Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-01-11

with care, and seeing no ray OF light,
he felt, no inspiration. Today he
travels with a quickened step. If he
does not see clearly, at least he feels
that we are approaching better day.
The recent elections acted as baro-
meter to measure the progress we
have been making. They showed that
the Social Revolution is in full swing.
It has gained an impetus that means
a phenomenal growth in the imme-
date future. Few of our own num-
bers realize the magnitude of our or
ganization and the full possibilities
before us. The harvest is beginning
to ripen faster than our machinery
can reap it. The day of little things
has passed and the day of big things
is here The mass of the people are
prepared to intrust US with political
|spower' if we show ourselves competent
to handle it. The small petty tactics
used by us in the past will no longer
do. The Socialist party is no longer
Bohemian society of erratic spirits
It has developed into great militant
movement of the masses. Old party
lines have broken, and the people
are looking to us for relief. A short
time ago we were threatened by the
organization of a. Labor Party" This
phantom has disappeared. Recent
events have made such thing but
the remotest possibility. Being allied
with the forces of social evolution,
every occurance but contributes to
the furtherance of our cause.
In our own State the times are
especially propitious. West Virginia
To- 1ynn iVao ms
of the Greater Capitalism. A few
years ago Clarksburg was little in
land town of two or three thousand
population. Today it resembles a
city. There are several incorporated
towns Immediately, surrounding it.
Numerous factories have sprung up
all over the county. An enormous in
dustrial army is bivouacked in Harri-
son county. A veritable industrial
principality has come into being.
And, most glorious of all, these
soldiers of industry are full of the
spirit of revolt. It ,exalts ones spirit
to be among them. They are read
ing books and developing the power
to handle the political affairs that will
soon be placed in their hands. There
is no despair among them. They go
about their work with songs in their
hearts. These comrades of ours are
going to set pace that will be hard
for us to keep.
When we turn to KanaWha county
we find another situation full of pro-
mise. Charleston, too, has come I'M
der the touch of the greater indus
triahsm. Large industrial establish
ments have brought with them great
numbers of workers. These workers
are Of the pronounced elass-cOnscaO
type. Our message finds ready &C
ceptance among them. Then comes
the miners. OF all classes, my heart
warns most to the miners. When one
thinks of the unnumbered thousands
whose lives have gone out in this haz-
ardous calling, and then turns to the
wrongs that have been imposed upon
them by constituencies coal barons,
their cheeks burn with indignation.
These comrades of the mines are
right on the firing line of the class
war. 1t is no theory with them. Every
hour of every day the bitterness of
the struggle is brought to them in
countless ways. 1t has made of them
the best and hardest fighters that
Socialism can claim in West Virginia.
In many sections, to be a non-Social-
ist is to be a traitor to the working
class. Here in the mining section OF
the Kanawha and adjacent fields, Is
developing a power that Will be felt
in the immediate future.
Comrades, let us set ourselves this
task: CARRY KANAWHA COUNTY
FOR SOCIALISM THIS YEAR In
1910 we were the victims of gigantic
frauds at the ballot box, but never
theless we polled 1906 votes in that
county. The total vote of all parties
was 1875. Our party received about
16 per cent of the total vote. Charles
ton has one Socialist councilman. At
the rate the Socialist vote has been
increasing, we should carry that
county easily. IT is, THE GREAT
EST OPPORTUNITY THAT EVER
PRESENTED ITSELF TO US. The
Importance of that county can not be
r-estimated. It has delegation
est Of any county in the State. 1t
has developed a leadership unsur-
passed anywhere in the nation. The
movement there is militant and clean
cut. Its every utterance is a call to
DaLLl0.5 1u0T0 Is uO- COMPROMISING
and no hesitating. 1t has a spirit
that appeals to the working class-a
spirit Of virility and manhood.
JUST THINK WHAT A SOCIAL
TST DELEGATION COULD DO IN
THE LEGISLATURE! Think of a |
delegation with that old warrior,
John w. Brown, as floor leader!
Comrades, there would be something
doing there, you can depend on that
Then, think Of that delegation being |
backed by a paper like The Argus!
Then, think of it all being backed by
a revolutionary working class that |
knows what it wants and knows how
to get It'll II that vision won't keep |
you awake nights, comrades, then |
your case is hopeless.
we could flood the legislature |
with bills in the interest of the-l
working class. Workingmen's com
pensation bills, factory and mining |
laws, protection Of women and child
u. r<g- - LII