The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-28
SOCIALISTS IN ROW
New Organization Is Started in
Topeka.
Opposed to the Sunday Theatre
Opening Movement.
ALSO TO CURRY REGIME
Charge Old Society With Favor
ing Liquor Interests.
Repudiate Acts Of the. Parent
Organization.
ALSO TO CURRY REGIME

There is split in the Socialist
party in Topeka and a new local
has been organized with 80 members.
T. r. Lakewood is the president, and
V. n. Dart, secretary.
The new organization is decidedly
opposed to what is known as the
Curry regime and the Sunday open
ing of theaters and any alliance with
the liquor movement. The resolutions
adopted are az follows:
Whereas, The socialist philosophy
IS manifeStly opposed to exploitation
and the socialist party being organ
lzed for the purpose of ending ex-
ploitation, it i'll becomes a body of
socialists to assist certain CAPITALIST
and whenever socialist local, hold
Ing charter from the state Organi-
zation lends it's aid and comfort to
the interests of exploiting capital, let
the preteXt be what it may, whether
it be Sunday theater opening or
what not; they have trailed the red
banner of human brotherhood in the
dust and mire of sordid greed and
have caused the blush of shame to
mantle the face of their class asso-
CiateS and
Whereas. The Topeka socialist
local has attempted under the guise
Of socialism to insert an opening
wedge in behalf of the manufacturers
and merchants association, an asSo-
citation of which a prominent city Of
fetal is the national vice president
and the local president, an associa-
ton ORGANIZED and maintained for the
ests and necessarily all of the concur
rent evils which follow in the wake
Of liquor traffic. While the social
lists of the world have not taken a
stand for or against the liquor ques-
ton, yet they do stand as against eX-
ploitation in any form Mr.. Frank
Curry, who is passing as a leading So
cialist and is holding a high office in
the state organization, is an avOWed
supporter of Mayor Billiard of To-
peka, whom everyone in Topeka
should know is mayor of a capitaliStic
city government and Mr.. Curry, al
though posing as a socialist, is not
a member of the socialist party as he
has by his own act aHenated himself
from the party by declaring himself
for and working in the interest of
Mayor Billiard. This is self evident
and does not call for further elucida-
ton.
Socialists DO not countenance either
open or covert violation of the law. If
they consider a law unduly coercive
or oppressive, they fight it openly by
cious pretext as exhibited in their re-
cent scandalOus and reactionary at
tempt at Sunday opening. The real
Socialists of Topeka disavoW any such
And, moreover, the Socialist party is
organized in the interests of the work
ing class and when they or that phase
of the working class movement called
trades unions are engaged in any laud-
able purpose or act, such, for instance,
as the attempt to settle a controversy
between the employer and the en-
ployed. as instanced in the Crawford
opera house controversy, involving the
stage employees. In order to show the
opera house management the error OF
their way the trades unions of Topeka
advised all uniOniStS and sympathizerS
to seek amusement in other quar-
ters: and, when the movement to close
Sunday theaters, picture shows, etc,
was inaugurated, the unions joined
with this movement in order to make
their contest with the Crawford man
agement more decisive. And now
comes this pseudo Socialist body head
ed by a misled Socialist state secre-
tary, who was engaged to make Social
list speeches between the picture ex-
hibits. who works at cross purposes
with the trades unions of Topeka
thwarting their efforts against Sun
day theater opening
''Can Socialists expect the co-ordi-
nate efforts of the trade unions and
can they recruit their membership
from the ranks of the trades union
lists? Can the Socialists ever hope to
spread their propaganda amongst
them?
Under proper conditions and at the
proper time we feel sure that a ma
jority of the two thousand or more
real Socialists who are not, and in the
nature of the case could not fraternize
with the present Topeka local, would
favor Sunday amusements and all
healthful recreations, knowing that the
workers have but one day in seven for
diversion from their daily automatic
grind. fully recognizing the saying
The Sabbath was made for man, not
man for the sabbath.
Socialists go further and declare
that every man and woman engaged
in the industries of life should have at
least one and one-half days for the
above purposes; and,
Whereas, the Socialist local of To-
peka is dominated by this person
(Curry) and one or two notorious
scabs. we hereby publicly repudiate
them and advise all clean minded So
cialists who are now innocently and
unconsciousIy connected with them
to Come out from among them and
touch not the unclean thing, and be it
further
Resolved, That copy of tn csc reso-
lutions be given to the Socialist press,
also the daily papers and that a copy
be placed in the hands of the Socialist
state secretary.
1T r. HAZELWOOD. Chairman