Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-22
ROUBAIX. FRANCE.
An Answer to the Pure and Simple
Leaders Who Misrepresent the
Labor Party of France.


Labor Party of France.
The following is a translation from
an article in the Vienna Arbeiter Zeitung.
Roubaix is the center of the textile and
silk weaving industry in the northern part
Of France. The population Of Roubaix is
125, ZOO.
Not only our friends, but very likely our
enemies also, will be interested to know
that there is to day city where the de-
mands Of our communal program have
partly been attained; and attained at that
by workingmen who thereby gave splendid
proof of their administrative talent and
qualified executive and organizing ability;
evidencing even at such an early period
how much can be accomplished in COM
munity surrounded to the utmost by the
influences of highly developed capitalism.
This community is Roubaix, city of 125,
600 inhabitants in Northern France; it is
the center of we'll developed textile and
silk weaving industry. In 1892 the Social
Democrats took possession of the City Hall
of Roubaix; thirty-six workingmen
marched to their seats in the Council
Chamber and the bourgeoisie was Mortified.
They evidently imagined nothing less than
that the newly elected members would now
introduce an era of sympathetic plumber
ing, robbery and outright murder. Later
on, however, the bourgeoisie was con-
soled by the hirelings of the press. These
fellows prophesied that the end Of the So
cialist glory would soon be nigh; these
thirty six representatives Of the working
people would perpetrate SO many follies as
to make themselves the laughing stock Of
all France; now could be ascertained how
little workingmen knew Of municipal mat
tiers and administration, and so on with
much delight.
1t will now soon be four years since So
cialists took control Of the Government OF
Roubaix, and not only did none Of these
prophesies of the press hirelings come true,
but the bourgeoisie, and to certain ex-
tent the big manufacturers, have actually
been reconciled to the turn of things, see
ing that great benefits to all were derived
therefrom. Still the hatred and enmity OF
the adversaries has not quenched and the
"Holy City of the Workingmen's Party
as Jules Guesde, the we'll known Socialist,
has named Roubaix-is in their eyes the
embodiment of Socialism; they want to
strike blow at accomplished Socialism
when they attack Roubaix and its Socialist
administration. Seeing that their prophe-
cies were booked in vain they took to
slandering and accused the Socialists of
treason to principles. These honorable
gentlemen are the same the world over.
Here in Vienna they accused us of the
same thing. Time and again it was
said that our communal program was OPP
portunistic. Likewise the French bour-
| geoisie and their press cossacks have shown
their tender apprehension toward the
principles and program of the Socialists;
they, too, would contend that the munich
pal program, which the City Council OF
Roubaix has set forth and put into execu-
ton, is really no Socialistic program at all;
thew fancy to SOW mistrust and suspicion
into the workingmen, SO as to upset this
fearful Socialist era at the next municipal
election. But such man9uvers will avail
them nothing. The workingmen are
aware what is intended and the accom-
plished facts talk too plain. The Socialist
administration of Roubaix has in short
time proven that the workingmen alone are
capable of running community in the in
terests of all its people.
Let us now review what our comrades in
Roubaix have accomplished since May,
1892, whence they took possession of the
city administration. The new Council had
a balance of 447, 900 francs left by the old
administration, which was nearly all en-
gagged in current public improvements.
The Council initiated its work by at once
appropriating 900 francs for the i'm
provement of the hospitals, increasing the
number Of beds, furnishing better food,
service, relief for nurses, walters, etc. A
few weeks after this needed move they
were minus the balance left by the old ad-
ministration. New means for the estab-
lishment of the Socialist program were
needed. The revenue on the necessaries OF
life was regulated. The program Of the
Socialists Of France demands the abolition
| of the tax on the necesSar1eS OF iIe. Dut'
alas, the City Council of Roubaix could not
at short order annul this tax as it Is pre-
scribed by State, laws. Thus all the
Council could do was to reduce the tax on
all necessaries Of life to minimum and
raise it on all articles of luxury consider
ably. ...
So radical did the Council proceed in this
matter that for instance, common cheese
was nearly exempted from tax, while the
better qualities were attached by much
higher rate. Such things rs face powder,
cosmetics and pomades were highly taxed,
to the horror of the ladies, but assuredly in
the interest of the common good. The
ladies should pay for their paint, was ar
gued. This wholesome regulation OF the
tax on articles of general consumption in
creased the revenue Of the city to the
amount of $50, 900 francs annually. 1t was
a known fact that the brewers were great
tax dodgers, and thus defrauded the people
to the extent of 200, 900 francs annually in
inst taxes, because few Of them sat IN
the seats of the Council Chamber. They
were now brought to justice by the So
| rro ,.,,1-o cl,ort the finoncierlng