The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1906-07-20


| ii n has made such change lmperatively neces-
sary, if the people are to secure for themselves
! that economic liberty, personal incentive and
| individual initiative es entia to the progress
| and development of free and enlightened
| people. That such change will take place is
/ inevitable, but the day of its happening may
| be delayed or hastened by events, and until
| the change is made the capitalistic system
will enable the few to continue to exploit the
people through either the private ownership
corporate ownership or capitalistic govern
| ment ownership of the dominant tools of pro-
/ ductiOn andi distribution Of wealth. The effect
| OF this exploitation may, however, be miti-
| gated to some extent by reforms under the
| present system, and to this extent only do
| socialists view with favor all such reforms as
are steps in the evolution to the cooperative
| commonwealth. We therefore favor, and if
| given the power, the socialists will use all
| legitimate and constitutional means to bring
| about the following remedial measures:
The ownership by the state, county and
municipality of all public service utilities, as
soon as the people living therein express at
the ballot box their desire to so own them
The municipal ownership and operation Of
dispensat0ries for the sale of intoxicating
liquors
State fire and accident insurance and ma
tional life insurance.
Prohibit the granting of franchises except
by vote Of the people, and then only with
the express right reserved of the people to
take possession thereof upon the payment OF
the actual cost Of constructing the plant.
The election OF all federal judges by the peo-
pie.
The abolition of the United States senate.
The nomination Of all county, state and mu-
nicipal officers by the people at the primaries
The tight of the people TO have submitted to
them any proposed law for adoption or rejec-
tiOn.
g 81
tion when they demand the exercise Of such
right.
The right of the people to recall any officer
elected by them before the end of his term of
office.
The abolition of all laws which deny to wo-
men equal civil or political rights with men,
The ownership and operation by munich
palties of slaughter houses, cold storage plants,
coal and wood yards, ice houses and stock
yards, and state ownership of all grain ware
houses.
The state to furnish free and convenient
daily transpOrtion Of children to and from
school.
Socialists will further stand for and support
every change that will bring more wealth
more culture, and more security to the masses
of the people. But we call attention to the
fact that the measures we urge are not cures
for existing evils, nor are they all socalistic
measures. They to be viewed rather as q
mere palliative, capable of being carried out
under the present capitalistic system and as
measures for the partial easing of the burden
now borne by the people, to maintain sys-
tenn which destroys the home, debauches
manhood, poisons morality, paralyzes person
al incentive and individual initiative, destroys
good and rewards evil, results which will ex-
ist until the people awaken to full realiza-
tion Of their economic condition and vote for
an entire change from the present system to
one which will secure to the people, collective
ly, the ownership of the means of production
and distribution, and thereby secure the bless
ings Of onr modern inventions, and standard
of civilization and culture unknown in the
history of the world and impossible under any
form of capitalism.
Platform Was 0. Il.
The chairman announced that the
platform was open for discussion. No
one expressed desire to discuss it. The
plan of adopting it piecemeal was start
ed and couple OF sections were thus ap-
proved, when it was suggested that if
were no objections to it, it be adopted
as a whole, which was done.
1t was nearing the time to vote on
more important matters, and to deter
mine who was who, and entitled to vote
in the convention, the following resolu-
tiOn was presented:
be IL n6r6Dy resolved JDaC IL Is Cn6 sense OF
this convention that each one present who de-
clares his intention to support the socialist
ticket, and subscribes to the constitution and
principles of the international socialist party
be permitted to have a voice and vote in this
convention.
There was no objection to the resolu,
ton, but it was the sense of the conven-
tion that the signing up could be dis
pensed with without endangering any.
thing, so the signing was postponed.
G. w. Perrine Of COlfax was elected
chairman of the county central commit
tee. J. G. Elliot, nominated for secre-
tary of the committee, was the first man
to decline anything, saying the secretary
ought to live in town. He nominated
Bert Hargrave, who declined because he
was going east and would be away some
time. When it was suggested that he
could appoint deputy to act during his
absence, he relented and was elected sec
retary.
Naming the Ticket.
For sheriff James Jennings of st. John
was nominated by acclamation.
Finding candidate for auditor was a
rather tedious job. The delegates held
back and silence prevailed, broken finally
be the query, "Who wants to be it?''
Ice was eventually broken and c. A.
Ross, c. Fl. Pierce, Brother" bite and
J. G. Elliot we're in turn nominated and
declined. To escape from the dilemma
it was proposed to omit nominations for
some offices, but all who spoke were
against the proposition, one delegate
suggesting that the names of John Doe
and Richard Roe be used rather than to
put out an incomplete ticket. J. M.
East OF Diamond, thought the putting
up Of less than full ticket would not
show good faith. That ended it and
East was nominated for auditor.
Probably because some Of it is tainted
money, the chance for the job of handling
the county's cash was not alluring. An
| drew Johnson, who made the race for
| treasurer once before, declined the nom
/ ination because he is in the liquor busi-
ness. an occupation not recognized or
approved by socialists. P. W. Cox also
declined to run, and Monroe Bryant of
Pullman was nominated. Bryant after
ward withdrew and E. 2. Black of Seats,
was substituted.
Smooth sailing marked the next three
nominations, made by acclamation: W.
F. Wilson of MatlOck, for clerk; Thomas
Neill OF Pullman, for prosecuting attor-