davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
OUR CONFUSED, INC0NGRU0US
PLATFORM DECLARATIONS

course holds good with any other
class homogeneous party But since
the peculiar conditions existing In
this country, render it impossible to
organize political party exclusively
! working class, it follows that the plat
form must contain nothing else than
what every individual of It's heterogen.
GUS membership can readily subscribe
to, If harmony Is to prevail.
That single demand, Is the conquest
of the powers of government for the
purpose of the introduction Of the CO.
operative commonwealth |. e., the re-
volution. Universal suffrage and a
shorter working day would probably
be considered a matter of course, al
most unnecessary to mention, and
would cause no disruption. But, it is
certainly useless to expect taxpayers
to vote to tax themselves out of mid
die class existence, and unreasonable
to expect any intelligent worker to
vote for lower taxes, municipal owner
ship etc, ad nauseam. The attempt
to perform such unnatural feats Is
what has made many sensible men
cautiously watch the party from safe
distance, instead Of actively partici-
pating in it's work. 1t looks too much
as If our offer to serve every class
except the millionaires, were merely a
vote catching devise. The citizenship
of America Is none too intelligent, but
it is just barely possible that while it
expects to be fooled by old party
politicians, 1t considers it unnecessary
to take the trouble to change parties
for the purpose of getting the same
service from people who glibly prom
Use unattainable things.
AT any rate, there can be no peace
in the party, and should be none, un-
til the party becomes single minded
and consistent in it's purpose and gilt
tering generalities, bombast, reform
fakes and all other opportunist bum
combe is relegated into innocuous de-
suetude.
FRANS BOSTROM.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
THINGS DOING IN
BUSY BIRMINGHAM
Will Build Hall
EXPECT TO ELECT COMRADE
GoLDTHoRPE SCHOOL DIRECTOR

''The Greatness of Birmingham"
was again demonstrated when the
comrades of that thriving community
met around the festive board Satur-
day, February 6, to show the more
progressive inhabitants how to do
things just right. There was most
interesting program offered to serve
as a prelude to one Of the best cooked
and we'll served suppers ever given In
Western Washington. This is what
they all said, and eating's believing.
A notable feature of the evenings
Notification was the success with
which the children present were cared
for and entertained. They were
guests of honor right from the word
go! And it was all gratis for them,
too. Adults gladly paid Csc per plate,
and it was some moneys worth, at
that There was an orchestra of
Glass A" music, enjoyed not only
by the residents of Birmingham, but
by visiting comrades from Seattle,
Sylvana, Florence and Stanwood.
The music was rendered by local
talent, and the whole brilliant affair
was ably managed by the ladies of the
Socialist local. The hall was crowded
to its full capacity.
Will Build Own Hall.
Again attesting the Greatness of
Birmingham" the live wires of the
local have already started fund for
the building of Socialist hall, and
all indications point to a speedy cul'
mination of the plans laid Eight new
members have just been added to the
Socialist forces, and a vigorous cam
paign is in progress looking to the
election of comrade Goldthorpe for
school director, three-year term.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
SHORT AND TO THE POINT
National Elk Com. Seeks Advice
and Gets It.
Frans Bostrom Points Out Conditions
That Must Be Fundamentally
Changed.

Having been elected sub-commit
tee Of one, by the national executive
committee Socialist party, to obtain
and compile opinions from "promin.
ent" Socialists as to what should be
done next in order to capture offices
in the election of 1916, comrade j.
Stitt Wilson issued circular letter of
inquiry, as per resolution Of N. e. c.
State committeeman comrade Frans
Bostrom, was kind enough to
furnish The Washington Socialist with
copies of the aforementioned resolu-
ton, Wilson's letter. and his own
reply. AS Is usual with him, our COM
mitteeman rendered an opinion that
was short and to the point, and we
take pleasure in reproducing it be-
low. first quoting the N. e. C.'s reso-
luton:
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
Capitalism's Triple Alliance of
SuperstitiOns---Work Enslaved

star is near the North Pole and shows
the way to freedom; he is then likely
to travel only further into slavery.
Unquestioning obedience to author
ity, reverence for position and wealth,
contentment with ones lot are the
three superstitions, masquerading as
duties, which have been most persist
emily encouraged as further contribut-
ing to acquired ignorance. The priest
and the politician-with the all too
frequent aid of the schoolmaster-are
efficient agents in imposing upon the
unsuspecting common man this triple
alliance Of suPerstitions. Once under
torted data and false premises,
through sheer trampling on, the minds
of men, the forces hostile to freedom
and brotherhood seem to be carrying
the day.
1t is extremely inconvenient, in the
estimation of capitalist aristocracy,
that mere common workingmen should
have the ballot. But try dollars and
drinks; if they fail to secure votes,
sophistries will win, anyhow The
public school system implies risk for
rulers; but if child can be led to
read the wrong thing his knowledge
of reading, so far from rendering him
dangerously Independent, will serve to
make him a contented bit of cement
in the economic and political struc-
ture built by the masters for their own
glory. A spelling book and a vote,
and it is early morning yet, with plen-
ty of time ahead for freedom and
brotherhood to set up their banners.
Socialism in this hour filings forth to
the whole world an absolutely unes-
capable challenge To them that are
ranked of high degree it says: Bring
your knowledge, all of it, into the
open. Strip away every unfounded
assumption, all false logic, all unwar-
ranted conclusions. Let us hear the
straight story of history; let us see
the actual results of science-and then
deny Socialism if you can!" To the
wayfaring proletariat it says; Break
the superstitions which have so long
bound you; rise and be men. You
shall have truth and 1t shall make you
Free for the ignorance which the
masters devised and laid upon you tt
your hurt has fallen to shreds ant
cannot harm you any more"
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
INSISTS KELLY PURCHASED
HOUSE
Salter Finds Fault in the Way
Purchase Was Made for
the City
(From The Evening Herald.)

Commissioner J, M. Salter, who has
consistently stood out against the let.
ting of the Everett avenue bridge
tenders job on a contract basis, had
an opportunity this morning to take
another fling at the bridge business
as put through by Mayor Clay and
Commissioner Kelly over his opposi-
ton.
The mayor suggested that the city
should buy small building to install
at the bridge for the use OF holders
of the contract. A building located at
that point has been supposed to be-
long to the city, but a search through
the records proved the house belong
ed to Peterson, who formerly acted as
bridge-tender. The mayor said the
city could buy five-room house locat-
ed at 2916 Everett avenue and owned
by the school district for 800, which
he considered bargain.
Further discussion brought to light
the fact that Commissioner Kelly bid
on the building and that his offer Of
500 was accepted by the board Of edu-
cation. Commissioner Salter said as
the question had never come up at
any session of the city council, then
the acceptance of the bid meant that
the house belonged to Commissioner
Kelly, and. said the commissioner of
public works, that being the case the
city could not buy the building from
the commissioner.
City Attorney Davis held that as
Commissioner Kelly bid for the city,
resolution to purchase would be in
order, inasmuch as the bidding ac-
ton was necessary preliminary to
the action of purchase. Mayor Clay
stated that he believed the building
to be worth $500. He and Commits
sioner Kelly thought the purchase
should be made because when the
present bridge-tenders assumed the
work at low estimate they were given
to understand that the city had two
houses for them to live in.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
ANOTHER SOCIALIST
SCHOOL TEACHER is
BEING PROSECUTED
Lizzie Jones Reported As Busy
Again

The Washington Socialist has just
got word of another Socialist school
teacher who is, it is stated, being sub
jected to the petty persecution of
County Superintendent Lizzie Jones.
We are quietly investigating the case,
and expect soon to be in position to
present the case in detail, showing
how well-qualified teachers are sub
jected to all kinds of annoyances and
inconvenience because of their politi-
cal affiliations, even to having the pay
check held up at the pleasure of her
ladyship, acting for the class and for
the politicians she represents. We're
watching your work, Mrs. Lizzie Jones.
1t is to be hoped that every member
Of the working class who can vote at
the school election next month will
get behind the candidates who repre-
sent their interests, and not those OF
the capitalist class politicians and pro-
fit-mongers.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
HEALD'S BUSINESS COLLEGE

To Whom 1t May Concern:
Professor Maynard Shipleys lecture,
THE Wonders of the Heavens" proved
to be an entertainment of unusual in
terest to all who heard it. While his
discourse was entirely free from dry
technicalities, he was able to impart,
in an exceptionally pleasing manner,
much solid information relative to
what were indeed Wonders of the
Heavens" l cannot speak too highly
Of the beautiful illustrations used dur
ing the lecture. The mechanical de-
vices giving moving pictures of celes-
tial phenomena were most interesting
and instructive, and added much to
the enjoyment of what all present pro-
nounced most edifying and delight
full evening.
1t is with great pleasure that we
offer this little tribute of our appre-
citation. T. B. BRIDGES.
business Manager, Heads Business
College OF oakland.)
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
ROMANCE OF TWENTIETH
CENTURY SCIENCE
Maynard shipIey's illustrated Talks on
Evolution.

Beginning Friday evening, March 5
Maynard Shipley will begin a series Of
weekly talks on "The Romance oil
Twentieth Century Science" which
will be summary of the ASTONISHING
achievements of modern science in
astronomy, geology, biology, and an.
thropology.
The course is to be given under aus.
pices Of the Young Peoples Socialist
League.
The ever interesting questions con-
corning the structure and content of
the visible universe, the origin of the
earth and the development Of life
thereon, the pedigree Of man, and all
the absorbing problems comprehended
in the great question of chow things
came to be what they are" will be
briefly discussed in such plain, sim
pie language that even boy or girl
of IA years can understand.
Each lecture will be fully illustrated
by interesting stereopticon views, pre-
pared especially for this course. No
pains will be spared to make this Sc
ries of lectures thoroughly enjoyable
and profitable.
WONDERS of the Heavens"
The first lecture of the course will
be Wonders of the Heavens" an en-
tertainment which has elected the
warmest praise of audience and press
wherever it has been given. This
lecture comprehends in it's subject
matter the solid foundation on which
all other knowledge of the earth and
life thereon must be based. Strange
as the assertion may seem, to some
students, the fact nevertheless re-
mains that sound views even on eco
Monies and social questions, must be
based on an intelligent understanding
of the sublime truths of modern as
tronomy.
This fact was long ago recognized
by Sir Edwin Arnold in declaring that:
1T is astronomy which will eventually
be the chief educator and emancipator
of the race"
The great French astronomer, Cam
lille Flammarion, has we'll said:
when men know something of the
earth, and understand the modest DO
sition of our planet in infinity; when
they appreciate better the grandeur
and the beauty of nature, they will be
fools no longer, as coarse on the one
hand as credulous on the other; but
they will live in peace, in the fertile
study Of Truth, in the progressive de-
velopment of the reason, and in the
noble exercise Of the higher faculties
of intelligence"
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
HERE'S A QUESTION
(From The Peninsula Free Press, Port
Angeles, Wash.)

(From The Peninsula Free Press, Port
Angeles, Wash.)
Over 800 people gathered at the
opera house Thursday evening to listen
to one of the most noted authors ana
speakers in America. One book he
has written Is in it's 18th edition and
150th thousand. 1t Is barred from
most of the Carnegie libraries. Mil
lions Of pamphlets taken from the
book have been sold. The speaker is
man who for five years has been a
lecturer for the New York City board
Of education. His subject was "War
Against War;" a subject that right
now, with the United States face to
face with the grave question Of per-
haps being pushed within the next
few days into the international earn
age at a cost of hundreds of thousands
of lives of American boys, ought to
be, and is, the most tremendously i'm
portant subject that can be discussed
by American citizens. Our two lead
ing contemporaries were published as
usual yesterday. There was a column
in one paper about valentine party,
and a column about the opening a
social hall was given a position of
honor in the other paper But no
where in all their columns was there
even line referring to this import
ant meeting that so interested hun
dreds of our citizens and at a time
when war with all its horrors may at
any moment vomit forth death and
famine in our homes. Not a line, not
word! If this is their idea of
news" perhaps it explains why The
Free Press found such warm and
welcome spot in the hearts of so many
hundreds of Clallam county citizens
with the very first issue, and why
each week it finds many new names
added to its subscription list.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
THE SECRET OF CONTROL
PROF. ELLEN HAYES

Keep him ignorant and you will
keep him submissive. Since its dis
covery no age has neglected to pass
along this unfailing recipe for the
management of the masses of man
kind. But the ignorant are of two
sorts: those who know that they know
not, and those who know not that they
know not. Because submissive accept
ance of poor, hard lot is liable to
be impaired by a desire for knowledge,
it is a favorite policy of all who set
out to rule to encourage the latter
form of ignorance. This Is accom-
plished by QUILTING the dependent
learner with falsehoods and half
truths, and thus inducing him to be.
lieve that he knows when in reality
he knows not His condition is fairly
well described as one Of acquired ig
norance. A slave may be tied to his
hut and his hoe by refusing him knowl
edge of the points of the compass
and the direction of a land of liberty;
or, he may be told that far southern
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25

and legislators in our movement, to
secure from them the frankest criti
cisms of our present party activities
and recommendation as to the most
important steps we should take to
strengthen and extend the power and
influence of our movement, and to in.
sure that success at the polls in 1916
as the political opportunity and econ.
omic conditions demand.
Resolved further, that said commit.
tee shall edit the result OF this cores
pondence and present same to our
next session as help in outlining our
party activities for the campaign OF
1916
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
FARMERS ARE WISE
SAYS BRUCE ROGERS

Comrade Editor:
l am unable to withhold congratula-
tons on your reply to the farmer cor
respondent. Your statement Is cour-
ageous and none-the-less admirable,
but the fact is it will have the appro-
val of the farmer Socialists of this
state and will win for the paper their
active support.
There will be no troublesome farmer
question in the movement in this state,
unless the wage earners in it should
become too unsound and yellow" for
the farmers to tolerate, for the very
good reason that the farmer members
of the party are, on the average, the
better informed, and actually under
less illusions of all kinds. 1t is an
omalous, l know, but true.
On an exhaustive lecture tour I was
apprehensive when approaching an
agricultural local, but had my mind
made up that / would quit the circuit
and come home before / would trim
my talk a bit, and it is lucky for me
l did not Behold the farmers taught
me things about revolutionary posi-
ton. The brush farmers of the coast
eide, the desert farmers of the Quincy
and other valleys, the mountain
ranchers of the Colville and Okanogan
districts,-believe me, they are there
with bells on. Most of them think of
themselves at best as but refugees
from the industries and when owning
good large farms the Socialists con-
slider that they are but tenants Of the
capitalist state.
1t is not generally known but in the
days Of the split, if one may refer to
it, the farmer members were the back
bone of the regular organization.
When the personal fight was being
waged on State Secretary Bostrom, if
a referendum had been conducted
among the farmers only, east of the
mountains, they would have sustained
him. This was the big mistake Of the
secession movement. Our farmer So
cialist is no administered pumpkin
to whom you can peddle political bunk
and green goods. 1t will be remem-
bered that the farmer delegates at the
last state convention refused to get
excited when MARKHAM waved his
arms wildly and told them what was
what" They got on their feet and
gave notice that they wanted no spe-
cial sop thrown to them.
Take the E. e. Martins, the Jensens,
the Hopkinsons, the Lytles, the Cub
bages, the Obergs, and dozens of 9th
ers / have in mind and you have the
salt of our movement.
BRUCE ROGERS.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
RESOLUTION

Whereas, the failure of the demo
cratic party to cope with the econ
omic struggle of the masses and the
growing consolidation of reaction in
the republican party. together with
the utter disintegration and rout OF
the progressive party, presents crisis
in American economics and political
conditions that is the supreme oppor.
tunity of Socialist philosophy and So.
cialist party activity.
Resolved, that we appoint com
mittee of one from our committee to
enter into an extensive personal cor
respondence with all state secre-
taries, state committeeman, and prom
inent writer's and speakers, workers
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
FROM RICE INSTITUTE

Dear Sir-Permit me to thank you
for the splendid lecture you gave us
last Sunday, and to ask if you could
give us another lecture along astro
nomical lines two weeks from Sun
day. Our patrons were more than de
lighted with your lecture, "Are the
Planets Inhabited" one Of them de
claring that your revolving representa-
ton of our solar system was worth
$500 to see by itself.
Hoping to hear from you at your
earliest convenience, / remain,
Gratefully yours,
DIR. A. c. RICE,
Manager Rice Institute, Oakland. Cal
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
STOCKTON HIGH SCHOOL
Stockton, Cal, April %, 10

Stockton, Cal, April %, 1910.
Mr.. Maynard Shipley, Oakland, Cal. ::
Dear Sir-Many Of the teachers and
students have expressed themselves
as having been highly pleased with
your lecture last Thursday. 1t was
certainly talk that the students OF
any school would enjoy. The lantern
slides were excellent.
Yours very truly,
ANSEL S. WILLIAMS,
Principal
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
WHAT OTHERS THINK OF
SHIPLEY'S LECTURES
THREE TYPICAL APPROPRIATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
San Francisco, Cal, April 10, 1911
/ wish to convey to you the thanks
Of the Board of Education and the
Lecture Bureau for the very interest
ing and valuable lecture which you
gave for us at the Mission High school
The many comments that have come
to me all give the lecture high praise.
hope that some arrangement may be
made whereby we may hear you
again. Respectfully and with best
wishes, M. e. BLANCHARD,
Principal, Mission High School, and
Director of Department of Educa-
ton, Lecture Bureau, San Francisco.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
BOSTROM'S ANSWER
Tacoma, Wash, Feb. 10, 1915.

aNciiiot w oShst A3tbs ~ iOios
]. Stitt Wilson,
Sub-Com. OF the Nat Elk. Com
Dear Comrade; Replying to your
circular letter of January /. in which
you request criticism and suggestions
for the good Of our organization, /
wish to say:
That while there are many very
grave errors and blunders in the man
agement of the party affairs and the
position the organization has taken
toward organized labor is untenable,
conditions which must be fundamen-
tally changed before WE can hope to
amount to much, there Is one cause
for the failure of the. party to ad-
vance, which so utterly overshadows
all other causes that nothing else is
worth mentioning before that cause is
eliminated.
That cause is the homogeneous, con-
fused, inconsistent platform declara-
tons in favor of every populistic re-
form ever conceived.
Were the party the political ex-
preston, exclusively, Of the working
class, /. e., were all .tt-s4 party mem
bers workingmen and working wom-
en-, then there could be no other fault
to find with immediate demands"
than their uselessness. The same, o
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-25
HERE'S A SUGGESTION

In France, before the revolution
there was a humane CD law that for.
babe any nobleman from shooting
more than two workingmen a day
merely for sport.
Why not have such a law now
against killing more than two wage
slaves a day for mere profits7