The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1912-10-04

ing, Berger and O'Hare. Lost.
The following communication has been
received from Comrade Hillquit:
''Please re-submit motion recently
made by me in connection with the
Lyceum lecture bureau, together with
comment which accompanied the same.
| sincerely hope that this time all the
members of the committee will vote on
it in the affirmative or the negative,
since the matter is of too great import
ance to be simply neglected as 1t was
on the first submission"
The re-submitted motion and COM
ment are as follows:
81 move that a subcommittee of one
be chosen by the national executive com
mittee to make thorough examination
of the qualifications of the Lyceum lee
turers on the approved list, assigned and
unassigned, and that he report upon the
results of such examination with recon-
mendations to the national executive
committee as eXpediently as possible.
The comrade to be chosen as such sub
committee shall be authorized to secure
information about the qualifications of
such lecturers through personal inter
views and references, and authorized to
require the lecturers to submit to him
manuscripts or synopses of their pro
posed lectures; he shall be authorized to-
incur all necessary expense for that pur-
pose. including travelling and hotel eX-
penses, and shall be paid for his services
at the same rates at which lecturers on
the Lyceum course are paid.
"The national executive committee
shall act upon such report at a meeting
to be called for that purpose as soon as
practicable.
"Comemnt: The Lyceum lecture bu-
reau represents the most comprehensive
as well as the most expensive undertake
ing of the party at this time 1t will
impose upon several hundred locals a
large expense and will at the same time
offer to them the greatest opportunity
for solid education and telling propa-
ganda. As yet the enterprise is largely
experimental in its nature, and whether
it is to become one of the most effective
instruments for the spread of socialism
or whether it is to prove an utter fail
ure, depends almost exclusively upon the
character of the lectures to be given
undes its auspices.
"The present list of lecturers has been
made up hastily, and in a great many
cases without proper investigation and
deliberation. The difficulties in secur
ing a full and deliberative meeting of
the national executive committee have
no doubt been largely responsible for this
deplorable fact, but an examination of
the list of selected lecturers conyinces
me that the present choice does not do
Justice to the party and the comrades.
/ fully realize that a Encouragement Of
lecturers at this time may involve con-
siderable inconvenience and pecuniary
loss. but I believe that both will be
amply Justified by the results"
Note by national secretary: The
rules are such that a negative vote is
likely to carry a motion. If it receives
three affirmative votes and none in the
negative, it fails of action for lack of
a quorum voting. But if it receives
three affirmative votes and one mega
tive it is carried.
There is room for difference of opin-
ion as to whether the Lyceum plan is
GOOD one or not. But it has been adopt
ed for this season and it ought to be
assisted instead of being handicapped.
The contracts with the speakers We're
made soon after your june meeting at
which they were selected. We are under
moral obliguti0n-lega too for that mat
tar-to keep them on the list unless they
. fail To make good. Besides, from the
available speakers it would De impossi-
/ bic to choose a better list
| The Lyceum department. has secured
svuon-es of lectures from most of the
speakers. 20 he submitted 10 the others
/ for mutual criticism and suggestion.
/ Thav are working together admirably
land bid fair TO develop ana excellent sor-
/ les of lectures These syuuu-es can De-
submitted to yau also for criticism and
suggestion This would he far better
than % throw things into chaos.
b At best. IL IS difficult 90 secure le.-