The Washington socialist. [volume], June 04, 1914, Image 4

About The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915

Image provided by: Washington State Library; Olympia, WA

                
THE WASHINGTON SOCIALIST
formerly nil CO>I>W\UI:AI.TH
Entered at taoond olaga matter March 0, 1011, at the poatoffice
at Everett Washington, tinder the act of March 8, 187O>
INI). I'HON'K 47SZ
Published every Thursday by the Press Committee of the Social
ist Party of Snohomish County. .; ;
Maynard Shipley Editor and Manager
Advertising Manager! F. «i. Crosby.
Mailing Force: Tillio Roeder, Martha McCormick, Gertrude Cort,
Yearly subscription $1.00
Six mouths ..'ill
Three, months ', M
Single copies .05
THE LESSON OF THE MINI
MUM WAGE LAW FOR
WOMEN.
That "immorality" is an Inevitable
> coMoquence of Inadequate wages;
that orinae ami prostitution are the
natural results or poverty ami ignor
name, are truisms. No one of any
consequence would undertake to dis
prove such ObvlOtta CaOtS. We assume
that no one who is not a monster of
selfishness would gladly see the wom
anhood and girlhood of this state slav
ing their livi s away !>>r the employing
class at less than a tiring Wage
But the capitalist system is replete
with contradictions. Business is not a
religions eervtoe. Oh, no. Trnitnosi
is business," and mnler this cruel and
wholly unmoral phrase lurks a smil
ing devil, the embodiment of greed.
Not that the individual business man.
is wholly had, or oven bad at all. The
employers of women are often just as
much victims of capitalist immorality
as are their victims.
The capitalist is forced by the re
lentless competition incident to cap
italism to buy his labor power as
cheaply as his rival can in a distant
locality. How can a Washington capi
talist can fruit on a nine-dollar wage
scale and sell it in the open market
in competition with his rival in an
other state who pays five dollars for
the same service?
The opponents of a legally enforced
minimum wage scale are justified in
their contention to this extent. "Busi
ness is business." and business is hell.
So it can only breed hellish conditions.
You can't gather grapes from the
thistle of capitalism. You can't re
form a system and make it good and
beautiful when it is basically and in
herently bad and ugly. If you patch
it up here It breaks out there. Dam
up the streair: of its evil in one place
and it bursts forth with redoubled de-1
structiven^ss some where else.
So we are not surprised that Com
missioner E. W. Olson, of the state j
bureau of labor, is alarmed at the very
forces the would-be reformers have set!
loose. Says he:
Commissioner Olson's Remedy.
"If by establishing a minimum j
wage the working women and girls of
the state receive more pay, as it is
the popular desire they should, there
will inevitably develop a tendency on
the part of employers to replace the
higher priced girl and her products by
labor and products that can be se
cured more cheaply. This is the nat
ural result of direct and keen compe
tition with the great starvation wage
sweatshops of the East, which are
constantly placing their products on
Washington markets.
"Therefore, something must be done
to counteract this tendency, and there
by insure the working women their
positions at the higher wages which
it is desired to create through the
establishment of minimum wages.
"This counteraction muni come
through the people themselves, and t
am able to see only one method by
which it can be brought about: The
purchasers of products of the indus
tries that are now employing women,
and which it is desired shall continue
to employ them at the higher wages,
must deliberately elect to purchase
the products of industries and the
wares of establishments that pay the
higher wages. If the working girls
and women are to profit by the admin
istration of the minimum wage law,
somebody must contribute by some
means that profit."
But Will It Work?
There you are. The average cost of
labor power must Inevitably determine
the average price of labor's products,
and these products will be bought
where they can be obtained at the
lowest price. The d^ar people will not
voluntarily tax themselves directly on
their supplies In order to raise arti
ficially the cost of labor power in
their beloved State. For they, too,
are victims of the Impracticable cap
italist system, having themselves,
most of them, labor power to sell. It
is nip aiut tuck to "keep up appear
ances," whatever one's "station In
life" happens to be, So it le evident
that the reformer is moving in a vic
ious circle.
The women ought not to be asked
to work for less than a decent living
wage on the basis of an eight-hour
work 'lay. And the thrifty citizen who
must needs maintain himself as a
profit-monger or join the growfag
SOME COMMENTS.
Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., DM
tailed id dlsplaj the proverbial ahrewd
of ins mther. To nave made <>>ii
fissions id public •■pinion would have
done much to alia) oppoeition to prh
liege, espeoialt) among those who do
urn discriminate between a system and
its Individual beneficiaries, His re
fusal Is a tactloal error such as Bour
bons .ii«a>s make, Insisting tirat bis
legal power to oppress be upheld, and
n fusing all promises or leniency In
making us.' or it, he has dealt predi
tory privilege ■ harder blow than anj
agitator oould have dealt
John D. Rockefeller, Jr.. aays be
stands tor the Inalienable right of
ever] otttaea to work without Inter*
iVreiuv, whether be be a union man
or a non union man. All right. Why
not establish What Mr. Rockefeller
sa>s h. wants and see how he win like
it? Even i-iti/.Mi has the Inalienable
right, to work, for Instance then' are
onn—d mining lands in Bouthern Col
orailo, from the right to work on which
Colorado minors, union and non union,
are now denied. Why allow this de
nial to continue.' Much of this land
belongs to Mr. Rockefeller and he
stands for the right to work. He
even says he is willing to sacrifice
millions to establish that right. If he
means what ho says, ho will support a
movement to free dorado's natural re
sources from the grasp of monopoly.
He won't object on account of being a
monopolist himself, for is he not will
ing to sacrifice millions? But wheth
er he means what he says or not, why
not go ahead and take his advice any
way?
Mr. Bryan's proposal that the Colo
rado min.ng lands be confiscated by
the government in the name of the
people of the United States should be
adopted, then Mr. Rockefeller's desire
would be at least partially fulfilled.
Somehow we suspect that His Pious
,ness does not mean just what he says
on this subject.
WHAT SOCIALISM IS.
American Year-Book, Cyclopedia and
Atlas.
Xo word has been more abused and
misunderstood than the word Social
ist. The Socialist is not an anarchist,
they are opposed in theory and prac
tice. The Socialist does not propose
to destroy the family, abolish religion
or devide up property, nor does he
seek to carry out his ideas by riot and
bloodshed.
In a single phrase, Socialism means
public ownership of the means of pro
duction and working class control of
the government, a chance to work for
all who will, and to all workers the
full value of their product.
The typical Socialist Ib a rather
quiet and thoughtful workingman, ser
ene in time of trouble and self con
tained in the day of victory. He rea
lizes that the world will move on very
well after he in dead, but remembers
that while he lives it is his business
to help the world move. He cousiderß
himself an ally of eternal laws of na
ture and is proud to do his little part
in the great cause.
army of the unemployed. Is obliged
by the rules of the game of business
to buy his taw material and labor
power as cheaply as he can, regard
less of sentiment, morality, or relig
ion; for he: will surely meet in the
open warfare ~! capitalism a competi
tor who is not hampered with m h
little Incon es as a conscience,
respect for human welfare, sentiment,
or effective religion. Business is hell,
and he goes into the hellish business
to win, and let. the devil take the
hindmost. As with the devout Mr.
Rockefeller, his conscience will
"acquit" him And why not, if he
plays according to the brutal and
sordid rules of the capitalist game?
■.ii to be learned from
this whole dilemma is, that Boclety
offers the wealth producer no hope of
economic security, health or happi
ness y<> Ion;: as <be capitalist system
lasts,
We insist then, that capitalism can
not be patched up and made respect
able or endurable. It must be over
thrown, abolished, root anil blanch,
and a sane and scientific, system of
wealth production substituted, under
which commodities will be produced
for USE, not for PROFITS,
And this spells Socialism!
Talks of Work In
i City of Milwaukee
(Continued from i ■.i!■ i• one.)
■ource of Ni'n iii'Mi;. ho laid Others
he summed up mm Follows;
Tinl itroot cur company was re
quired to pave and. keep In repair the
Hlrt'cts between the tracks and v fool
on each Bide. They luul repaired huh
[■pace, but the oity had done the pay*
tut;. The Socialists weal to court and
forced the company to obey Its frun
chise requirement!, costing the cor
poration thousands or dollar! saved to
taxpayers,
The sumo company was required by
franchise to sprinkle its right-of-way
The city had done It. The Socialists,
after a court fight, net the company
! right,
The administration appointed an
.i . nor who began elevating uhrobh
| tnenti on corporation!. The appoint
j merit was attacked In the courts, but
the administration won. The Social'
lit Idea, Maid the speaker, wiib that
the corporation! railed the problem!
:\ikl that tin1 corporations should foot
the bills.
The gas company was furnishing
two kinds of gas (through tin- same
pipe) ;it so <•<-iit« and $1, for cooking
and n^lll ins.-. respectively. Milwaukee
legislators, declared the ipe&ker, mi
i Him, .I a bill ii\ the itate assembly
Fixing I nts as the gas rate, lead
ing to h compromise at "•> cents and
a promlie to further reduce ratei
when the corporal ion oould afford It.
Belde] asked what was the Bverett
gas rate! and when told it is |1.88,
remarked: "Well, no ahead and pay
it; you are rich. Yon OU afford it."
Corporations Were Brought to Time
and Their Graft Eliminated.
The city Owned its fire and police
alarm systems - everything evc.pt tin
transmitters and receivers at either
end. These were rented from the
telephone company at $:t annually for
each Instrument it was learned 111• -
Instruments could be bought outright
for 11.73, This was done and the tele
phone company notified to remove its
bOXM.
Investigation! of street paving, de
clared Seidel, revealed that Kraft to
the extent of $1 a square yard hail
been paid by the taxpayers. Milwau
kee had been paying $1.35 to $l.fiO per
square yard, to private contractors,
who worked men 10 to 11 hours a day
and paid $1.90 daily wages. The city
bought a plant and materials, em
ployed men at $3 a day for 8 hours,
and proved that streets could be paved
for less than $1 a square yard. "Of
course," he added, "the contractors
were sore I don't, blame them."
The Socialists stopped the sale of
liquor in the redlight district. This re
nally abolished the district This re
sulted in the elimination of rental in
comes from property owned by peo- j
pie so respectable they wouldn't col
lect the rents themselves, and some
of them prominent church members,
and they didn't like it, said Seidel.
The Bosses Did Not Like the Social
ist Officials.
Women were appointed factory in
gpecton . They made 61,000 Inspec
lions in one year. Factory owners
were forced to install sanitary condi
tions, blowers, window! and doors,
ventilators, suction fans, and other
things benefiting the health of oper- ,
ativea and the factory owners didn't
like it, said Seidel.
The gamblers were attacked and
forced to quit; the advertising prac
tice! of Milwaukee newspapers were
attacked and they were forced to
purge tbelr columns.
The result of it all was, declared
Seidel, ilija iii the lection of L 912 the
Socialists found arrayed against them
the "pie-hunters," the street paving
contractor!, the loan sharks, the bn w
ery interests, the women of the red
light, district and their bangers-on, the
respectable and church-member own
Of the m dlight district property,
the factory proprietor!, the gambler!,
and nine of the ten Milwaukee new
papers the Socialists having ci tab
Hi tied a daily paper, and all thei c
forces lined up under the banner of
the iion partisan party. The Social
ist were beaten, lie declared, In 1911
by a majorltj of 30,000; In li) 12 by
10; in \:n:\ by 12,000, and just a
few wi ■ kl ago by S.nliO; and Seidel
predicted thai another year would see
the Socialists restored to power in
Milwaukee.
■riie line-up in the campaign a tew
weeks ago was 'Americanism against
Socialism," said Seidel, "We have
them making the last fight, In the last
dlti li under the flag."
Century Dictionary: "Socialism Is
any theory or system of social organi
zation which would abolish entirely,
or in great part, the individual effort
and competition on which modern so
ciety rests, and substitute for it co
operative action; would Introduce a
i more porfext and equal distribution of
the products of labor, and would make
land and capital, an tfce instruments
nnd means of production, the joint
possession of the members of the com
munity."
WASHINGTON SOCIALIST
COMRADE OF BIRMINGHAM
WRITES ON ERRORS IN
WORKING CLASS LOGIC.
The most of thai old people of today
think thai the young must rote, think
;iii<i act <us they hare always done.
They do mil atop to rsalUe (lint our
wants and licit h are not in most cases
Identical, There are io many people
who read bin one line of literature,
making It hard to spring a now idea
on them without getting an answer
that "it's too anarchistic," "Won't
work," "There's nothing wrong! th«
agitators cause nil (ho trouble)," etc,
What kind of a chance has the rising
generation of today? a man with a
small capital has ■ poor show. Fig
ures show that hundreds of these go
bankrupt every month. The worker
linn to compete with lilh Fellow worker.
At the present rate or employment in
a few years one-half of the workers
will be out of work all the time, Wom
en and children are displacing men
from the factories. Them Is, accord-
Ing to the latest Figures, about 2,000,"
000 tramps In this country. In 1860
there were mine. The wealth of the
nation has drifted Into but , a few
hands, About 88 per cent of the pen
ple do not own homes. If men go on
a strike for a little better living the
militia Is called out and the men arc
clubbed back to their job. The strik
ers lost iii Michigan and at present
are having a real war with gunmen,
hired by capitalists, In Colorado,
Bui when the Socialists say it is the
system thai oauiei this, the "bone*
mads" say thai the ijritem is ''ill
right; and the government will handle
thingi all right They Bare ■ real
bright future mapped oul tot us.
Borne say thai the ones who oan'l
vole yet will have tO DUlId their own
future at the ballol box, jrel they kick
when you say you want to change the
system by Voting the Socialist ticket.
A pOMlble war with Mexico tickles
them. It's nice to stay at home and
read the war news but to KO there
and be shot at is an entirely different
thing.
After reading "War, What For?" I
prefer staying home and reading the ,
papers. There 1 a lot of difference
between old muzzle-loading cannon j
and modern breech loading guns, not i
to mention airships and rapid-fire
guns. Three of the most powerful ,
weapons used by the capitalists to ,
keep the workers in Ignorance are the \
schools, pulpit and the press. The
schools are of the most Importance. |
Yours for Socialism, .
NORMAN BILES,
Birmingham, Wash.
DO YOU WANT AN ANTI-WAR i
CARTOON ON BOOK PAPER?
Here's the Way to Get It.
In our issue of May 14 we published
an anti-war cartoon which has proved |
jto be most effective. Many comrades
have pinned the picture up In con
spicuous places, some in their locals,
Others in their homes. This will make
excellent propaganda, and in order to
further encourage our readers in mak
i ing uro of this cartoon, we hereby
agree to send to any one a print of
this picture on heavy white book
paper, void of all printed matter, on
the following terms: Send us a re
quest, fur the. cartoon and either one
26-ceni (three months) subscription
card, or three 10-cent trial subscription
cards. The picture Will thereupon be
furnished free of charge, mailed to you j
in a pasteboard tube.
FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT.
Comrade! not receiving the paper
regularly can do us no greater service
than to report the matter to us. We
trace up ' these cases until the diffi
culty is located. Remember, that a
mailing list cannot be perfectly re
adjusted in a day, and not at all with
out the co-operation of our readers.
WANTED :
Three hundred readers to pledge
themselves to purchase 500 worth of '
sub. cards each month for three
months. This means progress for
Socialism and needed support for the
Washington Socialist. WHO'LL BE
THE FIRST ON THIS PLEDGE?
<«v^A4><*<s>3><S><S > <S><Sx^^
|> Stop in and see the new at- <|> j
4> moßphere that prevails at the $
I NEW VIENNA BAKERY I!
X Now under the management of X!
\ B. F. DANIELS, 1409 HEWITT <JH
| Phones: Sun. 979, Ind. 61BZ |
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] \ Buy your bread, cakes, pies, etc. j|
< > from w
]; SCANDIA BAKERY I
<> 272? Chestnut :
I I
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<*^xs>s><Sxs>'S><sx^<ixsxjxjxjKs>^>'. . ........ ,
I HANNAH CROSBY I ;
t PRACTICAL NURSE f ',
X Thirty Years Experience x
$ 2620 Oakes—Tel. Ind. 518Y i
Everything A Man Needs
$] Complete Shaving Outfit $1
JO ARTICLES 10
To advertise our Universal Shaving
Outfit and Universal Products wo will
fur a limited time only, send this well
worth 18.00 Shaving Outfit for $1.00.
Wo Hell our prod tints to tlio consumer
direct and therefore you save all
agents' profits which as you know are
very largo.
1 Hollow Ground Razor.
1 5-Inch Lath»r Brush.
1 Razor Strop, Canvas Back. "
1 Nickel Easel Back Mirror.
1 33-Inch Barber Towel.
1 Bar Shaving Soap.
1 Box Talcum Powder.
1 Decorated China Mug.
1 Aluminum Barber Comb.
1 Bristle Hair Brush.
Each outfit packed In neat box
$1.00. Coin or Money Order, postage
LOo extra.
UNIVERSAL PRODUCTS CO.
Dayton, Ohio
DR. K. I. KOBBERVIO
DENTIST
406 8 Commerce Bldg.
Phones: Ind. 163, Hun. 456
r Qrr I London "Tango" Necklace
I lILL ■ "Evelyn Thaw" Bracelet
These two beautiful pieces of pop
ular jewelry are the craze among so
ciety women in New York and the
largest cities. They are noaf. and ele
gant koIiJ finished articles that will
gladden the heart of every girl or
woman, no matter how young or old.
Very (jtyliHh and attractive.
Our Free Offer. We are advertising
Spearmint Chewing Gum and desire
to place a big box of this fine, health
ful sum Into every home. It sweet
ens the breath—whitens the teeth and
aids digestion. It Is refreshing and
pleasing to all. To every one sending
us but 50c and 10 cents to cover
shipping costs we will ship a box of 20
regular 5c packages of the Spearmint
Gum and include the elegant,
"Tango necklace and "Evelyn Thaw"
This offer Is for a short time only,
bracelet absolutely free.
Not more than 2 orders to one party.
Dealers not allowed to accept this.
UNITED SALES COMPANY
Dayton, Ohio P. O. Box 101
SMATHERS' HOME BOARD
AND ROOM
Smathtrs' Transfer
Baggage, Express and Furniture
moving to any part of the city.
Rates reasonable.
Phones: Ind. 559Z; S. S. 40
Stand corner Hewitt and Rucker
Res. 2913 Norton Aye
Everett Shoe I
Mfg. Co. I
Men's half soles sewed or I
naled, 75c. Women's half soles I'
sewed or nailed, 50c. All rubber n
hi-els, 40c. Union shop and we I
use only eastern oak. Nobody I
uses any better. jj*
2003 HEWITT |
JOHN GOLDTHORP. Mgr. f
f' *' OWL PHARMACY *"*'
', For Pure Drugs
; Courteous Treatment — Free ;
Delivery
: Both Phones 876 ',
I 1607 Hewitt Aye. ;
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♦ *
*' Olive Oil is a splendid tonic to <•
][ take at this time. Our Rexall \'
<> Emulsion is just what you need. <>
j; $1.00 at <;
',', DARLING'S j!
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-* Hii|n|'| i|ii|ii|ntntii|iHi^ii| i|n|M"l"l''*">fl"l"|i(^
CITY DRUG STORE \
' 1910 Hewitt Aye. '
i I Free delivery to any part of 1
t the city. Ask for Green Trading t
T Stamps. ?
(*'.*.<«■••'■•-•'•*'-•-■-*■••-• #-»^i'.>•■-••••■■• ■••■.#■•*--•..•.. •>•«••••<*)
• ■•■-••■•"•..••■•.••»•.••.'••.••■••■•»•.•••.•»•..••••"•..•..•.•••••^i
EVERETT DRUG CO.
Wines and Liquors for Medical ,
and Family Use Free Delivery
RUCKER AND HEWITT ;
Both Phones 51 !
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• • • • • • •■
I WORKINGMAN'S CLOTH I
I ING HOUSE f
9 Men's, women's' and children's %
■•' shoes Big values for little &
I. money. X
; 2014 Hewitt Ind. Phone 755 4
••• • • •
Patronize Washington Socialist
Advertisers and Tell Them About It
PASTIME
Amusement Parlors
FOR GOOD TIMES
Wetmore and Hewitt
Driesslein & Becker
».«...... ~7,
The New Canyon Wood Go.
And Keithly Fuel Co. Under One Management
Can now supply you with anything you want in either
coal or wood.
A Trial Order Solicited
Both Phones 37
A Store for Everybody
WE ARE OFFERING AT THIS TIME THESE VERY
EXCEPTIONAL PRICES ON LAWN MOWERS
$5.00 12-inch Signet 53.49
$5.50 14-inch Signet $3.98
$7.00 14-inch Director, ball bearing $5.39
$7.50 16-inch Director, ball bearing $5.49
$13.25 15-inch Bartlett, ball bearing $8,98
NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY YOUR RANGE
$50.00 Peninsular Range $38.5 C
Fr- JIO.OO down and $10.00 per month we will place this
guaranteed Peninsular Range in your home.
Remember, we give 10% discount on all Bicycles purchased for cash
Curran Hardware Co.
HEWITT AND BROADWAY
A Plain Statement of
The Facts
Why the Everett Piano House
Quit, and Why the Bottom
Has Dropped Out of
Piano Prices
To you. good people of Everett and vicinity who do
not already own a piano.
The Everett Piano House, which was composed of two
well and Favorably known young Everett business men,
were unable to further finance their business—were not
getting enough cash out of it to pay running expenses.
They tried for several months to raise sufficient funds to
carry on the business and finally, seeing that things were
going from bad to worse, agreed to surrender—to quit
the piano business entirely. The stock of talking machines
and records were shipped back to the jobbers and the
pianos and player pianos were turned over to the whole
salers and manofactorers from whom they were consigned.
These pianos were not bought outright on open account,
but were subject to settlement in cash or customers' con
tracts when they were sold. (Many piano houses get their
pianos this way as it requires immense capital to buy for
cash and sell on payments covering a period of two or
three years or more.) Now then, it was up to the owners
of these pianos to do something with them—either to sell
them here and realize at least eosi for them or ship them
back, the latter only adding to the cost of each instru
ment and it would still have to be sold. That's where I
come in. I'm here at the request of the owners of these
pianos to sell them or ship them and close up this store.
To you who are the least skeptical as to the genuiness of
the bargains offered bring iii any or all ads. that have
appeared, read carefully any offer 1 have made, then come
in and see how cheerfully Til live up to it.
•I. ('. Folcy. agent for the wholesalers and manufac
turers closing out Everett Piano House, 2Kl>(> Colby Aye.
Everett. Wash.
Thursday. June 4, 1914.