Dos Passos, Thomas Decide on Need For Greater Spirit in American Polity

Speaking in a packed Sanders Theatre, John Dos Passos '16 and Norman Thomas last night argued the "Future of Socialism" before the Harvard Law School Forum.

The two men appeared to be in agreement on one main point, that spirit and revitalization are badly needed in present times, whether to further socialist ideas as with Thomas or to work for greater self-government as with Dos Passos.

Dos Passos, the first speaker declared that "socialism is a reality today," although at present, a political "hot potato; a pair of brass knuckles for politicians."

Forty years ago, everyone blamed the evils of the world on capitalism, and the Socialists advocated that self-government be applied to industry as a remedy for this evil, Dos Passos said. "The Socialists wanted everyone to share" and thought that this would solve the world's troubles, Dos Passos claimed.

Socialism has modified the old capitalist method into the present system which appears to be working well. Dos Passos emphasized, however, that this doesn't mean that it always will. The socialist technique has brought us up to this point, he said, but it is no longer the solution to the world's problems.

The existing socialist system, as typified by Great Britain, tends to stagnate, and its adherents lose interest and enthusiasm. This situation can be remedied only by a self-government interested in attaining a definite goal, Dos Passos said.

Thomas strongly echoed this need for a "moral incentive or goal," and pointed out the drop in interest in a third party in the United States as being typical of our "pragmatic period," dominated by "anti-intellectuals."

He declared that in America we are "inescapably committed to collectivism and governmental intervention." This same type of intervention is also necessary in backward countries, Thomas said, where state control must build up countries until they can handle the raised standard of living possible for them.