Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/599

 NOTES AND ABSTRACTS 583

e. g., in Diisseldorf. It is impossible to give exact figures on membership, but large increases are reported from every locality. The party press shows every- where increased circulation. The Vorwarts shows a profit of over $20,000 the last year ; Der Wahre Jacob, nearly $5,000 ; Die 1 Neue Zeit, a deficit of $1,000. The total income of the party was over $180,000. The number of agitation leaflets and books runs high in the millions.

Meanwhile the party is engaged in internal discussions more important than any since the days of the laws of exception. The whole form of the organization is tending toward centralization. These discussions take various forms, one being an attack on the editorial management of the Vorwartz by the Leipziger Volks- zeitung and Neue Zeit. The paper has been taking the attitude of indifference to party differences, holding that it could see no quarrels, e. g., denying the divisions between the Revisionists and the Marxists. It was indifferent toward the general strike and the Russian revolution. The long-smothered discussions have broken out with great intensity, the Vorwartz being at the center of the storm.

The following brief statement shows the struggle. The Vorwartz is not today the same as in the days following the socialist laws of exception. In those days it sought to grasp the difference between economics and politics ; then to set it forth and explain it to its readers. Today the ethical-aesthetic attitude pre- dominates in Vorwartz. It seeks to produce strong moral and aesthetic effects in order to arouse the disgust of its readers against the immorality and hideousness of the existing order. Its former attitude was " scientific socialism ; " its present attitude is " sentimental socialism."

It is impossible to give reports of the work of the congress, only Associated Press dispatches being available. These report three topics of the convention: the question of celebrating May i ; reorganization of the party ; the " political mass strike." The discussions reflected the strained relations now existing in Germany. The kingdom of Saxony, together with several Hanse cities, among them Hamburg, has taken steps for the restriction of popular suffrage. On account of this, the party decided that, if anything definite was done in this direction, the mass strike would be declared. This action is significant because the general strike has been disdained by the German socialists. It suggests what we may see in the United States. The recent action of the capitalist class in Colorado in resorting to violent and illegal means shows what they will do in sharp conflict. It behooves the Socialist party to prepare itself for these attacks. A. M. Simons, in International Socialist Review, October, 1905.

S. E. W. B.

Welfare Institutions of the Royal Transportation Lines of Wurttemberg. The report for the year 1903-4 contains noteworthy items concerning the welfare work of the state railways of Wurttemberg. State pensions to the amount of 362,070 marks were paid. This amount is comparatively small, because the great majority of the operating force belongs to an association which insures them.

There are some changes in the arrangements for accident insurance. This service now includes all who are injured while on duty. The payments to the injured are increased, in severe cases, to equal the wages of the injured. The payments to orphans are increased.

The life-insurance association of employees is incorporated, and is increasing in members and in income.

The 565 dwellings erected for employees and their families are paying between 2 and 3 per cent.

The Savings and Loan Association of Transportation Employees receives deposits, invests carefully, shares profits, and loans amounts up to 500 marks. Members are required to deposit a minimum of 100 marks.

There is dentistry service for railway employees, and it is being extended. Since January, 1904, there has been a dentist-in-chief ( Oberbahnarzt ) located in Stuttgart.

For men employed on the railways, other than regular employees (Beamten), there are special arrangements for insurance paid in cases of illness. From 3 to