davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29
ARE WE PREPARED?

Editor, the Washington Socialist:
1t scenes to me that political de-
velopments of the last few months
have been particularly favorable to
the Socialist cause. Most of us have
been looking forward to the time when
we might achieve some measure of
political success, and that time is ap-
parently near at hand
The last year has wonderfully
clarified the political atmosphere
Perhaps the most significant feature
of all has been the demise of that
misnomer Progressive party. So con-
pletly has the Progressive party dis
appeared that we may now feel as
sured of an open field ahead for the
Socialist party, which is the only pro-
gressive political movement. The
disappearance of the Progressive
party proves to us that party can
not continue to exist that is half pro-
gressive and half reactionary. This
is as true of parties as it is of nations.
Lincoln said that a nation cannot con-
tinue to exist that is half slave and
half free.
Again, the two old parties have
doubt that they are hopelesslyreaction
airy. If the voters had any doubt one
year ago of the true position of the
Republican party, that doubt has been
dispelled by the last Legislature. OF
all the Affections ever thrust upon
long suffering public, the last legis-
lature was the worst. So grossly I'M
jest, so reactionary in it's policies, and
so inhuman was this relic of cavedom
that the blindest progressive in the
land cannot help but see where the
Republican party stands.
Likewise the Democratic party
has shown it's servility to the masters,
as has been said recently, 1--WE have
not merely a Republican legislature
to fight, but a Democratic governor,
as we'll" Ernest Lister is both incom-
petent and reactionary. There is no
hope for progress through the Demo
cratic party and the people know it.
Therefore, it is up to us, the Socialists.
We are about to have power and re-
sponsibility thrust upon us. This is
evident from the respectful manner
in which progressive non-Socialists
speak of us, and by the steady stream
of Progressives who are turning to the
Socialist party as the only hope. This
being the case, it seems to me that we
should take a careful inventory of our
political stock, to see if we are prepar-
ed to make good when the people
elect us to political power.
ROBIN ADAIR.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29
THE COOPERATIVE
COMMONWEALTH

By virtue of the fact that the poll
tical power of the state is in their
hands, the owners of the machinery of
production and distributation of social
wealth are enabled to maintain their
economic domination over the rest of
the people, the wealth producers; that
is the key to their supremacy, and at
the same time it is their most vulner-
able point. In constitutional countries,
such as America is, the capitalists are
retained in power by the voters of the
very class upon whose exploitation,
degradation and misery they thrive.
That being SO, it Is useless for the
working class to look to the capitalist
political parties, Republican, Demo
crat or Bull Moose for relief. They
are composed either of the capitalists
themselves or of their hirelings, who
always uphold the interests of the
masters whose willing tools they are
1t is only by the class conscious poll
tical organization of the working class
distinct from and opposed to all par
ties of the capitalist class, that the
workers can ever hope to throw off
the yoke of subjugation under which
they are suffering. Such relief can
only be obtained by the workers wrest-
ing the political power of the state
from the capitalist class and using it
to put themselves in possession of the
machinery of wealth production. The
ownership thus being transferred, the
benefits derived from that ownership
naturally go with it. Instead of pro-
ducing for the profit of small and
useless portion of society, the work
ers will then produce for their own
use and benefit, under democratic
organization of industry, co-opera-
tive commonwealth. The benefits to
flow from such a condition of society
can be easily imagined.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29
WAGES DECLINE IN
LAST EIGHT YEARS
RECORDS SHOW

Workmgmen In the United States
are considerably worse off now than
they were n few years ago,
The real wages" of 100000 work
ers declined steadily from 1907 to 1913.
according to the bureau of labor sta
tistios, in Washington, ID. G.
According TO the first tabulation of
real wages ever made by this bureau
and now being shown by means of n
graphic electric chart at the Panama
Pacific exposition, the bureau con
eludes that where dollar in 1907
would buy 12l food units, In 1910 It
would buy only 107, and in 1913 only
100.
This startling decrease in the pur-
chasing power of the dollar was ac-
oompanied by a slight decrease In the
hours of labor, and somewhat more
marked increase in rate of wages.
But the rise In food prices wiped
out these advantages and left the la
borer considerably worse off in 1918
than he was In 1907. With the same
tendencies at work, 1t is evident that
he is still worse off now than he was
In 1918.
These conclusions are based on all
the wage reports issued by tho bureau
of labor statistics, and cover both
the general wage and the union wage
scales.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29
MORE MEN ARE MADE
IDLE IN CHICAGO

Five thousand more men were ad-
ded to the $4,000 already idle from
the strike of the Carpenters union,
when all the big lumber yards closed
last Saturday Cement finishers, drain
layers, marble filters, tile layers
iron workers and sheet
metal workers will be locked out by
the employers May 1,unless the unions
sign a uniform building trades agree
ment.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29
ONLY ONE NEEDED

Senator Elihu Root said in speech
a few days ago that the records show
$4,000 laws enacted by congress and
state legislatures in the past five
years, and $1,000 decisions by courts
to interpret the laws.
The above statement is but one
more evidence of the craziness of cap
italism become over-ripe. One law
would, if enforced, be all that modern
society needs. Here it is:
The practice of exacting rent, in
terets or profit for the use of water,
land or machinery, is hereby Prohlb-
tied.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29
COMPROMISE

BY Charlotte Perkins Gilman
1t is well to fight and win
If that may be;
1t is well to fight and die therein
For such go free.
1t is i'll to fight and find no grave
But a prison cell
To keep alive, yet live a slave
Praise those who fell.
But worst of all are those who stand
With arms laid by,
Bannerless, helpless, no command,
No battle-cry.
They live to save unvalued breath,
With lowered eyes;
In place of victory, or death
A compromise!
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29
INTERESTS THAT PROFIT
BY INTERNATIONAL SLAUGHTER
First May Day Since Opening Of War
(BY J. L. ENGDAHLl

The manifesto is signed among
others by such well known Socialists
as Karl Liebknecht, George Ledebour,
Clara Zetkin, Rosa Luxembourg, Otto
Ruehle and Franz Mehring.
What about the Socialists OF the
United States of America? What
are they going to do about It?
How are they going to affirm their
solidarity with the workers OF other
nations?
International Labor Day, May Day,
since the war broke out
1t should eclipse every other May
Day ever celebrated by Americas
working men and women.
On this day we should reaffirm our
solidarity with the workers of all
other nations as we have never affirm
ed 1t before.
We should make 1t clear-absolutely
clear--to the politician and the CAPT
talists, that we are not going to be
embroiled with Mexican or Japanese,
Englishman or German.
We should make 1t clear to the
rulers and the capitalists that we will
fight with all power at our command
any increase whatsoever In the murder
machinery of the Nation.
We do not want bigger army and
a bigger navy. A bigger army and
bigger navy will not help us against
the worst enemies we have-un-
employment hunger and cold. In
fact they serve to make unemploy-
ment, hunger and cold more secure In
their hold on us.
We should pledge ourselves to make
this first of May, and the Red week
which follows It, week of such
activity in the Socialists movement as
has never been known before.
Events presage well for u.s. 1t is
true that we have lost some cities we
had gained, but we have lost them
only temporarily, because the enemy
who was divided, united against us.
A Great Victory
We have achieved what was long
thought to be almost .impossible-we
have captured two aldermanic seates In
the greatest stronghold of capitalism
In America-Chicago.
We have one Congressman and
more members of the legislature than
we ever had before.
International Socialism is awaken
ing and let our awakening be the
greatest Of all!
Practical Work for May Day
Every local should make prepare
tions for membership campaign dur
ing Red week. Every Socialist should
consider 1t his duty to get club of at
least four subscribers for his local So
cialist paper and another for the
National Organ of the Socialist party,
The American Socialist.
A flood of literature should cover
the nation. Our leaflets should be
left at every doorstep.
Here In the United States, the only
great nation not at war, we can build
a movement which will make war i'm
possible. We do not have the handi-
caps of autocracy and militarism to
fight that our European comrades had
to fight. We have the machinery at
hand which enables us to make the
American Socialist movement the
greatest Socialist movement on earth.
Let US be the bearers in the march
of the nations towards Socialism. -.
Make ready for May Day! Make
ready for Red week.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29
BLIND WHO WON'T SEE

With the minimum wage law one of
two things will occur; either the en-
ployes will give better and more eff
cient service, thus paying themselves
for the increased wage, or the larger
payroll will be a dead loss and we
shall have to ask the consumer to
pay the difference in increased prices
Percy S. Straus, at the annual
meeting of the National Retail Dry
Goods association.
1t wouldn't occur to Mr.. Straus in
thousand years that the profits might
be shared with the employees in better
wages. No, indeed.-Ex.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29
ALL STOLEN FROM LABOR

Rent, interest and industrial profit
are only different names for different
parts Of surplus value of the com
modify, or the unpaid labor enclosed
in it, and they are equally deprived
from this source and from this source
Marx.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29

The initiative and referendum has
again been buried in the Kansas Legis-
lature. In two different State cleo
lions the two old parties have promis-
ed to enact this much desired reform
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29

into law, and the repeated betrayals
on the part OF the politicians is getting
on the nerves of those people who are
independent enough to think.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29
in THE HOLY NAME OF TRADE
By CONVICTION HALL

Come tell we workers, why moneydemon gloas,
Why the rulers stop each others hroats
Can tell tolers,
Why land is filled
"Yea! For profit all these broken
In the holy o.
In he 0 trade!"
Can tell when
Wait
Why the burden hardest the weakest the
Can tell me, masters why Inventions mighty
to death?
YEA! For profit profit profit
O.
In the holy tradei"
Can tell aureed statesmen why
Broods shadow and
Can ye tell me, teachers why, with all the find
Why the motheed going
Yea! For profit profit profit all these
holy of
In the holy rade!"
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29

So many unemployed went after a
job of switchboard operator in New
York recently that the police reserves
had to be called out to dispense them.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29
DETROIT MICH. LABOR
SCORES VICTORY

Aided by the efficient publicity of
the Detroit Labor News, the official
publication of the Central Council of
that city, organized labor of Detroit,
Mich, won a notable victory in the
election held Monday, April s.
The principle question before the
voters was the adoption of charter
amendment relating to wages and
hours of municipal employees. The
amendment was carried by vote of
$1,000 for to $500 against. 1t pro-
vides for an eight-hour day on all
public work, whether done by day Ia
Dor or by contract; for a six-day week
and for minimum wage for common
labor of $2.25 per day and for the high
est prevailing wage for skilled labor.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29

Girls will replace negroes as walters
on Wheeling and Lake Erie dining
cars after May 2.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29

Many persons go on acquiring new
day by day without ever
getting rid of their old ignorance Do
you catch on, Mr.. Prejudice?
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29

The ruling class in England has
finally succeeded in breaking down
the child labor law to the extent Of
securing the right to work 12-year-
old children on the farms, who may
be exploited 10 to IL hours day be-
sides losing three years of schooling.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-29


difficulty. The damage caused by the
invasion of eastern Prussia was esti-
mated in January at over a hundred
million dollars. The figures amount
to billions in Belgium. The European
war expenditure already exceeds six
teen billion dollars. The bill in
creases daily and the working classes
will have to pay for it,
Besides exhausting us the present
war is running future generations.
While the cry of national defense
could be used with sincerity at the
beginning, the imperialists on both
sides now make it clear that they are
fighting to destroy the rival nation.
But what would be the result If this
bloody fury were allowed to run it's
course unopposed? Either tyrannical
domination by the conqueror or blood
split till both sides were absolutely ex-
hausted. In any case Europe's
economic, democratic and socialistic
development would be retarted a
century.
"The indisputible fact today is that
we occupy the better military situa-
ton because our territory is uninvad-
ed. Germany, therefore, should be the
first to raise the cry of peace. We
want no annexations, but the political
and economic independence of all
and compulsory arbitration.
Bisbee daily review., 1915-11-21
Utilities of Public are SerDed By Corporations Which Aid in the
 Districts ProgressiUe GroWth

Bisbee is we'll lighted it has an ade- quato supply of the purest drinking water ifs street ear service is ad- and connects all parts of the Warren District and there is excellent telephone service. All of these are handled by public utilities companies The peculiariues of Bisbee from loca- tion and surroundings have made the matter of service considerable of a problem to each of these companies and each in it's own particular line. Put difficult as was the problem SO mtion was obtained in each instance
 Water Supply Excellent
 Al the time of the first settlement of Mule Gulch, now Bisbee. all water had Co be brought in from a distance. lt was carried u skins and other re. ceptacles on burro back, and was ped. dled about the city at SO much per quart Wells were put down later. up Tombstone Canyon and Brewery
Bisbee daily review., 1915-11-21

time furnished gas in commercial quantities.
 At first the matter of furnishing light and power and ice Co the Warren District was no vast business. The camp was not large nor was it spread over much territory As it grew and spread however. the company grew and progressed with it kept up with or a little ahead of its growth and progress. Wires were strung into all sections, enlarsemonts were made Co the power plant. new machinery in. stalled from time to time and there has never been a time when the com. pany was not abreast of the needs of the community So was ., also with the ice plant lt has been enlarged improved and modernized constantly Matter of delivery of this commodity up hillsiies and down was more of a problem. however. It was met as well as possible while wagons and
Bisbee daily review., 1915-11-21
Commercial Club Is Constantly AliUe to Demands of DiStrct
 WhichItSerUeS F aithfully

instances in addition to those already mentioned:
 Two bridges were obtained for val ley settlers to replace those washed out and Co give access to roads lead ing to tho Warren District
 It was the Commercial Club that furnished immediate organization to take up relief work for fire sufferers in Johnson Addition fire even while the flames still burned
 lt secured a railroad station at Lowell saving Lowell and War ren people hundreds Of dollars and days of time each year Ir obtain ed its band stand for Lowell and its paved streets It has signed danger spots on the roads adjacent to Bisbee and erected other signs calling ate tention Of the traveller to the vast re- sources of the district It brought Che meeting Of the Mine safety AssC- citation here this fall It took quick action relative to the embargo on cop per. lt complies and files various sta tistics and Is the sole source Of au-  Ii answers an average of 200 inquiries each month It conducts permanent. consistent and valuable publicity cam. paigu along the most desirable lines.
 Works by Suggestion.
 By suggestion the Club brought into existence the children's playerounds in the district Its suggestion was for only one but inc results brought one at every school house. It secured the removal of the bodies from tho abandoned cemetery above Brewery Gulch which had become a disgrace to. the city. Those bodies were de- gently buried and the graves are now cared for in the new cemetery A blot on the city name, an eyosore 10 its people was thus removed and due respect Is shown to the pioneer dead lt has favored tne turning Of such abandoned grave yard into @ public park. by subscription and not at the expense of the general taxpayer It secured the paving ot Naco Road to join the county road at the city line It suggested the public convenience stations that have been installed It aided in the securing of S2O.O0O leeis- lative appropriation for repairing the Borderland Bout
 Influence Is Wide.
 I1 matter or state or nationwide importance its cooperation and the Iuse of its influence is being constantly sought by other organizations and is often exercised of its own initiative. ! lt was the first organization to suggest the naming of one Of the new super dreadnoushts Arizona. It co-operated 7 in securing the Yuma Bridge and a state bridge for Nogales. !, was di .rectly responsible for the building Of Ithe state bridge at Fairbank It has | Ico-operated in maintaining the integ
Bisbee daily review., 1915-11-21

rity of the State University at Tucson. to secure mine Statei0n of the Gov. ernment in this state, for the San Car. los Project and the San Pedro project. It was influential in bringing to Naco sufficient troops for protection when most needed It has been one of the most influential organizations, and is such today, in connection with the good roads movement It has done much at an times to promote interest in the state fair. In scores of ways its weight and influence have been felt outside the dristrict
 Each year it has required reports of upwards of 1000 words to cover the accomplishments of that year alone in brief and not in detail IL would require a page of space here to detail all that it has accomplished in its three years of existence.
 Activities to Continue.
 Among the activities now carried on by the club are the securing of a federal building al Bisbee, a Carnegie library for Warren and cooperating with the city officials in securing county aid in building a subway fol the Brewery Gulch section to prevent damage in the future such as has ire quently been felt in the past It ii working actively for a system of inn proved roads leading from the Sul phur Spring and San Pedro yalleyl and the Huachuca mountains into tn, District It is planning to change thu Borderland Route from Rodeo vii Hachita to Deming and thus avoid th' bad stretches of road in Granite Gal and the Animas valley in New Mex ico. It is striving for an early com (pletion of the State Highway througl
Bisbee daily review., 1915-11-21

Cochise County It is bringing about closer relations between valley set- tiers and the businessmen of the dis. trict and is seeking a solution for the problem of marketing valley pro duce here. It is working for a num- Der of street improvement as we'll as for better county roads to an sections. It has assurance that in case of re- Quirement and its call for aid two troops win be sent here from Douglas to prevent Mexican disturbances It has promise of further reductions Of insurance rates on residential proper ties and is working to that end. lt has favored commission form a goy- cnment for the city and has not abandoned the idea although waiting for demonstrations from Arizona cities now trying out that policy There is hardly a meeting Of its di- recJor- at which some matter of im- Douance Co the community or for tbc benefit or entertainment of the residents is not considered
 OHcere and Directors.
 The directors Of the club are busi- rossmen who give their time and at- tcntion Co the interests of the conn munity unsel6shly and without com pensation with only the ends Of beuerment and improved conditions in view The present directors are John J. Bowen President, L ]. Over IogI vice -praeidpnf. tf W padot- treasurer. M J. Cunningham. E. c. Campbell. II B. Hunter M Newman C. s Thompson and Jesse Yoakum Joseph IT, Gray is its salaried secre- tary who devotes his entire time 10 the conduct of its affairs and has held that position since the inception of the club. It maintains small but well equipped offices in the Copper Queen Hotel
Bisbee daily review., 1915-11-21

S2723.85 per month. From January I to July l last a slight gain was re- corded, mostly in the latter months of that period but this amounted 10 only S2S3.56. Since July 1st and up to October 23, a period of three and two-thirds months receipts have been .S12396.10 Not considering that tho holiday season is coming in with the increased volume of business which must be expected at that period of the year and which is always found, re- .ceipts for the six months to end on December 31 in excess Of S2O,25O are indicated by the present volume of business.
 Even more significant is the steady and continued growth of the postal savings department On December 3l last these amounted to S1l1,73S but six months later they had fallen away nearly S6,OOO the lowest ebb not be- ling shown by the figures of June 30, | but having been in the earlier months of the year In the three months en- suing. on Sept 80 there had been a gain of S22.672 and deposits totalod ,S128418. In the next 23 days a fur lther gain of $4279 has been shown,
 deposits on October 28 amounting to I$132. .6g6 an increase of $2O759 during
 the present year
 Further showing the increase in
 business conducted by the local post
 offices it may be added that were 34l4
 parcel post packages handled in the first l5 days of October as against
 2s31 in the first 15 days of May and
 that the general work throughout thC Iomces is fully a third heavier than it was two months ago.