The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-13
The Millennium in Sight.

| anS VIII nave none OF tneIi. oo-Soi0'
| fusion and entangling alliances are a
| sham. entered into and engineered for
| low purposes merely, and any man who
! countenances them can be no honest
| Social Democratic partisan who de-
| tends his faith because of the real in
trinsc merit In IT,
The platform which the Social Demo-
! Gratis have published certainly has much
| In II that attracts. There Is nothing
! lean or hungry about it. 1t breathes Of
abundance and contentment, with sug-
gestions of a millennium that Is to be full
| of good cheer cleanliness, comfort and
| brotherly love. There Is a partial prom
| Use Of remedy for every existing evil TO
" hich the modern municipality is heir,
| and while some OF the recommendations
| for reform may not be sufficiently COM
prehensive and exact, still the outlines
Of the new idea are distinct enough to
allow one to form a faint conception Of
the Elysium whose gates are to be
opened when the Social Democracy pre-
wallis
First OF all the city Is to obtain posses
sion OF all Industries requiring a fran
chise, all such establishments to be
managed directly by the city through
officers and employees OF the same This
sniacks little of the nonpartisan
movement. but that matters not, for
the Social Democrats have as much
right to insist on municipal ownership
of this. that and the other as any other
organization. and as long as they do
not disclose how city up to its debt
limit Is to reimburse the owners Of
existing franchises they are perfectly
safe In arguing in favor of the change.
Viewed broadly. the matter OF produc-
ing the price OF these so-called utilities
Ia a trifle which is neither here nor
there.
Next II is proposed that the city shall
establish mammoth department store,
where all kinds of produce and COM
modities are to be retaled to the people
at cost. There In nothing small about
this idea either. A great market where
one can buy anything from a pin to
pumpkin. from a silk dress to a pound
of sausages is something that will fiji
long-felt want. And to allow the pub
lie TO obtain all these necessities and
Injuries Of life at cost Is certainly heap
hardly deserves such kindly treatment.
OF course this mammoth department
store would ruin the men who have es-
taLiished themselves In trade. invested
their capital. put up their buildings and
bought large stocks OF goods but some
body must suffer IL the city is to do all
the Wholesale and retail business OF the
place. and who can stand II better than
the men who have built up the city by
their enterprise?
The city is also TO construct sanitary
and comfortable hotels and cottages
where people may obtain shelter. lodg-
ing and meals with the elements Il
profit and adulteratlon eliminated. This.
too. is ailuring. Not only is food and
raiment to be forthcoming at cost. but
weli-appointed hotels and delightful lit
tla cottages are 20 be opened to the
landlord ridden community. and with
out extra charge meals are 60 be for
ever coming up with no substitution
ef sand for sugar, oleomargarine for
butter or ohicory for coffee. This prop
osi,ion. taken all In all. In what. In the
ten strike"
The city Is also 20 establish public
bath houses and places OF amusement
I and instruction. such as concert halls,
lecture and conversation rooms. cen
trally located. some OF the Social Dem
ocrats may not strenuously insist upon
The city being too soliei,ous in supply
I ms oouvenienCes and recreation, and a
I few may hold some features In this s0g-
/ gostion ta be useless. but no fair mind
Z ed man among them win deny that pub
/ liz places ot amusement and instruc ton.
/ such as concert halls, lecture and con-
( versatlon rooms. centrally located. are
bound 20 add to the measure Of public
content
Another plank m this almost too gen
+ erous structure provides that the city
shall furnish free medical and legal SER
vice TO all who Apply Tor 1t. Here is a
I usStsr stroke II such a transcendental
I promise as this does not carry the
( Social Democrats into power nothing
Z viii. II is only necessary 70 imagine
I an exemption from doctors bills and
lawyers fees 20 begin 20 appreciate IN
I fancy just what delights are in store
( FOR us II we can but see our way clear
Z a.. sEsss.