Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-02-28
Socialism Ably Presented.

SSSAoAASAA sASAy AASS0AsSNs
Prof. Walter Thomas Mills, the
noted sOciastic exponent, usually an
nounced as "the whiilwind," lectured
in Olympia Theater, Monday evening,
under the auspices of the Local of the
Socialistic party. Mr.. Mills is small
in stature, but it must be admitted is
an expert in the presentation OF his
subject, and why should he not be?
1t is his stock in trade, the means by
which he makes very satisfactory
living, and like the man who rolls the
hoops or manipulates the balls, must
by continued practice attain skill
which commands admiration if not
approval.
Mr.. Mills did not use invective, like
most speakers, in denouncing the
trusts, but used them as object lessons,
for advancing socialistic ideas. He
began with the spinning-wheel as an
illustration of the elementary princi
pie OF labor. 1t was so simple and
universal that it could not be cornered
by the speculator to afford him liv-
ing without labor, until some inven-
tive genius invented the spinning
mule, which did the work of five hun
dred spinners with but single laborer
to watch it and unite broken threads.
This enabled the formation of corpora.
tions into whose hands the whole in.
dustry was soon vested, from the abil-
ity to manufacture cheaper and con-
troll the output. Corporations were,
however, restrained by the demands of
labor, and the organization of labor
led to organization of the trust, and
the necessity of absolute control by
the establishment of manufactures
with American machinery all over the
world, so that all that is now neces-
sary to resist a strike is to transfer the
orders given for any trust product TO
their chain OF factories where the labor
question is not under agitation, to
remain until our laborers are actually
starved into subsection. Their rule,
he declared, was absolute despotic.
Work at their terms or quit, was the
alternative presented, with absolute
means of enforcement. The Republi.
can party did not want to, and the
Democrats could not, afford any relief
under such conditions, and the people
were day by day becoming more alb
jectly helpless.
The object of thinning this dark pic.
ture was to afford q more marked con-
trast to the iridescent shades in
which conditions under Socialistic
rule would afford relief. Just how
they were to be brought about was q
matter that was not clearly present ted.
All the contentment and happiness
incident to peace and plenty was por-
trayed, without the slightest intima-
ton afforded as to the means of At
tainment of that splendid result. The
only admonition given Was to organ.
ize and get into power, without any
thing that afforded any assurance
that the Socialists would be able to
WELD official authority with any bet
ter results than other organizations
for reform.
Prof. Mills is ready speaker and
skillful in arranging tho premises for
the logical climax. The difficulty
lies, however, in his statement OF con.
ditions he claims as facts. He ia on
his way to San Francisco to open .
three-month's term Of an "Interna-
tional College Of Social Economy"
sessions OF which have been held in
several Eastern cities, the latest at
Girard, Ks.