The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1914-06-18
j. M. Salter and Frans Bost-
Named for Commissioners
HAVE THE SOCIALISTS MADE
GOOD IN OFFICE?

power monopolies than the other par
ties ever tried to do.
These are all matters of public rec
ord-black on white. II you have any
doubts or want any details and facts,
our Information Department in the
National Office will gladly supply you.
Third Fact-The Socialists Greatly
Improved Labor Conditions in Their
| Cities.
wages of the city employees more than
l5 per cent. In Milwaukee they
| raised the wages of $50 of the COM
mon laborers from S1.75 to $500 per
day. In Schenectady they did even
better, raising the wages to $2.25. In
Naugatuck, Connecticut, they estab-
lished the eight-hour day. This was
done in practically every city where
the Socialists had any considerable
number Of representatives. Every
where the Socialists demand the I'M
ion label on all city printing, and in
sist on union-made goods. In Milwau-
kee they raised the wages of library
and museum employees; settled the
garment workers strike peacefully
and to the advantage of the workers.
Mayor Seidel ordered the chief of po-
lice not to interfere with the rights
of the working girls, and Socialist
City Attorney Hoan refused to prose
cute the strikers on false and illegal
grounds So they won.
In st. Mary's, Ohio, the Socialists
reduced the hours from twelve to
eight; raised the firemen's wages from
S. OTTO $50 per month, and other num-
cipal employees proportionately.
In Haverhill, Massachusetts,, as far
back as 1898, the Socialists introduced
the principle of direct employment of
labor by the city on all public work,
as far as possible. This extends all
the benefits of better labor conditions
to more of the workers-establis
the eight-hour day and raises the
wages to the trade union standard.
Schenectady Socialists raised the
wages of the teachers. In Milwaukee
they secured extra "offs" for the po-
lice, arranged to allow the unemployed
and homeless to sleep in the parks, |
and uada q porcictopt affor+ n croft ~ n |
city to buy land and build homes to
be rented to the workers at cost. And
perhaps most important of all, a rigid |
factory inspection was inaugurated by |
the health department. Factory in
spection by Socialists is quite differ
ent from just ordinary factory inspec- |
ton. The Socialists inspection got re-
suits right off. Inside of few months
fifty-five improved ventilation systems |
were installed to supply fresh air to |
the workers while at their tasks in |
the working places. Eighteen suction
hoods to draw away gas, smoke and !
acid fumes were put in operation
Fifty-four new toilets installed, nine
repaired; 80 privy vaults abolished IS |
emery wheels We're protected; so bak-
cries were changed and improvements
effected in 1873 sweatshops.
Everywhere there resulted swift and
aggressive action in improving labor
conditions.
Fourth Fact-The Socialists Improved
the Public Health of the Cities.
To this the Socialists always give
special attention The results in a
single city are as follows Four hun
dred and eight fewer cases of scarlet
fever the first year; 324 fewer cases
of diptheria; 1,044 of typhoid, 1928 of
measles, 131 of tuberculosis, ETC.
rigid inspection of foods inaugurated;
smoke abatement pressed; new iso-
lation hospital opened a child well
fare department, and a special anti
tuberculosis campaign inaugurated
Fifth Fact-The Socialists improved
the Financial Condition of the
| Cities.
| 1t is often claimed that Socialists
would bankrupt city and ruin it's
credit. AS a matter of fact, the rec
ords show that without exception the
Continued on Page Four)