The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-11-24
THE FIGHT TN
OTIS TOWN
BIG BUSINESS INTERESTS
ARE ALARMED AT THE
STRENGTH SHOWN BY So
CIALISTS AND ARE MAX
ING A LAST DITCH FIGHT
BOTH SIDES WORK FOR
WOMEN'S VOTE.
CBy National Socialist Press.)


so-called good government organization.
This will add $4,000 to the already
large slush fund that is being gathered
and spent to defeat Job Hartman and
his associates on the socialist ticket.
The fact that twenty eastern cities
have recently elected the socialist candi-
dates for mayor and that the rising tide
of socialism has swept several hundred
socialists into office has greatly alarmed
the fusionists who have been forced to
combine in the hope of defeating the
working class party.
Until the primary election there was
little alarm but when the immense vote
of the workers was rolled up cry of
pain and alarm went up from the camp
of the oldtime corrupt politicians.
The efforts that are being made to
turn the tide away from the socialists
would be comedy if it were not for the
fact that bribery and corruption is run
ming rampant in a city that has been
fairly clean.
In order to turn public opinion from
the big issues-the steal of lands and
water in the San Fernando valley, the
diversion of Owens river aqueduct waters
to the lands owned by H. G. Otis and
F. T. Earl, the publishers plunder
bund," the grab of $3l 100000 worth of
waterfront at San Pedro harbor, and
similar deals, the good government"
gang is dealing in series of falsehoods
and Misrepresentation of the policy of
the socialists.
While this is going on the workers
are distributing fully 100000 pieces of
literature each week and making 65
precincts resound with enthusiastic hall
meetings and hundreds of outdoor meet
ings each week.
The. Wednesday night meetings are
held in Temple auditorium which ac-
comodates $500 persons Large over
flow meetings are invariably held there.
On one OCCASION the night before the
primary election, the auditorium and
all other downtown halls were filled
and fully 2500O persons listened to
speakers on the streets while the police
vainly tried to stop the speakers from
addressing the throng.
A large store building was rented in
|
the heart of the business district. One
thousand seats were provided and moon
meetings" were started. These meet
ings soon became continuous perform
ances" and speakers were in such de-
mand that an all-day schedule has been
arranged. Business men by the hundred
flock to this meeting which usually be-
gins at noon and runs until 10 o'clock
at night. Sixtyfive experienced speak
ers are in the field. Among these half
dozen among the candidates on the
socialist ticket have developed into elo-
quent speakers and their oratorical
power has brought them much local
fame. The campaign has developed a
number of writers and the literature
distributed is bright and clever, dealing
with the needs of the hour.
| Two printing establishments, the Citi-
zen Press and the White Press, entirely
manned by socialist workers and en-
ploying about forty men, are being run
on three-shift schedule, turning out
copies of the Coming Victory. This pub
lication was started early in the cam
paign and the last of them off the press
will be full sized newspapers with eight
pages, run on the presses of daily
paper and reaching 10000 circulation
The distrbutive team consists of 245
precinct captains and scores of lieuten-
antsl It. is claimed that l25,000 pieces
can be put into the homes of the people
inside of five hours after a signal is
given.
Among the literature that has been
in great demand is the platform adopted
by the convention several months ago
This is considered one of the strongest
documents that has been issued. Since
the women have gained their vote there
has been redoubled interest in the cam
paign. The women's committee is com
posed of 25 leaders with several hun
dred volunteer assistants. These womer
as deputy registry clerks registered an
average of 1000 women day They
are now conducting schools with all the
lparaphernalia of election booths. They
are teaching women how to vote and
incidentally teaching them the socialist
philosophy, At socialist headquarters
twelve departments are managing tn,
campaign. With them are working hun
dreds of volunteers who work day after
day at the rooms in the Canadian build
ing where almost the entire lower floor
is i'm the possession of the socialists.
There are about l75,00O names on tn,
great register and it is believed an inn
mense vote will be cast on December 8
JOB Hartman is making about five
speeches day besides taking an active
part in the management of the cam
paign.