The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-08-28
Red Propaganda

Red Propaganda
The outstanding feature 81 tho trip
was. on the one hand, the evidence
we found OF an extraordinary amount
OF revolutionary propaganda abroad
IN the country. and on the other hand.
the amazing lack of effort 60 combat
the dangerous teachings.
THE Pacific coast. in particular,
h Rfihme with radical activities. IL
Is noticeable all tho way from Los
Angeles Co Seattle.
This iAanc n not merely over the
proper relationship between labor
and capital
yet nearly everywhere business
men and sound thinkers appear In
different. or else bewilderei. Mean
while. the neglect 90 oppose this de-
struc,ive campaign has resulted IN
many small property owners and
farmers being swept into the iiolnhe-
yik current
"in ono Western city We were told
tina, the only printed arguments
against fiolshsVism 90 be found IN the
book stores was the bible and the
constitution OF the United States
Yet VI one of these stores nj least
50 books and pamphlets were pur-
chased. all advocating Holshoyiam
and urging without mincing 81 words
resort 90 force 10 overthrow the ex-
isting order
The fact that conditions are -
acute on the Pacific coast appar
entity grows out Of the extraordinar,
wages paid BY the government, &c
shipyard workers and others en-
pioyed in producing war necessities
1T is the same disease that az
fleets our industries turnout the ma
ton.
Under the spur of produclne
great quantities OF war materials
II was easy for wage adjustment
boardA to find a motive TO order In
crcases in wages.
Manufacturer. knowing they
could add the wage increases q
their cost OF production. rsadli,
paid the advance. Ordinary domss
tic business In competition with war
Industries and war activities paying
excessive wage scales. were forced
20 follow suit.
Prices Increased
The cumulative cffec, was the
stepping up Of labor costs. produe
tion costs and selling prices IN MI
iines--each successive wage increase
resulting In n corresponding rise IN
the cost Of living.
Huge mass meetings are belnE
held ut which iaborerH are bsins
told that they are entitled as Z
matter OF right 10 their abnorma'
wages--aad very much more. or
binary iaborcrs IN many cases ar'
receiving more wages than fire
men. policemen. many clcrgymef
and college educators. We are tolt
OF some cases where professions
men left then ordinary work In or
der to earn the wages Of shIpyart
labofer.
West Coast Status
while these conditions wer'
fFfuNt acute On fUf tNN4AtA tNtHAs WV
Infection is spreading In n fcv
cases business men. aroused by th'
danger. are taking action. Spokan'
has started campaign OF educa
ton. In Minneapolis business met
have organized whenever there i
socialistic or revolutionary mcst
ing arrangements are made for
meeting at the nearest neighbor
hood point at which the conserva
tive side Is presented.
These are but sporadic attempts
Yet one cannot travel over ihi
country today. or realize condition.
even In New York Itself. withou
seeing that there Is shrewdly con
Quoted, amply financed Boishavil
campaign. aimed at the destruction
OF our whole order OF civilization
while at the moment practically
nothing IL being done by sound an'
Experienced elements Of the countrl
to present the simple economi
truths involved.
People Unconcerusd
In most OF the cities visited tn
people generally seemed concerne'
almost exclusively with their dahl
local affairs and were giving littl
thought or care TO the fundamental
national or International problem
which we must face and settle !
civilization Is 10 be preserved.
THE situation calls for action. Not
since the free silver campaign has
there been such definite need for
the sane incubation OF one eco
nomic thinking in this country
American people are fair. and II this
facts are presented 10 them. there
can be no doubt OF the result
ut must be made clear that there
Is an unacceptable relationship be
tween wages and the cost OF produc
ton and that only thru increased
effort can enough commodities be-
produced 10 establish an equitable
entity between n world supply and
world demand. and thus bring about
lower prices.
Until Europe gets back to some
thing like normal farm and factory
output, nothing but increased pro
a H..