I think I have found at least some of the 1908 Socialist Party Platform, and I thought, since the common understanding of what socialism means has changed considerably over the last century, I'd go through it and see what rings true and what doesn't, to me at any rate.
Socialist Platform for the 1908 Presidential Election.
Public Works Projects. The immediate government relief for the unemployed workers by building schools, by reforesting of cut over and waste land, by reclamation of arid tracts, and the building of canals, and by extending all other useful public works. All persons employed on such works shall be employed directly by the government under an eight hour work day and at the prevailing union wages. The government shall also loan money to states and municipalities without interest for the purpose of carrying on public works. It shall contribute to the funds of labor organizations for the purpose of assisting their unemployed members, and shall take such other measures within its power as will lessen the widespread misery of the workers caused by the rnisrule of the capitalist class.
Public works, eh? I've heard of worse ideas, certainly. I suppose I'd have to see specifics before I'd be totally against them, so neutral here.
Public Ownership. The collective ownership of railroads, telegraphs, telephones, steamship lines and all other means of social transportation and communication, and all land.
Absolutely not, nope, never, sorry, not going for it.
The collective ownership of all industries which are organized on a national scale and in which competition has virtually ceased to exist.
I don't think collective ownership is the cure for monopolies, so no.
Labor. The improvement of the industrial condition of the workers,
(a) By shortening the workday in keeping with the increased productiveness of machinery,
(b) By securing to every worker a rest period of not less than a day and a half in each week,
(c) By securing a more effective inspection of work- shops and factories,
(d) By forbidding the employment of children under sixteen years of age,
(e) By forbidding the interstate transportation of the products of child labor, of convict labor and of all uninspected factories,
(f) By abolishing official charity and substituting in its place compulsory insurance against unemployment, illness, accident, invalidism, old age and death.
This doesn't sound too bad, I guess. Seems rather like what we have today, more or less.
Tax Reform. The extension of inheritance taxes, graduated in proportion to the amount of the bequests and the nearness of kin. -- A graduated income tax.
Again, we sorta have this today, depending on the rates that would be under discussion.
Women's Suffrage. Unrestricted and equal suffrage for men and women ....
Totally and unreservedly in favor.
Senate. The abolition of the senate.
Uh, no, no thanks. I prefer my legislatures bicameral.
Constitutional and Judicial Reforms. The abolition of the power usurped by the supreme court of the United States to pass upon the constitutionality of legislation enacted by Congress. National laws to be repealed or abrogated only by act of Congress or by a referendum of the whole people.
This has the power to be very nasty. Given the things that majorities have been known to believe and have been willing to do to minorities, I'd like an independent judiciary reviewing things.
That the Constitution be made amendable by majority vote.
Aaaaaaah! Flee, flee in terror! The mobocracy is coming!
That all judges be elected by the people for short terms, and that the power to issue injunctions shall be curbed by immediate legislation.
Maybe elected judges, maybe, but I'd rather it was a 'vote on who to kick out every ten years' system, rather than one or two year tenure.
