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NORTHWEST WORKER
.^CiS**., DKVOTMD TO THE INDUSTRIAL, POLITICAL, AND EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE WORKING-CL-ABB
5c per copy, $1.00 per year.
Workingmen of All Countries, Unite! You Have^Nothing to Lose But Your Chains! You Have a World to Gain!
COMMISSIONER SALTER
ANSWERS CRITICS
In a recent Issue of the Kverett
Daily Herald. Mr. Stonehouse, as a
taxpayer, nsked the city council sev
eral Questions.
To answer all of them would require
too much space, so we will deal only
with those referring to the street de
partment.
Mr. Stonehouse asks, "Why is it
necessary for a man to wear a red
button to get a job?" In answer will
say that it is not necessary to wear
a Socialist button to get a job. Five
men of the present street and sewer
force were employed under the last
administration. Many more were re
tained for several months after I took
office and were discharged for neg
lect of duty and drunkenness. One 67
those discharged wore a red button.
Out of forty-five men who have been
employed on extra public improve
ment jobs, only nine wore red but
tons.
Further, Mr. Stonehouse asks, "Why i
don't they get on the job at eight
o'clock and not leave the barn at
that time?" and, "Why do they start
home from work before 5 o'clock?
Tnis would not be allowed if they
were working for any private parties."
In answer to these queries and com
ment, we refer Mr. Stonehouse to the
Telephone company's men, who work
eight hours per day. They leave the
barn at eight o'clock and are in by
five o'clock.
In Seattle and Spokane the street
department employes do not leave
the barn until 8 o'clock and are back
in time to put away tools and be able
to leave for home by 5 o'clock. Team
sters care for their horses outside of
the A hours put in on regular work.
Here the men leave the barn at from
10 to 15 minutes of 8 o'clock, and re
turn that much earlier in the evening.
When the city employs men on an ir.i
provement job they report on the job
at 8 o'clock and leave at five the same
as any contractor requires; but where
it is necessary to report at a central
point to get tools and receive orders
for the day, the Everett street depart
ment does just like every other city
and private company. It seems like a
waste of time and space to explain
such childish questions.
J. M. SALTER.
PASTOR ASSERTS GREED FOR
GOLD HAS RUINED LIFE
The Rev. Newell Dwight Hillis, suc
cessor to Henry Ward Beeeher and
Lyman Abbott in Plymouth church,
Brooklyn, an author whose books on
religious subjects have had extraordi
nary sales, and chautauqua orator
whose fame is second to that of W.
J. Bryan, recently in his pulpit told
his congregation that his ambitions
for wealth and power had crushed his
life, brought him to the brink of pov
erty, and humbled him so that he said
he was not worthy to unloose the shoe
latchets of a poor worker of the
slums.
Following the dramatic statement
of the minister, from the pulpit yes
terday, the Rev. Hillis today offered
to sell his $30,000 home to meet finan
cial obligations, it was said.
The Rev. Hillis has always been a
bitter enemy of Socialism. Several
years ago he gave out a widely quot
ed interview accusing Socialists of be
ing "free lovers."
Later he defended the Colorado Fuel
& Iron company and denounced the
strikers against Rockefeller rule in
that state.
HELP BLAZE THE TRAIL!
By Attending the Sunday Campaign Meetings at
THE FORUM, 1612 CALIFORNIA STREET, EVERETT
JAMES SUTTON
Chairman State Executive Committee, Socialist Party, will speak on
Forces That Make for Socialism
Sunday Afternoon, October 10th, 2.30 p.m.
QUESTIONS ADMIBSION FREE MUBIC
October 17th —Bruce Rogers, of Seattle.
I.ook up tho raoordl of previous
olty officials and see what they gave
labor, when labor linked for some
thing. You will find that lubor al
ways Rot something they did not want.
In other words: they got It In the
nn-k. When labor gets wise to these
follows they will take what they want.
You have helped produce all the
beautiful things that our modern cities
have within them. And your reward
I* poverty. If not poverty, then un
certainty, during a lifetime of useful
work. And your reward when sick
or injured is merely to be replaced by
another who is sound In wind and
limb. When Society owns the means
of life. Society will see to it that its
useful workers get the best that is
produced and that they are cared for
during sickness and old age.
The wealth of the country between
1S!)O and 1912 increased from 65 to
187 billions, or 188 per cent., where
as the aggregate income of wage
earners in manufacturing, mining and
i transportation has risen in the same
period only 95 per cent, from 2,516 to
] 4,916 millions. Do you get that?
Capitalists that represent 15 per
cent, of the population received 188'
billions for owning the means of- iife,
| and the workers received 5 billions
1 for working the means of life.
—
Seventy-five per cent, of the chil
| dren in this country quit school be
, fore reaching the seventh grade.
These children are sent out into the
world to bring in wages to help keep
' the wolf from the d.>or of their par
i ents. Fine condition of affairs, isn't
it. for a country whose natural re
! sources are barely scratched and
• which is reckoned amongst the rich
j est of the nations?
If you question these statements,
attend our meeting Sunday afternoon
at 1612 California St., and ask us to
prove them. We can prove these fig
ures by government statistics.
SHIPLEY AND SUTTON
TO SPEAK AT
STREET MEETINGS
Despite the damp, chilly weather of
j last Saturday evening, a pood-sized
! crowd gathered to hear Emil Herman
speak on the corner of Wetmore and
Hewitt, and listened attentively. Sat
urday, October 9th, James M. Sutton,
jof Tacoma, Chairman of the State
I Executive Committee, will speak on
1 "Some Vital Problems." Street meet
ing corner of Wetmore and Hewitt.
Bring along a friend and hear a clear
, exposition of some problems that con
cern you. Bruce Uogerß of Seattle
| will speak on the street next week,
Saturday. Bear it In mind.
"Why Socialist Commissioners?"
Weather favorable, Maynard Ship
j ley will speak on the corner of Wet
more and Hewitt, Friday evening, be
ginning at S o'clock. His subject will
be, "Why Socialist Commissioners?"
All questions will be courteously an
swered at conclusion of the address.
The first right, the right to exist
ence, which no civilized society will
recognize for laborers, is possessed by
horses. — Laf argue.
"Right forever on the scaffold,
Wrong forever on the throne."
—Lowell.
BY BRETT, WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1915.
Relief from Grave Industrial Evils
Cannot Be Secured by Petty
Reforms, Says Manly Report
Proposed Remedial Measures
The report says regarding reme
dies:
"In considering the action which
needs to bo taken It has been urged
by some that the end to be achieved
Is to place personal rights on a parity
with property rights. It la necessary
ta render a firm protest and warning
against the acceptance of such an
ideal. The establishment of property
rights and personal rights on the
same level can leave only a constant
and ever growing menace to our pop
ular institutions. With the acceptance
of such an Ideal our democracy Is
doomed to ultimate destruction. Per
sonal rights must be recognized as
supreme and of unalterable ascend
ency over property rights.
"Relief from these grave evils can
not be secured by petty reforms. The
action must be drastic and directed at
the roots from which these evils
spring.
"With full recognition of the grav
ity of the suggestions it seems neces
sary to urge the commission to make
the following recommendations:
"1. That congress should forthwith
initiate an amendment to the consti
tution providing in specific terms for
the protection of the personal rights
of every person in the United States
from encroachment by the federal and
state governments and by private in
dividuals, associations and corpora
tions. The principal rights which
should be thus specifically protected
by the power of the federal govern
ment are the privilege of the writ of
habeas corpus, the right to jury trial,
free speech, peaceful assemblage, to
keep and bears arms, to be free from
unreasonable searches and seizures,
to speedy public trial, to freedom
from excessive bail, and from cruel
and nnusual punishments.
"2. That congress immediately en
act by statute or, if deemed necessary,
initiate a constitutional amendment
specifically prohibiting the courts
from declaring legislative acts uncon
stitutional.
"3. That congress enact that in all
federal cases where the trial is by
jury all qualified voters in the district
shall be included in the list from
whioh jurors are selected and that
they shall be drawn by the use of a
Che Mary
\\)ho will
Never be
come a
cSociaJist,
THE
wheel or other device designed to pro
mote absolute impartiality.
"4. That congress should drastical
ly regulate or prohibit private detec
tive agencies doing business In more
than one Btate, employed by a com
pany doing an intergtato Ihihlih-kh, or
utiinr, the malls In connection with
their biiHlneHß. Such regulation, if it
is feasible, should Include particularly
the limitation of their activities to
the bona fide functions of detecting
crime, and adequate provlHlon should
be made for the rigid supervision of
their organization and personnel.
"5. That, the militia of the Beveral
states being subject to regulation by
congress, carefully drawn rules for
their personnel, organization and con
duct in the field »hould be drawn up
to tnßure their impartiality during in
dustrial disputes."
RIGHT TO ORGANIZE
Evidence and testimony are cited
showing that many employers refuse
to deal with organizations of their
employees or to employ men who be
long to labor organizations, this denial
of the right of organization being dis
cussed as the fourth principal cause
of industrial unrest. The report says:
"The previous discussion of the
causes of industrial unrest has dealt
with the denial of certain fundamental
objects to which die workers believe
they have natural and inalienable
rights, namely, a fair distribution of
the products of Industry, the oppor
tunity to earn a living, free access to
unused land and natural resources,
and just treatment by legislators,
courts and executive officials.
"A more serious and fundamental
charge is, however, contained in the
allegation by the workers that, in
spite of the nominal legal right which
has been established by a century-long
struggle, almost insurmountable ob
stacles are placed in the way of their
using the only means by which eco
nomic and political justice can be se
cured, by combined action through
voluntary organization.
"The workers insist that this right
of organization is fundamental and
necessary for their freedom, and that
It is inherent in the general rights
guaranteed every citizen of a democ
racy. They insist that 'people can
I don'tOWN nothin.
I dontOWE nothirf.
Wont pWnothm'.
IdQntVWKrnothinl
Brer Meet Thta ChmpT
free themselves from oppression only
by organized force. No people could
gain or maintain their rights or lib
erties acting singly, and any class of
citizens In the state subject to unjust
burdens or oppression can gain relief
only by combined action.
"The demand for organization and
collective action has been misunder
stood, It Is claimed, because of the
belief among a large number of citi
zens that Its purpose was simply to
secure better wages and better physi
cal conditions. It has been urged,
however, by a large number of wit
nesses before the commission that
this Is a complete misconception of
the purpose for which workers de
sire to form organizations.
NOT A MATERIAL STRUGGLE
"It has been pointed out with great
force and logic that the struggle of
labor for organization is not merely
an attempt to secure an Increased
measure of the material comforts of
life, but is a part of the age-long strug
gle for liberty; that this struggle Is
sharpened by the pinch of hunger and
the exhaustion of body and mind by
long hours and improper working
conditions; but that even If men were
well fed they would still struggle to
be free.
"It is not denied that the exception
al individual can secure an economic
I sufficiency either by the sale of his
unusual ability or talent, or by syco
phantic subservience to some person
in authority, but it is insisted that no
individual can achieve freedom by his
own efforts. Similarly, while it is ad
mitted that in some cases exceptional
employers treat their employes with
jthe greatest justice and liberality, it
.is held to be a social axiom that no
group of workers can become free ex
cept by combined action, nor can the
mass hope to achieve any material ad
vance in their condition except by. col
lective effort.
"Furthermore, it is urged by the
representatives of labor that the ef
forts of individuals who are bent upon
bettering their own condition without
, reference to their health or to the
interests of others, directly injure
each of their fellow workers and in
directly weaken the whole fabric of
society. (To be continued)
CIRCULATION
6,964
BOOST FOR 10,000
"Can't Change Human Nature"
By Allan Bemon
Gentlemen of wealth and culture
tell poor men to Bhun Socialism as
they would shun the black plague.
Gentlemen of wealth and culture use
the newspapers that they control to
fight Socialism. Socialism, as they
picture It, Is all that is bad and noth
ing that Is good—at best a dream, at
worst a nightmare.
Since dreams are more pleasant
than nightmares, let us consider the
dream charge first. Rich gentlemen
say that Socialism is a dream be
cause it could not possibly be put in
to effect. These gentlemen say that
a fundamental flaw in Socialism is the
fact that it could not be put Into prac
tice without "changing human na
ture."
Now, if this were true, it would be,
indeed, a grievous fault. If this were
true, we who are Socialists would do
well to cease our talking, our writing
and our printing. But is it true? No
court accepts a highwayman's plea of
not guilty without trying him. No
poor man can afford to accept with
out question any rich man's denuncia
tion of a plan to end poverty.
Capitalism does not fit human na
ture. Capitalism does not fit human
nature unless wealth for a few and
poverty for the rest are dear to the
human heart.
Capitalism does not fit human na
ture unless worry and fear and want
and suffering are indispensable parts
of a happy life.
Capitalism does not fit human na
ture if happiness fits it, because capi
talism does not bring happiness to
the masses of the people.
Capitalism does not fit human na
ture unless children like to work in
factories, and women like to become
MAY CAPTURE NORWAY
CHRISTIANA.—The national com
mittee of the party in power has rec
ommended co-operation with the So
cialists rather than concede the de
mand made by the armament advoc
ates.
The Socialists in Norw.iy still ad
here to the doctrine that the inter
national socialistic fraternity is able
to prevent war between nations, and
instead of increasing means of de
fense, the party would have Norway
leep no army or navy at a?!.
The Socialists at the last election
numbered two-fifths of all the voters.
Since then the party has pained con
siderably, so it is not impossible that
in combination with non-armament
sympathizers they may get control of
the next storthing.
THE NEW SOCIAL BIRTH
Jack London
The capitalist must learn, first and
for always, that Socialism is based,
not upon the equality but upon the in
equality, of men. Next, he must learn
that no new birth into spiritual purity
is necessary before Socialism becomes
possible. He must learn that Social
ism deals with what is, not with what
ought to be; and that the material
with which it deals is the "clay of the
common road," the warm human, fal
lible and frail, sordid and petty, ab
surd and contradictory, even gro
tesque, and yet, withal, shot through
with flashes and glimmerings of some
thing finer and God-like, with here
and there sweetness of service and un
selfishness, desires for goodness, for
renunciation and sacrifice, and with
conscience, stern and awful, at times
blazing imperious, demanding the
right—the right, nothing more or less
than the right.
The
Workers' Candidates
J. ML Salter
FOR COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS
Katherine H. Hodgins
FOR COMMISSIONER OF FINANCE
G. W. Carr
FOR COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
wage workers and live on $6 a week.
And what is this monstrous thing
called Socialism that rich gentlemen
are so certain would fall because It
does not fit human nature? What
does it propose? What does it mean?
Socialism proposes tha< all great In
dustries should be owned by the gov
ernment, and that all governments
should be not only owned but con
trolled by the people.
Socialism would cause the govern
ment to manufacture and sell the ne
cessities and comforts of life at cost.
Socialism would cause the govern
ment to give employment to every
worker so long as there remained an
unsatisfied want on the part of any
person. Socialism could do this. Capi
talism cannot. Capitalism can give
employment to nobody unless his
product can be sold at a profit. So
cialism would not be dependent upon
profit. Take out the profit and you
take out enforced unemployment. If
you want something that I can make
and I want something that you can
make, why should we not both go to
work and serve ourselves by serving
each other? Is anything more ab
surd than for people to sit around Idle
while they are suffering for the things
they could make? Is anything more
absurd than for unemployment and
poverty to exist at the same time? If
people are poor, why don't they go to
work? Is there a simpler remedy for
poverty? But how can they go to
work when they do not own the ma
chinery with which work is done?
How can the capitalists set them to
work when the people have no money
with which to buy the product? How
can the people have money with which
to buy the product when they have
no work? Don't you see that it is
whirling around this profit-pole that
makes you dizzy?
PROTEST LETTERS HELP
JOE HILL IN HIS
BATTLE FOR LIFE
Following the request of President
Wilson for a stay of execution, Gov
ernor Spry of Utah, on Thursday af
ternoon, reprieved Joe Hill (or Hill
strom) until October 16. Hill was td
have been shot Friday morning.
President Wilson took action at the
request of the Swedish ambassador,
who was stirred to investigation as a
result of the flood of letters and tele
grams sent him by Swedish workers
over the country who felt that Hill
was not being given a fair deal. The
reprieve will probably result in a re
opening of the case, and with the re
alization that Hill is not entirely
friendless there is every probability
that he will be released, as there was
not a single shred of evidence adduced
at his trial that would connect him
in any way with the murder for which
he was convicted.
The result shows what may be done
by the workers when they are aroused
to protect their own.
EVERETT CAMPAIGN FUND
Previously subscribed $ 90.00
[ A. E. Holmberg, City 3,00
! Local Silvana 5.00
IT. Walker, City 1.00
! A. O. Anderson, City 50
i Frank Robinson, City 1.65
Frank Shepherd, City 2.00
M. Michelson, City 50
$103.65
Send all contributions to W. E. An
derson, 1612 California St., Everett,
Wash.
No. 248
