The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1916-04-27
FIRST PRIZE
(By Foster Washburn)
IHINk OR SURRENDER

throughout period of two hours and
ten minutes.
MIR. Kirkpatrick was introduced by
r. W. Thompson, who also spoke of the
lectures to follow.
Geo. X. Kirkpatrick opened his
speech with II prophecy. He said that
within ten years the United States
would have a standing army of one
million, the largest navy in the world,
and instruction for school boys in mill
tarism, unless the people of the United
States awoke to their great danger and
completely changed their industrial re-
lations in regard to capitalism. Here,
he spoke of the underlying reasons for
the capitalist class advocating mill
tarism.
All this was an introduction to the
real topic for discussion. The causes
of IA sample war, namely the war now
raging in Europe, were to be dis
cussed. He went on to say that the
causes of this war will react upon the
human race morally, physically, so
cially, religiously and industrially. The
war is the greatest epoch in the his
tory of the world. Even now litera-
ture and art are instruments for de-
scribing events of this massacre.
Mr.. Kirkpatrick then spoke of the
fundamental causes of the war. He
classed them under two heads, as fol-
lows: (D Growth out of Industrial
structure (2) and growth out of social
structure. Under the industrial struc-
ture capitalism was fully discussed.
The points made were aptly illustrated
from problems of which every one was
acquainted. He named three phases
of capitalism. They were 1) con-
Quoted for few members of society;
GU goods for profit, not for social SER
vice; (3) produced for men of society.
In order to make profit two condi-
tons are necessary. Laborers are paid
less than the value of their work, and
there must be market for goods. The
market for any goods are subject to
Q) the purchasing power of the work
ing class, (2) and the consuming pow
er of the ruling class. "The ruling
power or class places an arbitrary
limit on the working class, but nature
places natural limit on ruling class"
The system now existing does not in
crease the consuming power of labor
ers in proportion to available market.
The lecturer then traced our indus
trial system through cannibalism,
communism, chattel slavery and serf-
dom, up to capitalism, showing how
we had outgrown each and why CAPT
talism must pass as had those preced-
ing it. An evidence of this last fact
is the increasing army of unemployed.
This problem of unemployment must
be solved, because it has both scien-
tific and philosophical significance
The unemployed are driven to hunger,
cold and starvation.
The four following points or con-
illusions are the important ones in the
lecture:
() Everybody should work.
(2) Everybody should be permitted
to work.
(3) Society should not abuse I'M
employed, in any form or manner.
(4) Any society that does abuse
the working man should be re-organ-
lied.
He dwelt for some time on these
phases, bringing out the most minute
points He told why everyone con-
cerned is compelled to be more
thoughtful. The statement was made
and discussed that if all workers
worked all the time a collapse would
follow Mr.. Kirkpatrick also argued
that collapse would follow as soon as
the European war is over. Hundreds
of thousands have been ruined by the
war. Another reason for collapse is
that the United States does not pro-
vide proper investment for money.
Mr.. Kirkpatrick stated that we need
fear no war as the antagonistic coun-
try would be too far from their base.
From this thought the lecturer turn
ed to the failure of capitalism. He
pointed out the facts, that Germany
had risen from the lowest to the high
est on the ladder Of industry, and that
the common people of England were
now in reality the ruling body. The
contest for land supremacy has been
the main contest between all countries.
At this point he spoke of the great in
dustrial evolution and sOciety's power
to produce.
By studying this fundamental cause
of European war, we find that some
have already made explanation as to
the causes. Some state that the pres
ent war in Europe is due to the pecu-
liar character of Kaiser Wilhelm