The Northwest worker., August 09, 1917, Page 4, Image 4

About The Northwest worker. (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917

Image provided by: Washington State Library; Olympia, WA

                
Page Four
The Northwest Worker
Entered as second-class matter
March 9, 1911. at the postoffice at
Everett, Washington, under the act
of March 3, 1879.
IND. PHONE BLUE 478
Published every Thursday at
1612 California St., Everett, Wash.,
By
H. W. WATTS, Editor and Manager
Yearly subscription, $1; six months,
ROe; three months, 25c; single copies,
f out*.
<*tih<. :.* s. *
____. _ >.-. ta>i n»-
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
In the newspapers that are boost
ing the war there is a very frequent
reiteration of the assertion that it
is an honor to be drafted.
Just why is this so often re
peated? One would be led by this |
repetition to believe that there must I
be some doubt about it. "He doth j
protest too much."
Among the young men between '
21 and 31 there seems to be a dif
ferent view of the subject. They do
not ask each other, "Have you
had the honor to be drafted?"
On the contrary, the question they
ask is, "Did you escape?" Or, "Were
you caught?" These and questions
of similar tenor are the ones you
can hear if you mingle with the
young men.
PEOPLE'S COUNCIL NOTES
A business meeting of the Everett |
and Snohomish County Council will
be held in The Forum, 1612 Califor
nia St., Everett, Friday evening,
Aug. 10. All members are requested
to attend.
An enthusiastic conference has
just ended in San Francisco. The
seventh conference for "Democracy
and terms of peace" will be held in
Salt Lake City.
The Workmen and Soldiers' Coun
cil of England, formed in Leeds June
3 has a membership of 2,300,000 and
demands immediate terms of peace
based on no annexations, no indem
nities, free development for all na
tionalities.
The first constituent assembly of
the People's Council will meet in
Minneapolis, Sept. 1, 1917.
Over $3,000 .was collected at a
meeting of the Workmen's Council j
in Madison Square Gardens, New j
York, August 1.
The organizing committee of the
People's Council asked Secretary
Lansing's leave to cable a message .
of greeting to the majority bloc of
the German Reichstag which carried
the peace resolutions on July 15th.
The Secretary of State has not an
swered the request.
Senators La Follette of Wisconsin
and Gronna of North Dakota have
aligned themselves with the People's
Council.
LOVED FOR ITS ENEMIES I
You remember what one of his
ardent admirers said about Grover
Cleveland—"We love him for the
enemies he has made!"
This is true also of the People's
Council.
Of course, we love it for other
reasons as well. But its virtues and
its high patriotism are well at
tested by the fact that all of the
spurious patriots are jumping on
it with both feet.
It has incurred the venomous
hatred and opposition of all venal
un-American parasites who want to
have millions of our young men
killed in order to make the world
'.safe for Wall Street and its satel
lites.
The fact that the Council has
drawn the fire of these enemies
of the commonweal is ample proof
that it is needed. These men care
riot one jot for the welfare of the
people. They would sacrifice the
lives and happiness of all the com
mon people for their own selfish
benefit.
The common people can, however,
cause the government to bow to
their wishes, provided they are suf
ficiently active and sufficiently well
organized to make their influence
felt.
This the People's Council can do.
Therefore, on with the work of
the People's Council. We love it for
the enemies it has made. —Milwaukee
Leader.
Form a Council in your locality.
Do it now.
Use Clausen* FAVORITE COFFEE
35c lb., 3 lbs for $1.00. : None belter
—M. H. Clausen, 2813 Rockefeller,
Phone, Black 581.
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS
"Consecutions objector" is an un
fortunate phrase used to designate
those persons whose ideals forbid
their participation In military service.
I say unfortunate for the reasons
that it lays emphasis upon the less
Important and therefore wrong as
pect of the controversy now before
us. It is true of course that the
"conscientious objector" is opposed to
war under all circumstances, and ob
jects to personal participation in
the operation of war.
But this is only one very limited,
although at present momentous, ap
plication of a fundamental spiritual
principle—that of the integrity of
the individual conscience, and of free
dom in the maintenance of that in
tegrity. Through a score of cen
turies, numberless brave men and
women have asserted this principle
in the face of the tyranny of church
and state. Their action wrought
martyrdom and immortal renown for
themselves, and liberty for all other
men. Their sacrifice is the proud
est chapter in the history of democ
racy. The "Conscientious objector"
is today perpetuating this tradition.
He is vindicating the age-old prin
ciple of freedom of conscience in op
position to a modern evil, just as
his predecessors vindicated it in op
position to ancient evils. He is
writing anew the story of human
liberty.
In regarding war as an evil in
which conscience forbids participa
tion, the "conscientious objector" pre
sents a case which can be clearly de
fined. He finds himself unable to
accept characterization of war as
necessary, defensive, beneficent; for
he sees that statesman have never
lacked disguises In which to mask
the horrible reality. The German
war is commended to the German
people by their government as a war
of defense.
The "conscientious objector" finds
the plea that war may be fought
for some great end of humanity and
civilization unconvincing; for he sees
that history is one long tale of so
called indispensable ends, offered in
justification of abhorrent means. In
fanticide was justified by no less a
man than Plato, as a means to the
end of racial progress.
"The "conscientious objector" finds
WELLS SANGUINE
OF ACQUITTAL ON
SEDITION CHARGE
Tuesday Federal Judge Neterer
overruled the demurrer motion made
by Attorney George Vandeveer for
Hulet M. Wells, Sam Sadler and Aaron
Fislerman, defendants in the "sedi
tion" cases arising from their indict
ment by the grand jury under charges
of opposing the enactment and effect
of the draft law. The motion for de
murrer was made on the grounds that
insufficient evidence had been pre
sented to the grand jury and that the
alleged "seditious" acts directed
against the enforcement of the draft
law had been charged as committed
before the passage of the law. Judge
Neterer overruled the demurrer on the
grounds that the so-called "seditious"
acts were directed against the policy
of the government in seeking to es
tablish its military and that it was
not necessary to prove that an actual
act had been committed against the
draft law specifically.
Wells said, when interviewed, that
he was not discouraged by the action
of the judge in overruling the de
murrer, as it was not of much signifi
cance, being expected anyhow. "I have
absolutely no doubt of the outcome,"
said Wells. "N jury can be found
who will convict on the evidence and
facts as they can be presented either
by the prosecution or the defense."
BRITISH FOOD MINISTRY
WILL SEIZE 1917 CROPS
LONDON— ministry of food
will take over control of the entire
1917 crop of potatoes, wheat, bar
ley, oats and rye, according to an
nouncement.
The orders will forbid individual
dealings and will cancel all existing
contracts for this crop.
PEACE GROUPS GROWING
Pierre Renaudel, the leader of
the majority faction of the French
Socialist party, has now also come
out for a peace without annexation
and without indemnities. This is
exactly the kind of peace demanded
by the Russian Socialists, the Ger
man Socialists, the Austrian So
cialists and the Independent Labor
party of England—the real So
cialist party of Great Britain.
THE NORTHWEST WORKER
himself unmoved by th<» assertion
that- there tire things worse than
war; for he has never seen these
things specified. Any abomination
from cannibalism to the Inquisition
can he similarly defended.
The "conscientious objector" finds
himself untroubled by the charge that
he thinks life is too precious to bo
laid down for great causes; his
willingness to lay down his own life
for the cause of conscience is his all
sufficient answer to such a slander.
War to the "conscientious objector"
is simply the agreement between
men that, under certain conditions
and for certain purposes, moral law
can be suspended. Murder, theft,
falsehood, deceit, violence —these can
be made right, honorable, and of
good report. This the "conscientious
objector" finds himself forced to
deny. To his mind, moral law can
no more bo suspended than the law
of gravition. He believes the will
of God is not in man's power to
break or amend. Men can say, if
he so will, "Evil be thou my good."
Hut evil still remains evil!
It is this which the "conscientious
objector" today asserts, and by this
assertion he finds himself forced to
stand at any cost. What the state
will do to him or with him, does not
greatly concern him. For not him
self, but the state is no trial. The
old battle for liberty is again joined.
If the state harries the "conscientious
objector," punishes him, kills him, in
stead of enlisting him in those, forms
of national service which he can
gladly render—then is the modern
state become as the medieval church,
an instrument of persecution. Then
in the name of patriotism will the
old crimes done in the name of re
ligion be done again. The trenches
of France and Russia may or may
not be the battlegrounds of liberty;
history will decide that question gen
erations hence. Rut that the ex
emption tribunals before which the
plea of the "conscientious objector"
will be heard and answered is such
a battleground, is already plain. The
question, "Is the world safe for de
mocracy?" must be answered at
home before it can be answered
abroad.
—John Haynes Holmes.
RECORD PROFITS
BY STEEL TRUST
The United States Steel Corpora
tion, in its report for the three
months ended June 30, showed net
earnings of $90,579,204, after writ
ing off the huge amount of $53,918,
--872 as estimated excess profits, ac
cording to the statement of earnings
issued by the company.
DATE OF EVERETT
PICNIC CHANGED
' The picnic announced in last week's
issue as being held August 26, has
been changed to Sunday, August 19
at the Smelter Picnic grounds. Take
note o fthis date and be sure to at
tend.
Leather Goods, Trunks and Repair
ing at Everett Trunk Factory, 2815
Rockefeller.
GOOD THINGS
CONING
Sunday—Monday
MIRIAM COOPER
In George Walsh's
Great Production
THE INNOCENT
SINNER
Tuesday—Wednesday
MARY ANDERSON
In the Western
Drama
BY RIGHT OF
POSSESSION
M "IP ¥■■% Mi-"'* & \W*_**'l
[-' ■ V ft :■■.■*,■< ' ' .. ■■' *, '"'
STAR
Always A Good Show
Clothes Racks
JntmJ
8 Fingered Clothes Rack 23c
Mop with Mop Stick $1.98
CURRAN HARDWARE CO.
N. W. Corner of Broadway and Hewitt
>
■__-_________^__P__M^^W__^__H____»_____MWW«»MlMM_________________________ | __ B^^__|
Eat at
EVERETT'S POPULAR CAFE
"THE MAIZE"
"The Best of Quality At the Lowest
Price Possible"
EVER TRY OUR
"Maize Special
Combination Lunch"
consisting of your choice of two different meat orders and a plenti
ful assortment of fresh vegetables? Try it. Don't pay for it, if
not fully satsified. It is the talk of the town. We serve it
every day, 11 a. m. till 2 p. m. except Sundays and Holidays.
We run this place upon a Strictly Union Basis and materialized
the motto:
Eight Hours Work, Eight Hours Sleep,
Eight Hours Recreation
GO TO THE
Continuous r^TkTk f\ |~k Prices
, ii?- m - ijjjc\±jrii s c; ts-and
to 11 p. m. lyfCl w\__- m 10 cts.
Good Shows all the Time
BROADWAY
Saturday and Sunday
HIGH CLASS VAUDEVILLE
THE BERNARDO PLAYERS
Dramatic Comedy and Musical Acts
WITH GOOD MOTION PICTURES
"EVERYONE" FLEES FROM
NEW YORK HEAT EXCEPT
FIVE MILLION TOILERS
"Every one has left town," runs the
society columns of the New York
jingo press. A walk along the cool
stretches of Riverside drive confirms
the statement. Palatial mansions are
deserted save for a lonely light in
the lower regions that tells of the
man left on guard. Along the smooth
paved driveway whirs an occasional
limousine bound for the open coun
try. The cool breeze from the river
rustles the trees ,the measured tread
GRAB -IT -ALL
Mr. Grab-it-all, the grocer, wants you to lug your groceries home
so that he can make a few more dollars out of your trade.
If you carry your groceries from the CO-OP., you are the one i
who benefits because all profits are divided every three months among
the purchasers.
Everett Co-operative Store
2933 Broadway Both Phones 342
Thursday, August 9, 1917.
of the policeman on the beat wakes
the echoes, the moon shines placidly
on the marble falcades, and the faint
lap of the river completes the beau
ty of a summer night.
But 5,000,000 nobodies are still
in town. The narrow, hot streets of
New York's East Side are full of
them. Gasping with the sultry heat
they lie upon the stoops and side
walks. Mouths open, heaving bodies
giving the only sign of life, the
workers of the city lie in every avail
able inch of space, attempting to
restore the tissue worn out during
the day that "every one" may leave
town."