The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-01-31


WHAT THE LYcEUM DOES
Commands general attention by its
advertising.
Reaches non.socialists through pub
licity campaign in news papers
Educates the public through sys-
tematic distribution of leaflets.
Increases circulation of socialist
papers and books. especially the Com
monwealth.
Makes new converts to socialism.
Brings socialists into the party or
ganization.
Sets party members to work at
something definite and constructive
Shows them how to work effective
ly.
Builds up the fighting efficiency of
the party organization by this prac-
teal experience in working together.
These results are worth having
worth working hard to get.
The lyceum is designed simply and
solely to enable you to accomplish
these things with less work and
money than would be required if you
attempted to 'go it alone
WHAT A LYCEUM COURSE DOES.
Plaza is a little village of about
300 souls, located in Montreal county,
North Dakota, in a country that was
settled only five years ago. A local
was started two years ago, but did
not grow very fast The sentiment
was favorable, but people were too
hard up and too hard worked to be-
come interested. Last winter we
picked up our nerve and signed up for
the lecture course, which then cost
5000. We had % members on our
books, but only six workers. We
pulled the deal through and after the
first lecture people started talking,
and from then until the last lecture
was over the town was filled with
farmers every night when the speak
ers were here. They came all the
way up to forty miles with the the
mometer 80 below zero. What was
the result?
In one month the local had cleared
about $26, raised the membership
from % to 80, had newspapers and
books worth close to $500 scattered
all around, and at the election this
fall, Debs carried every precinct
around here. The plutes had to
double up on one ticket If we also
had had the lecture course in the
other end of the county, even their
fusion would not have helped them, as
we lost out with only a few votes be-
hind.
Now, then, comrades, is it worth
it?
Local Plaza signed up for the lee
ture course this winter as a matter
of course in order to round up those
few who left as well as to continue
the education of those who have
started on the right trail. When we
can handle the deal in a mortgage-rid-
den place like this, with the people
scattered all over the prairie, what
can't you comrades do in the thicker
settled communities?
MAGNUS SHERVEN,
Secretary Local Plaza.
WHAT 1T is.
Five consecutive educational social
list lectures.
Gigantic canvas for socialist peri
odicals and books.
Systematic distribution of propa-
ganda paper.
Nationwide organizing campaign,
WHO is DOING 1T.
Socialist workers, socialist locals
and branches, state offices, national
sixty lecturers, socialist
publishers, lyceum department of the
socialist party with its manager and
office force. all working together to
build up the party.
HOW IT IS DONE.
Publishers allow a special commits
sion on subscriptions secured through
.he lyceum department
Subscribers pay only the regular
price and get a lecture
ls "a premium.
The commissions pay for the lyce- Q
am course.
ALL expenses of the lyceum depart
nent are paid out of these commits I'd
lions.
GOOD FOR BIG CITIES. n
The lgceum is a great opportunity NJ
% ward branches in big cities. c
Stop those loaGas rag-oheWIneI