides raw hemlock finally voted to leave to the state Socialist or spruce construction. parties the difficult question of indorsing Professor Waugh tells why the outdoor or condemning the commission form of theatre is worth while, how it may best be government. used, what are its physical essentials, and These are some of the things to be found where existing examples in the United in a volume which in its title betrays no States may be seen. The illustrations in interest whatever in municipal govern- this important volume include diagrams ment. and details, and really illustrate. As we WILLIAMANDERSON. come to realize better the net civic value University of Minnesota.

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