The Social Science Club held its meeting on Sunday evening, January 26, at Industrial Hall, Broad and Wood Sts. The speakers representing different schools of reform, talked for half an hour each.

Mr. G. F. Stephens opened on Single Tax, stating its fundamental basis thus: first, a man owns himself; second, a man has a right to what he produces, wherever he is allowed to labor; third, what no one made belongs equally to all (the land). He then said as we had all heard this elaborated before, he would use his time in criticising present conditions; and other schools of reform. After stating the evils of present conditions, with which we are all familiar, he said of the government, He who runs may read, and he who reads had better run, if he have anything in his pocket! Of State Socialism, he said that it was the refuge of weak minds, who had first appealed to God to help them; and failing to get help from there appealed to the Devil (the State). Anarchism was an impossible ideal; his argument amounted to this: That there are no Anarchists, and that if there were, they would neither have the courage to state it, or to follow the argument to its logical conclusion.

Then followed Mr. Bilgrim, on Individualism. He argued for free commerce, free money—and free competition generally. Government only to protect life and property.

Mr. J. C. Frost followed on Socialism. In answer to the Single Tax proposition, he argued, first, that a man had not made himself, therefore he did not own himself, but society having contributed in every way to his making, owned him; second, that a man could not produce anything wholly by himself, therefore there was nothing he really owned. The Single Tax proposition on land he accepted. If Mr. Stephens believes government is a devil, why does he argue for a little devil to administer the Single Tax? he asked. He then showed that neither Single Taxers nor Individualists were logical.

Brown then spoke in favor of absolute liberty. He said no man had ever seen Anarchism in its fullest light. Each only saw and stated details. It was not merely a revolt, not alone a protest. It was both a far-off ideal and something to apply to everyday methods, of which none had expressed more than a few details. All the great literary artists were Anarchists in literature. We had Anarchism in religion, since no man was compelled to conform to any religious creed. Science is Anarchistic in expression. In economics we had yet to fight for Anarchism; but this was the least part of it, and at this stage in civilization, society ought to feel ashamed that this was not yet settled. He then applied Anarchism to speech, showing what it meant—the right to say disagreeable things, if one chose; and pointed out what would result—that the man or woman who made themselves disagreeable would eventually be the losers by it. Then he applied it to free love; with this he said many would not so readily agree when they saw what it meant. He then stated that Socialism and Anarchism were the only logical positions. Single Tax and Individualism amounted to this: Government is a blunderer, and a bad thing in affairs of life; therefore when we have something really important we will call on government. Socialism in its proper attitude was slavery to the State.

Mr. Kenan replied in Mr. Frost’s place, saying Socialism was really an effort to free the individual. Government was one man stepping from a doorway, seized by a second who held his hands while a third rifled his pockets.

Mr. Stephens stated in answer to a man being owned by the State, that he, undoubtedly, gained something from association with his fellows, but they certainly also gained something from him, hence the debt was paid.

Comrade Brown was asked for his method. My method is, he replied, not to vote men into office. Every time you drop a ballot at an election you give a portion of your liberty into the hands of some other man. Not to serve men in power, or any other government official. Neither help in any way, nor at any time call on government for assistance, and it will fall of itself. It was noticeable that the severest criticism of government was made by governmentalists—Mesrs. Stephens and Kenan.

Mary Hansen.

Philadelphia, Pa., 202 Emery St.