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0,000 Circulation and Twice a week issue by June 1, 1913 f BOpj. $1 00 per year. The United States for Socialism »A Nation-Wide opaganda for a JOe purchase of socialist Literature. *E. W. PERRIN, The Socialist Challenge. * Lyceum Hustlers of Washington Should Ask Every_Worker toJßuypOc Worth of Socialist Literature and so Secure a Free Ticket to the Course. A Six Months Subscription to The Commonwealth Bought Through a Lyceum Hustler Entitles Purchaser to the Five Lectures Above. CALIFORNIA GIVES DEBS 79,201 VOTES. The official count of the vote of California gives Debs 79,201 •es for president. In 1908 Debs received 28,659. This is a gain ot 276 per cent. OFFICIAL RETURNS OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY. The socialist ticket ran second in Snohomish county in the No vember 5 election. Official results are as follows: Roosevelt 7,335, Debs 3,965, Wilson 3,841, Taft 3.006. Hodge 6,930, Maley 3,847, Hay 3,677, Lister 3,597. County Socialist Candidates. Sheriff, Harvey Leister, 3,893; clerk, W. R. Parr, 4,033; auditor, Carr, 3,882; treasurer, Delnah Hebert, 3,908; county attorney, \ 7 Smith, 3,926; assessor, Frank Cort, 4,054; coroner, W. S. r, 3,861; superintendent of schools, Mary McNamara, 4,998; X commissioner Second district, J. M. Salter, 4,039; county com >ner Third district, R. "W. Thompson, 4,521; representative --eighth district, R. J. Olinger, 2,363; Flora Bartlett, 2,178; rep itive 49th district. Fred Ballinger, 1,903; W. G. Grimm, 1,886; Thirty-eighth district, G. G. Lindberg, 2,020. Clipper, Wash., Dec. 16, 1912. Commonwealth: I am enclosing $3.50 for subscriptions to the Common lth. * * * Accept this as my first boost for that twice 2ek issue. Yours for the revolution, J. B. STRAUSBAUGH. If every subscriber to the Commonwealth had done as much k for the paper this week as Comrade Strausbaugh, the circu lon would now be over 15.000 and our twice-a-week issue would! • fin at once. Work for the Commonwealth—the Commonwealth will work for ORGANIZATION DISCUSSION. Party Members, Attention. We must all learn more about organization, so that we Py build our party so strong and efficient that reaction will c unknown. We must know why we organize; what made .he socialist party possible; the rights of the individual; the minority and the majority in our organization; what causes factional controversy; the danger of individualism in the I party as compared with the mass spirit. All these questions l^ust. be understood by all members. To assist in enlightening members an organization discus sion will take place in Liberty hall Sunday evening, Decem ber 22 Frans Bostrom, state secretary; Manns Hansome, who will take the platform to lecture upon organization right after the first of the year, and other well-known members, including the editor of the Commonwealth, will take part in the discus sion. If you care to learn more about organization, attend this meeting. iviass Meeting Liberty Hall, Fri, Dec. 27/12, at 8 P.M, Protest against Persecution ApDeal to Reason. Geo. Boomer, Speaker g^g=»lF THE NUMBER ON YOUR LABEL IS 103 YOUR SUBSCRIPTION EXPIRES THIS WEEK KINDLY RENEW AT ONCE. SKgiillWi&PNT: 5 V.'.,---: :"-'V . -:~; : ROBERT RIVES LaMONTE, What Is Socialism? Ci)e Commoutoealtf) LUELLA TWINING, The Class Conflict. COMMENT BY LOCAL PUYALLUP ON SOUTH BELLINGHAM MOTION TO ABOLISH THE STATE PARTY CONSTITUTION. Local Puyallup hereby desires to place itself on record as opposed to the South Bellingham motion to abolish the state party constitution and substitute lingering suicide of our militant working class party organization in place thereof. The proposed establishment of "The Chairman" in place of our party constitution would simply mean this: We would not have a state committee which could meet and act . We would not have a state executive committee which could meet and act. In case of an emergency the state organization could not act unless "a majority of the locals in the state seconded the emergency motion" through "The Chairman." In any case it would take at least a month to act at all, and an emergency motion would NEVER be acted unon because "a majority of the locals" in the state will never second any motion. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THAT IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST"THE WILES OP THE CAPITAL IST CLASS WHO DO MEET AND ACT? It would simply mean the frittering away of time with a futile dream of political democracy, when political democracy of any sort under the capitalist system IS A FAKE. Our fight is to overthrow the power of the capitalist class in order that we may establish IN DUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY. This dream of the muddle-headed middle-class mind is only a manifesta tion of middle-class decay and hastening death through self-inflicted gangrene. Let us have none of these dreams. Let us center our fight on establishing INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY. WORKING MEN AND WOMEN, AWAKE! DO NOT LET THEM FASTEN THIS DRY ROT ONTO US. It is life and action for us if we win our battles against the capitalist class. WE MUST PRESERVE OUR RIGHT TO MEET AND ACT ON STATE-WIDE MATTERS if we are to maintain life and action. Therefore we must vote the South Bellingham motion down. Ordered published by Local Puyallup in regular meeting December 13, 1912. R. E. DANNER, Chairman of Session. A. C. FARNSWORTH. Local Secretary. FABLES FOR FISH AND FINANCIERS Once upon a time, a spring freshet carried five fish into the sparkling depths of a sunny pool. After many days the waters receded, leaving the finny tribe in a peaceful watery home. One fish weighed one pound, another two pounds, another eight, and another sixteen. The days passed by and hunger appeared. The two-pound fish swallowed the one; the four ! pound fish swallowed the two; the eight-pound fish swallowed the four; the sixteen-pound fish swallowed the eight, and lay alone at peace and waxed fat. But alas for the lone lord of the watery king dom ! An angler appeared, spied a future feast, caught him, carried him home and divided him up for the whole family. HOW TO KILL THE SOCIALIST PARTY. Devise a scheme by which little fish have equal opporturitv to eat big ones. Devise a scheme by which little capitalists have an equal chance with big ones. BUT SUCH SCHEMES CANNOT BE AND THE ONLY MORAL TO BE DRAWN FROM FABLES FOR FISH AND FINANCIERS IS THAT OF THE COLLECTIVE OWNERSHIP AND DEMOCRATIC MANAGEMENT OF SOCIAL INDUSTRY AND THAT MEANS SOCIALISM FOR SOCIALIST NKWS AND PROPAGANDA KVKKKTT. WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1912 L. F. FULLER, What Socialists Want. Millions of Messages from Platform and Printed Page through National Lyceum. &■■«■■■. jjaafc, .... ' j I ROBERT KNIGHT, The Socialist Movement. Once upon a time there were five financiers, immersed in the fascinating depths of a money pool. After many days the waters of strife re ceded, leaving these monied men some watery stock. One had $1,000, another had $10,000, another $100,000, another $1,000,000 and another $1,000, --000.000. But hunger for gain appeared. The $10,000 took the $1,000; the $100,000 took the $10,000; the $1,000,000 took the $100,000 and the $1,000, --000,000 took the $1,000,000. The •Billionaire' 'lay alone and at peace and waxed fat. But alas for the lone lord of the watered stock! A party of socialists appeared, spied a future feast, caught him, carried him home, and confis cated him for the whole human family. ; An Efficient and Powerful* SOc-' j ialist Press Must be Developed j for Stirring Campaign of 1916 LOBBY IN OLYMPIA IS GETTING BUSY Tabulating Information for Future Gum Shoe Tactics, Whereby It Will Be Possible to Handle Patriotic Pie Counter Statesmen Through "Home" and Other Influences.—Socialist Rep resentative Kingery Listed. Olympia, Washington, December 13, 1912. COMMONWEALTH, EDITOR, Everett, Washington, Dear Sir:— Enclosed you will find a copy of a list of inquiries that are being ; made by the "Joint Legislative Committe" into the personal qualifi cations and weakness of the many members of the state legislature. The whole thing looked like a bit of news and a big bunch of labor faker folly so I am sending you a copy with the blanks filled out as I thought to be fitting for our Comrade Kingery. A local labor faker asked me to fill out the blanks for him and so I filled them out as per copy and so far have not heard from it. Considerable interest is being taken in the Livermore lecture and we are all hoping to have a good meeting, Yous for Revolution, EMERY C. WILLIAMSON. JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE OF DIRECT LEGISLATIVE LEAGUE OP WASHINGTON STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR FARMERS' UNION STATE GRANGE. Seattle, Washington, 1912. Dear Sir:— In order that the Joint Legislative Committee may compile a card Index which will be of inestimable value during the legislative session we have prepared the following blank which outlines the de sired information and which we trust you will aid us by filling out, I either yourself or through the aid of some one better qualified. MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. Name. County Address Party. W. H. Kingery Mason Shelton Socialist Present Occupation Farmer Socialist. Previous Occupation Either a Fool Democrat or Republican. How Successful in Occupation Became Class Conscience Hence a Socialist What Political Position He Held Before Secretary Socialist Local. What Was His Record in Such Capacity Same Local Nominated and Elected Him. Member of What Lodges, Clubs, Etc., Dues Paying Member of Social ist Party. Where and How Well Educated Well Educated in the Class Struggle. What interest has he manifested in public schools, parks, playgrounds or other public welfare work Has Joined the Party of His Class Instead of Like an Ass Trying to Vote the Ticket of Capitalists. Has his past life shown him to be aligned with the "interests" or the people His Life Has Shown Him to be Aligned With the Interests of His Class and Never Been Fooled by Fake Leaders or Reformers. What legislation is he most interested in. Class Legislation. What influence is he likely to be most susceptible to Needs of the Working Class From a Revolutionary Standpoint. Other characteristics or peculiarities which one should know in order to successfully approach and influence him in behalf of peoples' legislation To Approach Him, Common Sense, a Knowledge o the Class Struggle, and Economic Determinism, Would be the Best Possible. Names and addresses of two or more citizens of his district to whom we can appeal for aid if it is Decenary to reach him through home in fluence J. Lund of Shelton, or Still Better Frans Bostrom, of Ever -1 ett. The Latter is the State Secretary of the Socialist Party and is the Proper Party to Communicate With if the Position of the S. P. on Any Subject is Desired. EVERETT SCHOOL ELECTION Official canvau of the vote of the recent scliool election made slight change! in the result. The total for Hiuted w;is l_'.l:i7; Salter 541. The socialist rot* ol Everett wu 20 per cent of total. The 2,137 vote for Hiisted was obtained as follows ■ One thousand voters believed the lies of the Everett I>;iilv ll.r ald. Five hundred voters sold ilieir vote for v automobile ride. One hundred deluded individuals believed Unsti-d would repre sent the whole people. Five hundred and thirty scvin voted for Hosted DOQMM there was money in it. Five hundred and thirty-sc\in iftrvd tin- tohooli tot p<-t eon» tractors, pet architects and pet civil en rated Eox Husted because tl> money in it. Five hundred and forty-one toeialirta roted for Baiter red the Itled to representati ichool board ot I 'I'h. still control tl i of 1 LIVERMORE LECTURE DATES Castle Rock—Wednesday, December 18. Little Rock Friday, December 20. Puyallup—Saturday, December 21 Mukilteo—Monday, December 23 Silvana—Saturday, December 28. Everett Third Ward—Sunday, December 29. Everett Fourth Ward—Monday. December 30. Snchoniish—Tuesday, December 31. Startup— Thursday, January 2. NO. 103.