davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

and the President shall have no DOW
er to veto them, nor shall any court
nave the power to invalidate them
Section =. All provisions in the
Constitution relating to the Senate
are hereby annullcd, and the duties,
rights, and privileges heretofore
vested in the Senate, shall. to the
degree and extent determined by the
House of Representatives, be vested
in the said House Of Representa-
tives: and the House of Represen-
tatives shall have power to enact all.
necessary measures. to vest these
duties. rights. and privileges in it.
self.
Section s. Upon petition by five
per ccntum of the qualified voters
for members of the lower houses OF
the State legislatures in each of
three-fourths of the States, filed
within ninety days after the pass
age of law by the House of Rep
rescntativcs. such law shall be sub
mittcd to a general referendum: and
If such law receives majority of
all votes cast at such referendum
it shall be in effect. but IL it fails
OF majority it shall be null and
void"
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11
Does Municipal
Ownership Pay?
The Following Figures Will Testify

Inc CITY of Charleston should at
Icast own its water and light plants.
II 1t did the people paid the same
Tor this class of services as they do
now there would be no deficiency
IN the city finance. n the following
account you will notice that the
average cost per family in MiIwau kee
Tor water is about 20 cents per
month In some cases 1t runs as
low as cents per month. Compare
this with your bills and see what a
large per cent above this the Kama
VIVA Water and Light Company are
gathering into theiI Golfers.
Every one ] know will read the
following statement with interest of
the condition of the municipal owner
ship as carried on by the city gov
ernment of Milwaukee,
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

decidedly paying proposition.
The plant has cost s6.s25,OOO.
and is all paid for. except about
s55.OOO.
The rates charged are based on
meter rates. SO that everyone pays
only In proportion to the amount
he uses.
Twenty-Five thousand poor persons
however. Were served somewhat be-
low cost
But even those who paid the reSu-
lar cost price find that the cost of
living in this respect is very low.
The average cost per family in
Milwaukee for water is about 25
cents per month. In SOME. cases II
runs as low as cents per month.
The rates paid vary. OF course, ac-
cordinS to the quantities used-2O,-
24S consumers paid less than 81.
per year: 29,74S consumers paid
less than SO: 4O.496 paid less than
50. and 6.713 paid less than 81: The
total operating expenses of the de-
partment was $243.958.5O in 1903,
The per capita Of water consumed
in Milwaukee has steadily Increased
since 1875. until it now amounts to
lo9 gallons per capita daily. Last
year the big pumps had to force
15,o 1884 gallons into the mains to
supply this demand of the people
upon this great and successful public
utility.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11
Especial to The Call from il Staff
Correspondent

Especial I" The Call from Il Staff
Correspondent
Washington, May Tt is imposii-
bic to give an adequate idea OF the
tremendous and almost worldwide
sensation that the publication in The
Call of Friday morning of the ac-
tual facts in regard to the admins
Wation's intentions toward Mexico
have created.
Judging by present indications.
ih" publication of that article is
likely to have the following results:
The complete breaking up and re-
making of the Taft administrations
plans as to the invasion of Mexico.
The resignation from the Cabinet
"f Secretary of State Knox.
The disciplininG of General Leo
uard Wood for having let slip his
remark that 100000 troops would
b" needed to handle Mexico. this be-
im- exactly the number of troops
that The Call prophesied on Friday
would be called for by President
Taft at the moment it was decided
that american lives and property
principally propcrty--wcrc endanSer
81 in Mexico.
! think it is not going too far to
Say mat Tho Call stories OF Friday
and saturday have changed the face
Of The entire situation.
II may yet be proven that The
Call has actually been the means of
preventing the contemplated invas-
ion of Mexico by United States
troops at least at this time.
Th" first story of Friday morn
in@ rocked the entire diplomatic
world
Il was cablcd TO every foreign cap
nal of Importance. and carried un-
"astn"~S wherever it went.
On" of tho first persons TO sec
fla" story was an agent of Diaz in
Now York.
~" could not reach n wire quick
'uouEh
ii' '"I"Craphcd tho substance OF
'h" "utir" front page of Fridays s
'1i' Q" Diaz. and that worthy. from
"hn can gather. jumped about ten
i''' nigh and instantly summoned
'.".f minister ana adviser within
I.anl
'a" story confirmed the worst
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

Organization of Socialists
Is the Necessary Requisite
BY j. w. Brown.)

| iBS i. w. Brown.)
From my own personal observa-
| ton J am convinced that we have at
| least one million natives in the U.
States who believe in Socialism, and
who call themselves Socialists, yet,
up to the present they have failed
to identify themselves with the So
| cialist movement, other than to ad-
init its lntents, subscribe to a So
cialist paper, and perhaps. to have
read and then get somebody else to
read line of our prophets.
1t is this fellow I want to reach,
with this article and to him | want
to say that. if We had fifty million
such Socialists in the United States
We could be no nearer to Socialism
than we are today. Socialism can
only come through an organized poll
tical movement of the working class.
and it requires something more to
make Socialist of man than a
nearer life in the principles of what
the ''intellectualsn call scientific So
cialism. For instance. may be 4 be-
liver in AstrOnamy. yet know
nothing more about astronamy than.
what read in the Farmers almanac
and | would be as vain az a peacock
were | to say that. because of this
in this way | was an astronomer.
What then are the necessary re-
quisits to make Socialists of this one
million of believers -Socialism-
They are two First: it is necessary
TO understand the fundamental de-
mands of Socialism which, 10 quote
from its national platform of the So
cialist party are these. Human life
depends upon food. clothing and
shelter Only with these assured are
freedom, culture and higher human
development possible. To produce
food. clothing and shelter, land and
machinery are needed. Land alone
does not satisfy human needs. HUI
man labor creates machinery applies
it to the land for the production of
| raw materials and rood. Whoever
has control of land and machinery
controls human labor. and with it.
| human life and liberty
| Everybody will admit that the first
right of the individual is the life.
| Tho Socialist goes one bcftcr and
| says that the first duty of Society is
| to secure it. 1t contends that every
| man should have Il right. to work.
and. of course. if he had a right to
work he would have "A right to all
his labor produced. Under capital
| II III le lO 10 WoTh. con-
| sequently he has Eor to accept what
ever turns the capitalists offer or
| Starve.
| In order to establish this right of
| the working class to work. Social
ism says that all these things which
are used collectively and which all
| the working class are called chiefly
to depend upon. shall be armed by
the working class collectively chiefly
| Now this does not mean that un-
| der Socialism everybody will use the
| same tooth-pick. nor does it mean
that every body will own a tooth
pick factory. 1t simply means that
| the people collectively will own
the tooth-pick factory. And every
| body who wants to pride their teeth
| will try a tooth-pick and pick them.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

""r"v"r 20 Socialism is on the
."- ana III the air-yes. it is every
''''. 1t is astonishing how the
' "HTd working people are turn
''- 10 spouse the great and grow
'.- .t.-" of Socialism: because they
".' S'rN and tired of the robbery of
."-iN. because they know that So
.'.-IH IS their only salvation from
5" HpnupOliCs of mOnied men.
b. riverside | was kindly enter
''".a 10y comrades Peck and others
..'7' "rilN" work for Socialism will
-... Pig" capitalistic crooks peck of
...t" after while. Riverside is
awake 10 the interests of the
'.'- masses and when the next
.tH rolls around the plutocrats
'.'"r the ringing shouts of vic
''"u these brave and faithful
...f"'- of our cause
t-."-'om has such staunch and
1' -ni.i"rS as comrades Griffith.
.'.srH and many other keenly
.'.." 'n lie people sacred liberties
.-H'~- With very few eNcep-
'.r lie whole community is
'.|- viii Socialism and hatred
'-e mean and mercilesS mono
'..'- -t"d trusts. These people are
.H..ncd 20 vote the present sys-
''' "' !e"alized robbery from the
". the earth in 1912.
VAS greeted at Mucklow by conf
''-5 Ndntley, Holland and many
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11
Organizer Cross Reports
Enthusiastic Meetings

others who received and treated me
as kindly as could be expected any
where. They like all the other COM
radeS herein named. well as the
hundreds too numerous to mention
showed me every courtesy and kind
ness in their power. I'll tell YOU it
is great to grasp the horny hands
of a hundred SOUS and daughters OF
toll every day. When you look into
,heir little children'S appealing faces
it makes you feel good to know
that YOU are fighting to free these
little ones from the heartless clutch
of greed 1t is grand to live and
move among the poor honest work
ing people to cheer them on in
their loyalty for Socialism.
Comrade Honaker moved from
Standard two years ago. and the
Bills sent to him were not posted
but through the energetic action of
Comrade BOYD. we posted bills and
had a rousinG meeting that night.
Few audiences are as enthusiastic as
the citizens of Standard The pluto
Gratis will have no more snow OF
eIectinC candidate along PANT
Creek than they will in escaping the
final triumph of Socialism through
ont tho earth / have received no
hotter attention and care than was
extended by the good and generous
people all along my line OF march-
Tomsburs has reader IN COM
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

are ready for speedy revolution for
their rights 1 called at Cedar
Grove, Riverside, Hughcston and
London. Sunday and found the COM
rades and inhabitants as earnest and
determined as before. Comrades
Peck. Griffith, McGill and Thomson
are keenly alive for the revolution
for Justice, Liberty and Truth. With
these wireless comrades and count
less more too numerous to name the
plutcrats will have but little chance
to get the peoples votes in 1912
Watch them vote for better things
in 1912. by voting the Socialist tick
ct. Comrades Gillespie, Parsons
and others at Pratt are strong and
sterling friends of freedom and the
rights of man. Like every other
place, the toiling people of Pratt
are also ready to change for bet
ter system of society and govern
ment.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

radc Lavinder that cannot be sur
passed He knows his book and
wages war for righteous revolution
like hero in the strife. They are
all so faithful. brave and generous
in the cause that we feel like show
ing thanks to echo through the val
lcys. hills and sky.
Burnwell boasts of equal loyalty
and brave for justice TO the poor.
comrades Williams. Toney. Bland
and many more are alive for the
liberation of humanity from corpora
tion cruelty and crime. Nearly
everybody | met is talking for So
cialism and denouncing the murder
Gus monopolies and trusts. What
surprises most of all is the fact that
these poor people away back here lin
the mines and mountains know cN-
actly what is causing their misery
and want. They fully realize that
corporation frauds are responsible.
and they are going to vote the
rascals out in 1912.
returned to Crown Hill on the
fourth and WAS nicely treated by
radcs Chapman. Mitchell and
many more. While the audience
was not as large as usual. the peo-
is causing high price, with compar1t-
lively low wages and little work.
They dearly understand that the
necessaries of life and the whole
industrial and commercial world are
organized TO pilaEe people through
the corporations and the trusts. In
1912 these people Will help to free
themselves by voting Socialism in
and monopolies out They under
stand what is good or bad for them
Now watch en- vote.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

And if they don't want to pick them
with Il tooth-picll they can pick them
with pick. So much for the first
requisite. What of the second one?
This, Socialism has nothing to offer
you as individuals. 1t does not pro-
pose to make one man rich at an
other mans expense. 1t does not pro-
pose to protect this. that as the other
industry at the expense of the rest
OF society. Socialism says that there
is just two ways of getting a dollar.
One is to work and earn it. the other
is to let some one else do the work
then you get his dollar away from
him. This is what law and govern
ment does for the working class to-
day The working class as a class
do all the work. creates all the dol
lars and capitalism takes it away
frcnl him and gives it to the other
fellow Home? through law and
government. high protective tariffs,
branches and privileges, corruption
debauchery and fraud Now 1t must
be appearant to you who read this
that. if its future American citizens
are to be free citizens. instead of
industrial scrf? our ancestors
were Tended serfs: If we are to en-
joy the blessings of life, liberty and
happiness. then. we must have equa,
This means that land. mills. mines,
railroads, telegraph and telephone
systems must be seized bv the
united people and held for use, and
government national state and muui
clpal must be utilized for this pur-
pose. 1t is far this purpose the So
cialist party has entered the poIiti-
cal arena Just as the two old politi-
cal parties of today represent the diff
ferent interests of the ca,sitaliit class
and are controlled. financed and die
tated to by that class just so must
the working class own. control fin
ance and dictate to the Socialist
party. In order to do this each of
YOU million voters referred to must
get into the party. otherwise you
have no voice in the affairs of the
party. And If you are going to take
no farther interest in the party af-
fairs other than to read the papers
and vote tho ticket let me say for
your benefit you may as we'll keep
on voting for the democratic or re-
publiran politicians. For instance,
what will he to hinder a few clever
politicians from getting mp a ticket
in Il district or county where there
is enough of you "half-baked" So
cialists to elect thcm to office and
call il the socialist ticket" they get
the Offices. and wha do you Se?
Sting again.
Now here is a grand duty and re-
sponsibility evolving upon you who
think you are Socialist and who
call yourself such. and You can't
avoid your responsibility by evasion.
Remembe pontiuS plate has been
washing his lilly white hands for two
thousand years. and yet he has been
unable TO wash them clean of the
stain caused by his evasion of his
duty and responsibility. You must
do your duty and do it now or your
children will rise up and curse the
memory of their fathers. because
YOU were too stupid too ignored or
too cOwardly to save them from what
might have been avoided without a
bloody sfr t-rln
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

Was hinEton. April 27-AIr. Ber-
ger Introduced the following Joint
resolution; which was referred TO
the committee on the judiciary and
ordered to be printed:
whereas though the tendency i'm
virtually all civilized nations dur
ing the last century has been a con-
stant weakening of the power OF
the executive. the judicial and the
secondary legislative branches of
government. and the lodging of
sovereign power in "a single chamber
elected by the people, yet in the
united States this natural tendency
has been constantly thwartcd by in
terests inimical to, the public well
faro who have brought about an ex-
tension of the powers of the exc
cutivc and judicial branches and the
State; and
Whereas these various checks nm
on the power of the popular repre-
sentative body have prevented a
normal development of American
institutions and the enactment of
laws i'll accord with the changing
needs of the Dcople-a fact eviden-
ced in the extreme back wardness of
the United States with regard to
every form of protective social leg
islation and institutions of social
services: and
Whereas the Senate in particular
has become an obstructive and use
less body. menace to the liberties
of the people. and an obstacle to
social growth: a body. many of the
Members which are the represent
tatives neither of State nor of its
people, but solely of certain preda-
tory combinations. and body which
by reason of the corruption often
attending the election of its Mem
bers. has furnished the graveSt pub
lie scandals in the history of the
Nation: and
Whereas the instructive conserva-
tism of the people. as repeatedly
provided in all nations. would here
prove. when operating through the
referendum. a sufficient check upon
such radical innovations or violent
changes as might possible be attempt
ed by popular representative body:
Therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress as
sembled ttwo-thirds of each House
concurring therein.) That the fol-
lowing article is proposed as an
amendment to the Constitution of
the United States. which. when rati-
fled ny the legislatures of three
fourths of the several States. shall
be valid to all interts and purposes
as a part of the Constitution:
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

law that can be used for such pur
pose
The secret arrest forcible abduc-
ton and secret incarceration of the
Mcnamara Brothers and McA1anigal
are outrageous in the violation of
their constitutional rights. and the
only incentive in tracking those
victims is the blood money furnish
cd by a gang of Corporation brigands
who kidnap and would murder men
who interfere with their piracy.
When Ex-Governor Taylor of Ken
tucky. was a fugitive in Indiana un-
der indictment for murder. and a
Hundred thousand dollars reward Of
CContinued on pa-etwo1
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11
THE CALLS STORY
UPSETS TAFPSPLAMS

what would have been openly an
nounced in another two weeks at
least.
If anything, The Calls article will
tend to avert immediate conflict, as
raft Will now be forced to draw In
his horns and proceed cautiously.
Again to quote from a Washing
ton dispatch to the Times, which is
in closer touch with the Mexican
situation than any other New York
paper:
General Wood himself and Sccrc-
tary of War Dickinson were particu-
larly bitter in dcnouncing the cir
culation of stories of intervention at
this time declaring that they con-
sidered them calculated to work in-
finite mischief. to endanSer the lives
of Americans in Mexico by inflam-
ing the natives TO murderous as
saults, and even to plunge the Two
countries into war. lit is like
poisoning WE'LL" said General
Wood. Secretary Dickinson was
even more emphatic.
This shows how government circles
have been stirred up by The Calls
exclusive announcement that inva-
sion of Mexico was planned by way
100000 troops was ready.
1T is not at all impro bable that
Knox will get out of the Cabinet.
He and Secretary of War Dickin-
son have had a bitter wrangle. Dick
inson being inclined to blame KnoX's
department for having let The Call
get hold OF the news which the ad-
miniStration was making every ef-
fort to cover up until the proper
time.
! have also heard it said that The
Calls Friday story was the cause of
Diaz's refusal to resign the Presi-
Gency. his fighting blood being
aroused by the news of the United
States designs on his private do
main. but this is Improbable. 1t is
likely that DiaZ had little intention
of resisning anyhow.
Incidentally. the administrations
plans for the battleship fleet. in May
not widely hcralded, now take OH
added significance.
1t was announced that one division
would visit Europe. while the other
would go TO the Gulf of Mexico.
ostensibly lin response to Il demand
from Southern States that they be
given an. opportunity to sec what II
modern batlcship is like as the
correspondents were told to say.
The Minnesota. Vermont and Mis-
sissippi left Philadelphia for Penso-
cola May I. Thence they were to
go to Mobile and Galveston.
Galveston. be it noted. is ono of
the ports whence it was planned to
transport United States troops to
Vera Cruz.
The Idaho WAS to leave Philadcl-
phia this morning. spending Il week
at New Orleans. which also. by the
way. is a port very convenient to
Vera Cruz.
also learned today that every
effort is being made by the admin
istration and the newspapers who
were in the secret to learn how The
Call got its news. From reports
that came to me totiay as to the
sources they suspect. they arc COM
pletely off the trail.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11
Public Ownership PAYS.
CBy Carl ID. THOMPSON.

BY Carl ID. Thompson
The secretary or the Board of
Water Works of the milwaukee mu-
nlcipal plant has Just made a report
TO the Bureau OF Efficiency and Eco
nomy. This bureau is made up of
framed workers of the Wisconsin
University. and expert engineers and
accountants. According to this re-
port. Mllwaukce's venture in muni-
clpal ownership has turned out to be
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

a full and joyous Iife-many peo-
pie have become so used to serving
their terms on earth as though the
earth were a penitentiary that they
look on anything else as a wild So
cialist dream
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

Milwaukee never had such a Who'll
ly honest and efficient city govern
ment as it enjoys today. 1t never
had city administration that was
so near the enemies of the people
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

y chair of Socialism has been es-
tablishcd at Union college. Schencc-
tady, y. Y.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11
Article XVIII.

Section 1. All legislative powers
shall be voted in the House of Rep
resentatives- Its enactments, sub
iect to referendum hereinafter pro-
vided for, shall be the supreme law,
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

In the Tacoma election recently.
the Socialist vote advanced three
fold.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

The Social-Democrats have cap
tured another seat in the legislature
of Saxony- The capitalist parties
combined and this Is said to have
caused many to throw in their lot
with the Socialists
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11
O. A. Pape's Letter to
Our National Representatives

Hinton. w. Va. May >. 1911
Hon. Adam b. Littlcpagc.
Washington. ID. c.
Hon. J. f Chiffon.
Hon. C NJ. Watson.
L 3 Senators.
Washington d. G.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

IentIemen:-
The recent kidnapping of the OIL
GERS of the Structural Iron Workers
Association from the City of India
napolis. Indiana. is one of the worst
outrages ever perpetrated on Citi-
zens of the United States. And those
who did it have been guilty OF vio-
lations of Law for which they should
be severely punished, if we have any
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-05-11

With wholesale exposure of bri-
berry among the members of the Ohio
legislature bribery in the Illinois
legislature to put Lorimer in the
senate of the nation. and graft and
bribery in various other legislative
bodies in the country. the members
of which are all members of the
two capitalist parties. capitalism
may be pardoned perhaps for wish
ing to misrepreseut Milwaukee-s re
markable Socialist administration as
means of diverting attention from
its OWN depravity.