The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1912-12-27
SOCIALISM and THE MENACE
BD Carl UoHska

had no idea that my article en-
titled, "The Real Menace" would end
in a debate, but as it has, win en-
deavor to answer the logical questions
and criticisms Of my opponent and
oomrade, w. S. Hamlin.
wish to say that am not a Catho-
lie as many think, but Lutheran and
a socialist.
First, Comrade Hamlin says, that
the capitalists have divided the work
ers on religion ever since the days Of
reformation; true, but does that give
"The Menace" the right to keep on
dividing the workers on the question
of religion while they are being
orunched under the iron heel Of CAPT
talism in a desperate struggle for ex-
istence.
My colleague says that the "Men-
ace" is not attacking the Catholic
church, but is attacking the Roman
hierarchy.
Workers will you allow yourselves
to be led astray on the false issue of
"Rome Rule or Home Ruler" I feel
safe in making the statement that
seven-eighths of the Menace" readers
and supporters, socialists included,
never had a deed to their home, leave
alone deciding whether the home or
the church should rule.
Bread is the issue, not Catholicism.
As long as the workers, Catholics
and Protestants alike, must fight and
struggle for bread, as long as the
daughters Of the working class must
sell themselves into lives of shame
for bread, as long as thousands of lit
tie children die for want of bread
which is plenty but which they are de-
MED, just so long is bread the para
mount issue.
The Salvation Army has proven
that you cannot talk religion to a
hungry person, he doesn't need the
spiritual food then, what he wants
and needs is something for his stom-
ach to digest.
Conrad Hamlin says in answer to
my statement that the Menace" pre-
tend to be q socialist paper that eyen
if it does mention the word Socialism
frequently the Seattle Star" does and
it is not a socialist paper.
If Comrade Hamlin will read late
issue of the Menace" he will find an
assertion that states in plain English
that the Menace" is in favor of So
cialism. In regard to the Barnes mat
ter. the menace" sought to discredit |
the socialist party by printing the clip
ping stating, that it is said that J.
Mahlon Barnes, campaign manager of 1
the socialist party, is Jesuit"
If the "Menacep did not wish to dis
credit the socialist party, why did
it put this clipping on the front page
in an article entitled, Roman Rats
Desert Doomed Ship" Clippings of
an unreliable source are usually placed
in the inside of a newspaper.
Then the comrade says that Com
rade Debs attacks the Roman hier-
archy, "The Priests of Mammon" like
the Menace" but he does not quote
obscene confessions and tales of ex-
priests and nuns, that cast shame
full stigma upon the millions of inno-
cent Catholics.
Does Comrade Hamlin believe that
David Goldstein, an ex-socialist, is tell
ing the truth when he says that the
socialists are free lovers and have
no respect for the marriage institu-
ton? Certainly not.
Then why should SO many Menace"
readers believe all that the ex-priests
and nuns say about the Catholic
church.
Pity the person who must lie and
defame the very thing which he once
helped build. That person has be-
come degraded beneath the very earth.
The Menace" says, defeat every
Roman Catholic for political office, or
in other words, when you are skinned,
have it done by a Protestant or any
anti-Catholic.
1t makes no difference whether a