The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-09-02

J. kerr HARDIE.
fax. He will also visit the United
States to study the presidential
campaign. During the past year Mr..
Hardie made trip around the
world, and made a careful study of
political and economic conditions
and especially the problem Of mill
tarism. His investigations have had
the effect of arousing spirit of OPP
position to everything that smacks
of war, and he is particularly bitter
in his denunciations of the jingo-
istic cliques that have been labor
ing to embroil Germany and Great
Britain during the past year or two
Mr.. Hardic has given out a num-
Der of statements that have agi-
tated the sensational British press
and has caused a great deal of
speculation and excitement.
I'VE won't hght!" is Hardie's ul-
timatum, and when he says I'VE"
he means the millions of working
people of Great Britain.
Suppose that the danger of q
German invasion be real?" says Mr..
Hardie. what is our duty as social
lists and labor men? Is the German
socialist movement fraud, and the
socialist party with it's 100000
voters sham? Is our own labor
smrty with 100000 trade union
~adherents and its magnificent
socialist backing. thing Of no
= meaning? Assuredly not!
when there was trouble threat
ened between France and Germany
over the Morocco affair, what did
Jaures and Bebel do? These repre-
sentative socialists -toited unceas-
ingly, not only in the interests of
peace, but to convince the govern
ing class in both countries that not
only would they oppose war, but
that If war broke out there would
be industrial developments which
would paralyze the whole military
system.
''bomed" up by the lingo press in
favor of capitalistic interests. The
first step in the process Is to excite
feeling of suspicion concerning
the secret arming and designs of
the enemy. In the case of the Beers
it was said there was plot to
drive the British out of South
Africa into the sea! When this
fell calumny had done its deadly
work. campaign Of Wholesale ly-
Ing was entered upon in which the
Dutch farmers of the Transvaal
were represented as selfish mon
sters who oppressed and tortured
the natives, countenanced corrup.
ton in their government, the more
effectively to rob the honest British
trader and mine owner in their
midst, and who crowned their tale
of infamies by treating the miner
of the Rand as u helot.
"There are ghouls whose lust for
blood Is Unsuitable" says Mr.. Har-
die, bitterly. Some of them are
army and navy contractors, for
whom war means feast of fat
things. Elated with their success In
South Africa, these gentry would
be only too delighted to put the
experience they gained there to ac-
count in any other part of the
world There arc milliopc In n and
practically no risk to either life or
reputation. or less detestable
kind. but still on the side of the
forces which have a monetary In.
terest In war, or. ut least, in
! heavy military expenditure, are
builders of men Of war and manu-.
facturers OF arms of precision.
small and large.
More dangerous than these 9th.
ers. because more concealed, are
the great financial houses. For
these war is all but indispensable.
IL nations were always paying of
their debt and not incurring any
fresh debts, money would soon be-
come such drug upon the market
that the rate Of interest would sink
to zero. A good going war which
wastes few hundred million
pounds. provides and outlet for
money and keeps up the rate Of
interest.