ed and disgust for the new system, which would prevail among the
millions who would be dispossessed of their property, after long years
of work and careful saving in order to purchase it, there would also be
boundless dissatisfaction on the part of persons who, still respecting
God's Commandments and the sense of right in natural conscience, would
want to see justice and honesty reign throughout America.

Finally, if partial payment were made, both those opposed to full
compensation and those in favor of it would be displeased because of the
reasons given, which would still influence them very decidedly. If the
indemnity paid were very small, the former property owners and all
honest citizens would be those especially offended. If the amount paid
were large, dishonest Socialists would take offense. Therefore, no
matter which plan of expropriation were adopted, the state would make a
great number of new enemies.

Though we learn from page 186 of the "Proceedings of the 1908 National
Convention of the Socialist Party" that the delegates to the convention,
after a factional dispute on party principles, declared by a vote of 102
to 33 for the collective ownership of _all_ the land, and thus
determined that the state should take over all the farms of the country,
still it cannot be denied that a great number of Revolutionists have
claimed, especially of late years, that the government should not
dispossess the small farmers of their properties. On account of the
rival theories of the two contending factions, the Socialist state might
have to pass through a serious ordeal before either plan was adopted.
Should the new government finally determine to take possession of such
property, millions of farmers and their families would become
exceedingly hostile to the government. Should the state allow former
owners to cultivate the fields about their old homesteads, the
discontent would be but partially lessened, for strict obedience to the
commands of government bosses would replace the freedom of action once
enjoyed by the farmer's family.

Pages 167 to 190 of the "Proceedings of the 1908 National Convention of
the Socialist Party," and pages 220 to 235 of the "Proceedings of the
1910 National Congress of the Socialist Party," convinced us that very
many of the Revolutionists who oppose government ownership of _all_
land do so in order to gain votes. It seems highly probable, therefore,
that if Socialism became the law of Americ