Clarence Lee Swartz
Encyclopedia
Clarence Lee Swartz was an American individualist anarchist.
Clarence Lee Swartz' most famous writing is a book entitled What is Mutualism? published in 1927 where he explains the economic system of mutualism
. He edited an anarchist journal called Voice of the People and was an assistant editor for Moses Harman
's journal entitled Lucifer, the Light-Bearer. He was arrested in Kansas City
, MO for distributing a newspaper called Sunday Sun in 1891. The charges were dropped when the prosecutor failed to show in court.
Swartz was a strong proponent of private property
, in the individualist anarchism
sense of the word, and critical of communist anarchism. In his 1927 What is Mutualism Clarence Lee Swartz writes: "One of the tests of any reform movement with regard to personal liberty is this: Will the movement prohibit or abolish private property? If it does, it is an enemy of liberty. For one of the most important criteria of freedom is the right to private property in the products of ones labor. State Socialists, Communists, Syndicalists and Communist-Anarchists deny private property."
Clarence Lee Swartz' most famous writing is a book entitled What is Mutualism? published in 1927 where he explains the economic system of mutualism
Mutualism (economic theory)
Mutualism is an anarchist school of thought that originates in the writings of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, who envisioned a society where each person might possess a means of production, either individually or collectively, with trade representing equivalent amounts of labor in the free market...
. He edited an anarchist journal called Voice of the People and was an assistant editor for Moses Harman
Moses Harman
Moses Harman was an American schoolteacher and publisher notable for his staunch support for women's rights. He was prosecuted under the Comstock Law for content published in his anarchist periodical Lucifer the Lightbearer. He was arrested and jailed multiple times for publishing allegedly...
's journal entitled Lucifer, the Light-Bearer. He was arrested in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, MO for distributing a newspaper called Sunday Sun in 1891. The charges were dropped when the prosecutor failed to show in court.
Swartz was a strong proponent of private property
Private property
Private property is the right of persons and firms to obtain, own, control, employ, dispose of, and bequeath land, capital, and other forms of property. Private property is distinguishable from public property, which refers to assets owned by a state, community or government rather than by...
, in the individualist anarchism
Individualist anarchism
Individualist anarchism refers to several traditions of thought within the anarchist movement that emphasize the individual and his or her will over external determinants such as groups, society, traditions, and ideological systems. Individualist anarchism is not a single philosophy but refers to a...
sense of the word, and critical of communist anarchism. In his 1927 What is Mutualism Clarence Lee Swartz writes: "One of the tests of any reform movement with regard to personal liberty is this: Will the movement prohibit or abolish private property? If it does, it is an enemy of liberty. For one of the most important criteria of freedom is the right to private property in the products of ones labor. State Socialists, Communists, Syndicalists and Communist-Anarchists deny private property."
External links
- What is Mutualism? by Clarence Lee Swartz (1927) - A classic text on Mutualism