A Woman's View.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 20, 21 July 1911, Page 5

A Woman's View.

By MANDA LLOYD.

"Dogmatist's" article was surely an inspiration, and as such the eloquent story of its figures will stimulate us all to do our mite towards the speedy doubling of that 7,000,000. Personally, 1 see no reason to doubt "Dogmatism's" conclusions. Is it too much to expect that every Socialist alive to-day will convert one person in five years ? He is unworthy of the name of Socialist who does nox, convert more than one every year. And some of us, like Comrade Mills, are doing much more than that. C myself have seen such a radical change in modes of thought, such questioning of the administration of existing institutions, such a tendency towards bettering the world in tho last ten years, even among people who are not yet Socialists, but who are getting ready for Socialism,-that I'm driven to believe we shall see the social revolution in this our day. Certainly, I think we shall have it in Australia and New Zealand within 20 years. We have, unfortunately £ an army ot workers still wedded to their faith in Labor politicians, but there, are not wanting signs that they will not be gulled for long, and that quite easily within the next ten years they will see tlieir only hope lies in straightout Socialism. Then, wo have another army of middle-class workers, women especially, who have only to realise what Socialism would mean to them, to be among our most ardent enthusiasts. At present, these people really know nothing of Socialism. Their environment is tolerable. It has not forced thorn to revolt as has that of the more class-con-scious wage-earner, who is driven toy vile surroundings and desperate struggle into the fight against capitalism. Among the middle-class there are large numbers of borderers who have only to be got at to be with us. Let mc cite my own case. Until three years ago I knew nothing of Socialism, I was entirely in sympathy with all people who worked, for I had worked myself, had been poor enough to go to bed in the dark to savo candles, had owned but one pair of shoes at a time, etc. My environment improved considerably, but I realised that I was still up against forces that hampered my individuality ; that things were all wrong somehow. Still, I had not .begun to think economically. I learnt of reform, not of revolution. I heard casually of Socialism as a ridiculous fad, and for some time thought nothing of it. Still I knew capitalism was wrong, and I hated the spirit of it. Then, three years ago in Sydney, I heard Socialism preached for the first time. I had only to realise it to believe in it, to know that it was what I had groped towards. Now, I haven't a monopoly over this

sort of experience.. There are hundreds and thousands of people like mc in line with evolution, who to-day don't know Socialism, haven't had it put to them in the wav in which it would appeal to iihem (for we are drawn into the roia by many and various means), haven ti grasped the truth of it, haven't been driven into it by the stress of fighting for mere existence, but who will be o-ot at in the next ten years, and who, like mc, have only to be got at to become believers and workers for the social revolution. . I have been amazed, even during tho short space of three years, to discover how many of my own acquaintance, whom I never previously suspected ot leanings towards Socialism, have com© out of their silence and talked it openly. Personally, I have converted several people, who will vote Socialism to-day where they would have ignored it three years ago ; and I have interested others. I can't claim a monopoly of this sort of thing. I presume every other Socialist is doing likewise. And, if so, I see no reason to doubt that we shall more than double our numbers this five years. I must give you the encouraging opinion of a shrewd mineowner fr° m the Rand, whom I met recently in Sydney. I think, perhaps, the opinion of a capitalist, who would certainly not magnify our chances, will be of more value than that of many enthusiasts who view the movement through rosecoloured spectacles. Said the Rand man to mc: "I hear Socialism discussed wherever I go. In the South African trains, in the hotels, on the boat coming over, men talked,of it. Here they talk of it everywhere. Your newspapers are fighting it. There can be no doubt about its being the question of the day. And ten years ago it was rarelymentioned, and then only toy men obviously cranks or idealists. But now you. have men with brains and practical knowledge with you by the hundred. He seemed quite puzzled; said he liked our spirit of brotherhood, our wonderful enthusiasm, and would like to join us, but he didn't see how we were going to do it. I treasured his opinion. If he finds this astonishing advance in the growth of Socialist thought and action we may presume that it really does exist tliat Socialism no longer hangs its head in underground cellars, but marches triumphantly upon the .gbway. with the fioal in view.