davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
IS YOUR CONSCIENCE CLEAR?
BY MILA TUPPER MAYNARD

This CHASTITY nightmare in Europe
among our brothers and comrades
should set us all searching our in
most hearts to see If each has done
his part in efforts to make this kind
of abomination forever impossible
What can we do? The most sure
and effective way is to strengthen the
Socialist organization in your particu-
lar locality.
Does this seem an anti climax? A
prosey way to meet heroic issues? Per
haps; but it is the true way, none
the less. Just SO long as the people
do not know better than to tolerate
war in industry (competition), they
will have to endure or always be in
danger of meeting that other muir
derous warfare with machine guns.
Do you want this deadly nightmare,
this unbelievable horror called war to
vanish? Then work the harder to
overthrow that more cruel, long drawn
out torture, Capitalism.
Going to business meetings when
your back aches and you would pre-
fer to go to bed; distributing bills,
getting subs, talking tactfully and per-
sistently for the making of new con-
verts, paying dues promptly and meet,
ing all the expenses of the party as
surely as you do the grocery bill
these are some of the prosey, but very
real and sure ways in which you can
help to make war forever impossible,
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
NOTED WITH REGRET

We publish in this issue an abstract
from the last word and testament of
editors De Forest and Marvin Sanford,
of Santa Cruz, who have just publish
Free Press. While these comrades
seemed to us to overestimate the re-
evolutionary value of Organization on
the economic field" a la l. w. W., as
compared with the efficacy of politi-
cal action, they were consistent advo-
Gates of genuine revolutionary Social
ism, untainted by the yellowness of
California opportunism and mere Of
fice-chasing state-capitalism. We
deeply regret that the prevailing hard
times made it impossible for them to
continue the work so nobly begun by
the Santa Cruz Free Press. But the
seed sown in their five months of
earnest propaganda will sprout and
multiply year by year, increasing its
fruit in geometrical ratio as long as
capitalism shall last. Thus the re-
suits of their all too brief work is,
after all, imperishable, like all work
honestly done and inspired by revolu-
tionary ideals of free society yet to
be. Thankful are we if any little word
of appreciation from us has helped to
make lighter their burden or cheer
them in their efforts.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
PROSPERITY" AND THE
WORKING GLASS

When the politician speaks OF the
unparalleled prosperity" WI IN
abounded throughout the land while
his particular party was In power, he
means that the capitalist class was
increasing the value OF their holdings
Mt rapid rate of development, and
that a greater number of wage-slaves
were employed at (merely) living
wage-that the number of unemployed
men, women and children was reduced
to a minimum.
DO the workers really benefit by
what are good times" for the bosscsf
They do, so far as immediate COM
fort is concerned And this is what
gives color to the bourgeois conten-
tention that what benefits the EN-
ployers benefits the employees" Or,
as we often hear the phrase, THE In
terests of Capital and Labor are iden-
teal" When "times are good for
the bosses. wages rise and unemploy.
ment decreases. But the profits and
power of the employing class rise stu
faster, leaving them stronger and the
wage workers. relatively, weaker.
Karl Marx has explained this prob
lem In such clear language that we
conclude our statement in his own
words QUOTED from Wage Labor and
Capillary:
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
THE RED FLAG AND EATS
By HENRY BERCOWICH

The Red Flag stands for perma-
nent meal ticket. Uncle Sam is say
ing so every day wherever his big
fleet of warships is anchored. At IL
O'Clock, beg pardon, eight bells, the
Red Flag Is hoisted upon one of the
turrets of all the ships. Whats that
red banner hanging out there" l
asked one of the young officers.
Tell me, why do they fly the Red
Flag now?" l repeated.
That's the signal for the big eats"
said he.
"Why we stand for that, too" l re-
turned ''and for good clothing and
comfortable houses and schooling and
music and art and literature"
I'VE? Who in the world are WEI"
the young man wanted to know.
"The Socialists, of course"
ooh, you stand for anarchy, or some
thing" he replied,
See here, young man" By this
time we had quite a crowd around us.
"You say that the red flag there
means something to eat. Uncle Sam
gives you, besides clothing all you
need to live on. When we carry the
red flag it is said we mean riot and
destruction. Just look at the business
you are in"
What business?"
killing people," l answered
well, we must protect the coun-
try and keep"
Just then someone who had ventur-
ed alone in canoe on the river fell
overheard. Our young man threw a
life preserver toward the unfortunate
canoist and for half an hour was too
busy to talk. After the wet one had
been safely fished out, went away. l
had come to be impressed by the size
of the fleet. thought only that 1t
all depends on who does an act to
make it right.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
PICNIC AT OLYMPIA

The Socialist Local at Olympia gave
an all-day picnic at Priest Point park
Sunday, June 6.
Sports, consisting of many races,
were enjoyed by large and enthu-
siastic crowd.
Comrade Martin c. Flyzik, presi-
dent of District No 10 of u. M. w. of
A, delivered very interesting adj
dress, Comrade Flyzik made a very
strong appeal for the members of or
ganized labor and Socialists to work
together for the great common cause.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17

The fellow who stays out of the
union and the party of his class be-
cause he fears his Standing" in his
community will be injured, is hardly
worth half whoop in that iceless
region the ministers tell about. Dur
ing all the ages all of the gods have
hated and despised towards. There
was never master who ever respect
ed a slave.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
CRIME AND ITS CAUSES

A revolver manufacturer duNef-
tisement contains the following state
ment:
Society trains criminals as care
fully as 1t does lawyers or doc
tors-and graduates more of
them. There will always be Grim
mails as long as the training
schools of crime exist--rum holes,
prisons. opium joints and gang
infested corners.
That is as far as the advertiser goes
I'm his explanation Of crime. 1t leaves
unexplained how the graduates of
rum holes, prisons, opium joints, and
gang-infested corners" will pass their
time after these have been abolished.
1t is easy to say that they will be en-
gagged in honest work, but hard to
prove. Thousands OF men are today
unemployed and looking in vain for
work who do not frequent such places.
Opportunities for work would not be
increased by their abolition. That
would only increase competition for
whatever jobs there are.
1t is true that society trains crimi-
mails. 1t trains them by so limiting op-
portunities to earn an honest living
that many are involutarily unem.
ployed. Even without the evils men,
toned in the advertisement, many of
these unemployed would be compelled
to resort to crime. The process may
be fastened or intensified by the rum
holes" and other places, as it may also
be FASTENED by increasing the supply
Of the latest improvement in revol-
vers, but that is as much as can be
fairly charged against them. The
limiting Of opportunities to live with
out crime, 10 the cause Of crime which
must be removed.
Limitation of opportunities is the
result Of laws that encourage monopo-
iization and Withholding from use OF
natural resources. In country big
enough and rich enough to give the
entire population of the world oppor-
tunities to produce all that is needed
to supply wants, there is no excuse
for an involutarily unemployed class
That such a class. nevertheless exists
10 because of the laws mentioned
The remedy is to make Improbable
the Withholding from use Of natural
opportunities. This can be done by
taking over for public use the nations
land and its giant machinery Of pro.
duction, in SO far az they are socially
necessary and collectively used, leav'
ing only small holdings and individual.
istie petty machinery Of production
in the hands of the private individuals
who prefer to compete with "the peo.
pie" by their anarehistic, isolated eff.
forts.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
SURPLUS VALUE"
AND PROFIT
SURPLUS VALUE

The value OF labor-power Is not the
value OF labor. The value of mans
labor Ia the total wealth produced by
that labor, The value of his labor-pow-
err is that part of the wealth which he
produces which Is necessary for him
to reproduce his labor-power and
which he receives as wages. From
the beginning Of capitalist production
there has been growing difference
between the value of laborpower and
the value of labor; that Is, between
wages and product; and the surplus
OF wealth or social value which the
laborer produces over and above the
amount OF his wages and the capital
consumed in the process of produc'
ton, and which he does not get, y
called surplus value.
1t is a part of this surplus valud
which the laborer produces, but does
not get, accumulated in the hands OF
the proprietary and employing class
generation after generation, that forms
the capital of the world today
PROFIT
The capitalists profit is only that
part OF the surplus value designated
Dividends" which seldom includes
all Of surplus value; but even SO, II
Is an apparent paradox of capitalist
production that II the rate of surplus
value remains stationary, or even
raises, the rate of profit may fall
Tho rate Of profit 10 calculated upon
the total amount Of capital invested,
while surplus value 10 the difference
between wages and product. The In.
creasing responsiveness of machinery
and the growing quantity Of raw ma
terial worked up by the laborer by
means of this machinery make nee.
essary larger and larger aggregations
of capital in proportion to the number
of laborers employed; so that while
the value created by the worker is
greater, and, therefore, the surplus
value is greater in proportion to his
wages, the mass Of surplus value pro.
duced by the comparatively fewer
workers employed forms a smaller
rate Of profit calculated on the en-
larged capital. So the rate Of profit
falls while surplus value actually In
creases. This is the tendency of CAPT.
talist production, and where this con-
dition is aggravated by stock water.
ing the result Is a stupendous robbery
of the workers with only moderate
return to the investor who purchases
the stock In the open market. The
only escape for the capitalist from
this falling rate of profit Is in an ap.
proach to monopoly, and to this end
the firm is enlarged into the stock
company, and stock companies are as
ISOLATED in trusts and combines. AS
monopoly approaches perfection the
rate Of profit again tends to approx
mate the rate of surplus value, as is
shown by the enormous profits of the
greater trusts.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
A BOOK WORTH WHILE
ls Temperate and Convincing

LABOR IN POLITICS by Robert
Hunter, published by the Socialist
Party. Paper. Price rs cents, prepaid.
For sale by Washington Socialist, 1912
California street.
1t Is hard to write about Robert
Hunters latest book without becom-
Ing enthusiastic about 1t. For years,
the gulf which has separated the So
cialist and Labor Union movements in
the United States has been the despair
of many members of the Socialist
party. The Socialists have often criti-
cized the attitude taken by the Am
erican Federation of Labor and its
principal officers towards working.
class political action. This criticism
has sometimes been more bitter than
II has been intelligent. Robert Hunt.
er's criticism, however, is of diff.
ferent nature. With mastery logic,
he shows the untenabeness of Mr..
Gompers' position. He quotes Comp.
ers himself as saying that the United
States "is no less than two decades
behind many Of the European nations
in the protection of the life, limb and
health OF. the workers"
Hunter sums up his case as follows:
There are, as 1t appears to me, Ger.
tain main reasons for the failure Of
the political methods of the A. F. of
l.. First, no two persons in the Fed.
Grafton agree as to what those meth
DDS are. Second, the methods do not
succeed In electing to office efficient
representatives of Labor who remain
faithful to Labor. Even when card
men are elected to office. they have
not the political independence neces-
sary to enable them to fight Vigorous
ly the battles Of Labor. They owe al
iesiance to capItaiistlc parties, politi.
cal bosses and individual financial
hackers to such degree that they are
forced sooner or later, either to be-
tray Labor or to relinquish any ambi-
ton they may have for a successful
political career. Third, the methods
do not develop self-reliance, independ-
ence and integrity in the labor move
ment. Instead Of weaving the work
ing-class from its bondage to the CAPT.
talist parties, they fasten more and
more securely the chains which bind
it to those parties. They violate the
spirit of Trade Unionism, and, while
Labor struggles for Industrial freedom,
these methods force 1t to remain in
political slavery. In the corruption of
men, in the loss of leaders, in the be.
trayal of Labor, in the suspicion and
distrust engendered among the rank
and file, in the weakening of the class
spirit, and in the undermining of class
solidarity, the political methods of the
American Federation of Labor are so
demoralizing that in time they may
actually ruin the trade-union move
ment ITSELF"
No one at all interested in the La
Dor movement can read this book with
out keen interest 1t is filled with
argument which is of the greatest
value to the social teacher and agita-
tor. One cannot but express the hope
that 1t will lead to better understand
ing between the political and econ
omic wings of the labor movement in
America.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
NEW WASHINGTON LOCALS

New Locals have been organized
this month in the following places:
Local Wymer, Kititas county; Local
Marx, King county; Local Wallula,
Walla Walla county, and Local Deni-
son, Spokane county.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
OF COURSE TT IS!

You didn't know that your subscrip-
ton money was due? OF course not;
that's only natural. Now then, send
in your P. o. order for a dollar, and
we'll credit you with a years paid-up
sub.
If the number on your address plate
is less than 233, your sub. has expired
or will have expired within week.
Remember, we need your help to-
cay!
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
OUR LAST WORD Is,
SOLIDARITY

was born (beIng relncarnation of
the World Issue), and II anyone had
told us that SO many and varied ex-
periences could be crowded in 80
short space of time, into the pub
fishing OF paper in quiet town, we
would have given him credit for being
a good joker; but experience has made
us more careful about being too hasty
In our judgments.
In reading the farewell editorial of
the late editor of the New Age, we
noticed that he had resigned because
of a nervous breakdown, induced by
overwork and worry. Since then, sew
eral Socialist papers have commented
upon the announcement in an under.
standing and sympathetic manner
We, too. felt large measure of und-
erstanding sympathy for this COM
rade. and while we are. indeed, sorry
that he is suffering from a nervous
collapse, we are somewhat consoled
by the knowledge that he went
through this experience--like which
there is no other-and escaped the
bughouse.
II work, and worry, and ------,
and fault-finding from some Socialists
because the Free Press was too radi-
cal. and from others because 1t wasn't
radical enough, are enough to produce
nervous breakdown. the Free Press
would be suffering from that com.
plant now, except for the saving quail
ity Of an abnormally large sense Of
humor
This is the last issue Of the Free
Press, not because of nervous break.
down, not because we are moved by
criticism, not because a paper of pro-
test Is not needed in Santa Cruz; but
because we are at the end of our re-
sources, and cannot longer support it
with our own means. This Is simple
statement Of fact, and is not intended
as finding fault with anyone.
1t gives us great pleasure to men,
ton that comrade Maynard Shlpley.
Of the Washington Socialist, cheered
us with kind words at time when
kind words meant much; and while
we do not agree with comrade Ship
ley in regard to the relative import
ance of industrial and political ac-
ton, still, we believe comrade Shipley
comrade worth while.
The temptation to write on, is great
(Our eyes are full of water now.) We
could make of this a veritable "Hu-
man Document" but we have two
good reasons for not permitting our
selves to be tempted to do so. In the
first place, we do not believe that
anything we could say or do, would
rouse the workers of Santa Cruz to
action; secondly, our story would not
be believed--so we refrain.
In closing, our message to the So
cialist party is: mo Compromises
No Political Trading" To the indus
trialist, our message is: Organize!
Organized. Organize!!! Solidarity!
Solidarity! Solidarity!!!"
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17

The man or woman who is not will
ing to work for the Cooperative Com
monwealth does not deserve it. And
the fellow who is brainless enough to
suppose that it will come as a gift to
him, wouldn't know how to live in it
if he had it.
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17
TWO PARALLEL CRIMES

The writer of. the German reply to
President Wilson's note has perhaps
made study of the excuses that have
been and still are being offered in
extenuation of the Ludlow massacre,
If he believed these acceptable to the
American people, it need occasion no
surprise that he thought he was offer
ing a valid excuse for the slaughter
The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-06-17

The Socialist position in brief is:
Nobody but the workers can help the
workers-or in plain slang TITS up
to you" to help yourself
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-04-22
The Generaiissimo of France.

Ernest Dimnet in the March Atlantic
People wrongly speak of Joffre as
the great Taciturn. 1t Is true that he
cannot speak in public, and prefers 81
lence to the ordeal of attempting what
he knows he cannot do well; but all his
friends are unanimous in describing
him as a sociable, nay, a genial person.
The many Parisians who have met him
of summer morning, merrily riding
in the Bots with his stepdaughters, are
sure that this powerful horseman, with
an open countenance and the shrewdest
eyes to light it up, is no mere cold
blooded scientist. In fact, all who have
come in contact with Joffre have felt
the presence of yelling source Of
inner conviction which may not be en-
thusiasm, but which creates it, What
is this particular faith the contagion of
which nobody can resist? Nothing
more than the certainty Of victory, but
in a degree which nobody else has at
tanned, and with background of judg-
ment which cannot ne mistaken for
mere sanguineness. That is the con-
viction which Joffre communicated not
only to his military collaborators, but
also the five or six cabinets which have
succeeded each other since 1911. Even
tin last two. which consisted of radi-
Gals who were opposed to the three
year service law, who inclined to paci-
fism. and who must have been startled
when the written proof was placed be-
fore them of the aggressive intentions
of Germany, were treasured on the eve
of the formidable war by something ir-
resistible in the voice of the general
iSSimo
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-04-22
THE LAZY GIRL.

Copyright 1915. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)
Once upon a time there were two
sisters who were poor and lived alone.
one was lazy girl named Dora and
ner sisters name was Nina.
But Dora was not a bad hearted girl.
ana one morning when there was no
food in the house, she told Nina that
she was going to look for work, for
while she did not like to work. they
must nol starve.
She went a long distance before she
came to house. She knocked at the
door and some one called to her to
come in.
Dora opened the door and saw an old
woman sitting in front of a fireplace.
Can you give me work." asked Dora.
Il am very poor.''
clean the windows, sweep the floor and
wash the dishes, but don't you look
up the chimney. Ii you do an ak will
fall on YOU"
When the old woman went out of the
room, Dora did not do any of the work,
but went straight to the chimney and
looked up. Down came a bag of gold
and a cane. Without saying word
to the old woman, Dora took the gold
and cane and started off. She had
gone only a short distance when she
met a horse. Feed me. Feed mel"
for many a day."
Il can't feed you,' said Dora. THE
old witch is after me-" And she went
on down the road
She had gone only little further
when she met a cow. Il have not been
MIXED for man a long day.
II can't" said Dora, 1.-The old witch
Is after me-
Soon she came to mill. "Scour me-!
Scour mel" said the mill II have not
been secured for many a long day.
II can't" said Dora, the old witch
is after me. Where shall hide?"
Behind that clump of bushes" said
the mill.
The old woman waited a while and
as she did not hear any one in the
Kitchen she opened the door. No one
| was to be seen and she went to the
chimney and looked up. The bag of
gold and the cane were gone and she
hurried out of the house and down
the road in the direction which Dora
had gone.
Pretty soon she met the horse and
she asked:
Horse, horse, have you seen girl
with wig. with wag, with long
| leather bag?
"She has stole all the money that
| ever ] had"
Yes" sid the horse, "she just went
down the road"
She went a little farther and met the
cow and she said:
Cow. COW, have you seen a girl with
wig, with a wag, with a long leather
bag?"
"she has stole all the money that
ever 1 had
"Yes," said the COW, "she just went
down the road"
Then she went on until she came to
the mill, and she asked
Mill, mill, have you seen a girl with
wig. with wag. with long leather
bag?"
"she has stolen all the money that
| ever I had"
"Yes," said the mill. You will find
her behind that clump of bushes
The old woman looked and found
Dora. She took the cane from her
| and touched her on the head and she
became a pile of stones. Then the old
| woman picked up the bag of gold and
went home
Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-04-22
Artillery Rules Today.


In the past, artillery has been used
more for its moral effect than actually
to destroy the enemy. This is no long
er ture. Today 1t is the real reliance
of the army. With the aid of the re-
connaissance aeroplanc the enemy's
trenches may be located and obstruc-
tons sighted When the range is
found, the shells rightly timed and the
firing commenced, whole intrenchments
may be blown away and great areas
swept clean of acknowledgements and other
blockades. 1t is extremely difficult to
conceal the position of trenches from
aerial observers, and equally hard for
soldiers to survive the fire of massed
artillery. Never before have such care
full precautions been taken in the con-
struction of intrencllments as in the
present struggle. Bombproof, covered
and undercut trenches are practically
new to warfare. as is the British trench
with individual stalls which furnish
protection on the sides from bursting
shells and shrapne. The gunner today
occupies a place of far greater import
ance than at any time since the organ
ization of artillery units. This Is
equally true of the field. siege and gar
rison gunners. Upon them rests the
task of keeping up an incessant rain Of
shells so accurately aimed that they
wipe away the infantry trenches or
demolish the gun turrets of fortifi-
cation miles away.