@prefix ns0: . @prefix edm: . @prefix dcterms: . @prefix dc: . @prefix skos: . @prefix geo: . ns0:identifierAIP "de20aeea-1e44-4227-bf7f-8a77f66d852a"@en ; edm:dataProvider "CONTENTdm"@en ; dcterms:issued "2016-03-31"@en, "1911-04-29"@en ; edm:aggregatedCHO "https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/wclarion/items/1.0318718/source.json"@en ; dc:format "application/pdf"@en ; skos:note """ I). 629. Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, April 29, 1911. subscription Pries ***>• ISA ta Tut •■•HS Tfhe First Of May The first day of May Is now accepted by the slaves of capital as an occasion upon which they can demonstrate the growing solidarity of labor. This season of the year has in all ages, been an occasion for general rejoicing. Our savage ancestors, assured that the snn was on Its return journey and would not leave them yet awhile, indulged ln festivities, the details of which had, perhaps, be better not recorded here. Our less remote and (so 'tis told), less savage forebears celebrated this auspicious occasion by harmlessly dancing around a pole decked with tbe floral gifts of mother earth. Our immediate progenitors voted this a dull proceeding and May-Day was in danger of becoming but a memory and a name until the revolutionary portion of the working class decided to use the time honored festive season in their own peculiar way. Though the awakening powers of nature; the milder weather; lengthened day; buds and flowers springing forth; lambkins at play; hares run mad, and other manifestations of earth's prodigality may not arouse ln the wage-slave any excessive pleasure, there ls net lacking signs and Bounds assuring him that not entirely tn vatn has he survived the rigors ot the Ice Age. True enough, the melodies of the lark and linnet charm him but little, and quite disinterested Is he ln the "Primrose by the river prim." But in the hum of the concrete grinders and band-saws, he taketh abiding delight; while the re-distribution of real-estate fllleth his heart with joy, ay, cellars and sewers are to him "A thing of beauty and a joy forever." The mind capable of appreciating the beauties of these harmonious and symmetrical proportions, however, does not lmpell its owner to sacrifice blood offering, or dance upon the village green. It is propelled in a direction while less stern than the former and not so pleasing as the latter, may yet possess the merit of affecting the purpose it aims at. Modern May-Day celebrations are not to the liking of the powers that be. Their exclusive class character, the monster gatherings, the time of the year when the months of Idleness for so many have scarcely ceased, the sentiment of the speeches make a combination which is little to the liking of those whose only hope of continued mastership lies in the division and ignorance of their slaves. When crowds of men bordering in numbers upon six figures, assemble in one place, animated by a class motive, and imbued with a class spirit, some glimmering of their possible power cannot fall to penetrate the minds ot even the dullest and least imaginative. This fact alone Justifies the effort to make May- Day a working class celebration. The confidence which comes from the knowledge ot power, added to the education Imparted by written and spoken words, will Immensely benefit the working class movement. The aim of those who gather In these meetings is not hidden nor even obscured. Various differences as to means may be heard, but the end Is the abolition of slavery, total and complete. Authority stands helpless. Attempts have been made to stamp out May-Day by force as ln France, by persuasion ln offering a Labor-day ln September as on this continent, but the flrst of May is becoming the day upon which labor is pleased to march, not displaying the productive power of their brain and brawn, not to advertise the wares of their masters, but to display their vast numbers, their class interests, their power In rebellion, and to advertise their willingness to do the job. Let May-Day continue, further it by every means possible, we need it in our business. In the great struggle which is yet to be waged for freedom, when the workers capture the powers of State, May-Day will have Its uses, May-Day will assist ln consummating that end. Then Labor-days, Labor- Bureaus, Labor-ministers, Labor-wars, and Labor questions of all character will become anachronisms; cellars, A VANCOUVER SLAVE MARKET The accompanying photograph is of an institution peculiar to the capitalist mode of production. We have termed it the Slave Market, but this term ls not strictly correct, although it most aptly expresses the Socialist contempt for wagedom, which ls here apparent in its most bald and glaring aspect. There is a fundamental difference between an employment agency and the slave merchant's auction mart, although the results of both are practically the same. In the case of the latter, a white, black or brown piece of human merchandise was brought to the auction block and disposed of to the highest bidder. That done, a master had a new slave, a Blave a new master, and the transaction was ended. With the gentlemen ln the picture it is decidedly different. In this case, each slave, or "honest wage-earner," is hts own auctioneer. But, strange to say, although he must possess the qualifications advertised for on the bulletin boards, and present all the characteristics of a good, willing and able slave, he does not sell—he buys! Buys a job, which, being interpreted, means that he purchases the happy privilege of selling himself to a master later on. And he does not always succeed in finding a master even then, for, as quite frequently happens, he merely contributes to the upkeep of the employment office. How many of these unhappy creatures pay their little toll to be Sent on a pilgrimage after jobs that existed only on a blackboard? Employment agents are human and "not in business for their health," and must be expected to get all they can out of the traffic. Which, however, makes the business none the less unlovely. Let its apologists rave and roar as they may, the very existence of capital and, with it, those who profit by it, depends upon there being a constantly renewed supply of labor-power in the market As workingmen are "free" under capital's benlficient reign, they are sometimes so ill-mannered as to crowd to annoyance one section of the globe, leaving another quarter un- supplied with a super-abundance, causing wages there to rise, much to the loudly-expressed disgust of the employers there situated. Here, then. Is a necessity of a more equitable distribution of labor-power. Of course, under capitalism, where there is a necessity come those who profit by it. Hence, employment bureaus, which, in the last analysts, are slave-procuring agencies of the capitalist class. But the little offices shown In the picture are not the only methods to this purpose at the service of the capitalist class. Not by any meanB. They are, however, the best expression of the nefarious trade, being unglossed by any cheap sentiments of religion, pat- Other and greater modes of gathering ln wage-victims are many. These vary from local charities boards, police courts, etc., to Mother Britain's labor exchanges and the great, international, government-endowed, collective slave- distributor, the Salvation Army. In common with the double-dealing, fraud and deceit made necessary by the very construction of modern society, these institutions one and all claim to be interested In the moral, religious, spiritual and temporal welfare of "the masses." (With the possible exception of job-selling joints where business is only business, without any tambourine, blood or fire.) In spite of their pro- possessions in his left-hand vest pocket he is still afraid of losing something by adopting Socialist principles. Fortunately, however, his type are growing fewer. Each May Day sees the old slave Ideas a little weaker and tbe desire for revolution keener and more insistent. Perhaps never before in the history of the world has the social cauldron been so near to boiling over as in this year ot grace, nineteen hundred and eleven. Everywhere the spirit of unrest among the toilers Is rampant This brings much dismay to onr rulers, and from them many warnings. But heed them not you workers! The world ls yours for the taking with all Its manifold comforts and delights. testations, however, their operations ' Now ls the time to join your revolu- are conducted solely and exclusively in the MATERIAL Interest of the master class. Let their advocates be ever bo sincere. Let them pray, shout and rant In all the exuberance of deepest conviction, their. ctlvities work out inevitably to the ' Jieflt of capital. Knowing as we do that wealth of every description is produced in sufficient quantities to satisfy abundantly the needs of every man, woman and child in the world, it Bhould not be hard to convince every toiler for wages that a new system iB in order. Yet in that little knot of men you see in the picture, a slave ls holding forth, arguing earnestly in support of "things riotism or "the good of the people." < as they are." With all his worldly tionary fellows and strike ending of your slavery. for the The reason Socialists are opposed to religion is because they are opposed to the whole profit system root and branch, and as Socialism is more educational than practical at the present stage, Socialists aim to remove any obstacles from the minds of the workers so that they can see the light clearly. And—religion being the chief branch of the profit tree, and Is very dense and 'eafy we lop it off and lay the trunk tt that tree bare, and behold the workers recognize that the trunk of tho tree today is capitalism. Capitalism ii their worst enemy. Socialism wlll be their best friend. WORK. Once again I approach the subject of work. It has been said that the one whose "nom de plume" ls affixed to this has no "respect" for work. I deny this. I regard work as a sacred thing —to be regarded with reverence, to be viewed "from afar, off." I am consumed with a feeling of my own unworthi- ness to join ln worship dally ln the appointed place with the holy ones, or the brotherhood of mine or mill. I feel that I am not fit to become one ot the Saintly order of the muckstlck. It ls not "meet" that I should handle the sacred pick nor pump the sacrificial hand-car. I am not good enough even to look upon work. I am afraid. Is not work God? And ls it not written sewers, concrete, piles of gravel and brick, or other abominations will no longer excite questionable joys ln tbe mindB of a regenerated race; the Dignity of Labor will be laid aside with sweaty socks, dirty overalls, and hobnailed boots, consumed ln a special Incinerator, built for the purpose, and the word Labor Itself will become improper and unseemly, unmentionable in polite society. J. H. that "he who meets God shall die?" And this Is Indeed true! I know it! Years ago, before I realized my own "unworthiness," I did dare, ln my presumption, to worship the great one, even to the donning of tbe oily overalls and the carrying of the mysterious (there Is a joke here) dinner pall. I did "draw near" to the "great one" ln his saored mountain. (They called It a "mountain of copper" In the prospectus; flrst chapter and third paragraph), and I remember I went home the first day so tired I wished I was dead, and the third and fourth also. And behold—to use the appointed lingo —on the morning of the eighth day ln that shift which Is known as the "grave yard," in the seventh hour of the shift, the God was angry and the mountain trembled and part of lt— about seven pounds in the language of the heathen—did smite the worshipper on the head so that for seven suns it was in the hands of the gods—and an Irish nurse called Kitty O'Shea and a Scotch saw-bones, yclept Mcintosh— whether the unworthy one lived or not. And by the way, it seems that there are many of the worshippers of the great one, Toil, who are punished Improved machinery cuts down ex- and die. Some die quickly and some penses for the capitalist class, cuts by inches. And there are others who j some workers off from the means of are found unworthy and are cast forth ufe and cuts others np in them. by the chief priests—even the Btraw- bosses—and such are at the gates of the temple vainly praying to get in. Is lt not written that "many shall be called and few chosen," and does not a two-line advertisement cause the assembling of an exceeding multitude? ling of an exceeding multitude? But as for me, I tempt not the great one by my unworthiness. I pass by on the other side consorting with the sinful ones who eat the stolen chicken of hobodom and ride the rods of abomination in the silent watch of the night And when the servants of the great one reason with me that I turn from my evil ways, I say unto them "Go-ter-Hades," and also "Not- fer Muh." "Hlbernlcus." MONEY AND LIVES. All values are the result of labor. But the laborious manner in which business men and real estate dealers endeavor to fleece one another has nothing to do with their production. I met the man who owns the mill, joy riding with a coachful, and stopped his motor on the hill, and said to him, reproachful: "A hundred damsels weave and spin for you, for paltry wages; and wlll they all be fastened ln wben fire around them rages?" "I guesB," he said, in accents hurt, "I guess they will be, sonny; for human lives are cheap as dirt, but fire escapes cost money. The people do not realize the burden rich men carry; the way my hard-earned money flies would paralyse Old Harry. Mr auto always needs repairs, my yacht is always yawning for coats of paint or easy chairs or miles of silken awning. To talk of fire escapes for mills is really rather funny, for human lives are cheap as pills, but fire escapes cost money. My bill for wines alone, my friend, would scare you into trances, and there are suppers without end, and forty kinds of dances. A trip to Europe every year requires a lot of boodle, and gemB I bring to loved ones here all cost like Yankee Doodle. I cannot throw my scads away on mill equipment sonny; for human lives are cheap as hay, but fire escapes cost money." Walt Mason. The Workers Awakening For centuries the workers of the world have bowed tbelr necks to the yoke of slavery ln one form or another. They have plodded wearily along tha pathway of existence bearing the burdens of civilization upon their slavish backs and always subject to the masters' lash if, perchance, they faltered in the task. Usually their submission has been of the stupid, sullen kind that will not allow of its victim rising above the level of the horse or ass that balks in harness when the burden becomes unbearable, instead of dumping the load and kicking the driver to smithereens. Evidence, however, is by no means lacking to show that a change is coming over the spirit of the workingman's dream. He Is evidently awakening to at least some sort of a comprehension of tha wrongs perpetrated upon him by those who have set themselves, In authority to rule over him. He Is beyond question cultivating a healthy determination to do something more drastic than merely to balk ln harness and patiently submit to the lash being applied to his quivering flesh. It Is particularly noticeable that in the event of a strike, at least of any proportions, there is an ever-increasing sentiment finding expression for something entirely outside ot and away from tbe mere matter of an Increase In wages or m.re tolerable conditions of slavery in general. The determination to end the wage system by the complete overthrow of the rule of capital each day finds a more clear expression. Even the careless observer of passing events can scarce fail to notice it. Time was, and not many years since, when it was almost as much as one's life was worth to apply the term slaves to a buncb of workingmen. It is now quite the common thing for them so to designate themselves. Thla realization of their status under capitalist civilization is one of the most cheering signs of the times, It affords most convincing evidence of an awakening of labor that portends no end of trouble for the sleek, well-fed pirates and swashbucklers that constitute the present ruling class. At least no end of trouble until the sceptre of power has been stripped from their bloody bands and the reign of capital brought to an inglorious finish. Everywhere the workers are turning their attention more and more to the conquest of the capitalist state. They are recognizing the state to be the sole bulwark of capitalist property. They see ln it, and correctly, too, the instrument by means of which the capitalists maintain their title of ownership ln the means of production and their consequent power to rule and rob the working class. The determination of the workers to conquer the state and use its organized powers for the purpose of striking the fetters of wage slavery from their limbs by the abolition of capitalist property, marks the awakening of labor. Fully aroused to the necessity ot action in its own behalf the working class will speedily solve tbe problem of what to do with the resources of the earth and the instruments of production so as to admit of human society moving forward to a saner and more decent civilization. Capitalist civilization is today rotten to the core. Tbe chronicle ot dally events is but a disgusting story of vice, crime, corruption, graft, chicanery, pollution and fraud unspeakable. A slave civilization, it cannot rise above the level of that from which lt springs. It is up to tbe slave to break his chains and by so doing rele- and vulgar ruling class that has ever cursed tbe earth with its presence. gate to oblivion the most hypocritical The proletarian battalions are marshalling for the fray. I jibor is awakening to the task in hand. In the conquest of the state by the proletariat and the use of its powers to abolish capital and tho wage slavery from which It sucks Its sustenance, lies the hope of the future. And tbe proletariat Is awakening. Speed the day of ItB triumph. K. -Two THE WESTERN CLARION. VANCOUVER BRITISH COLUMBIA SATURDAY, APRIL 29th, 1911. THE WESIEK1 MON "Published every Saturday br the •oelallst Party of Canada, at the Offlce ef the Western Clarion, Flack Block Basement, 165 Hastings Street, Vancouver, B. C. POST OmCE ADDRESS, BOX 1888. SUBSCRIPTION: H.00 Per Year, 60 cents for Six Months, IS cents for Three Months. Strictly in Advance. Bundles of 6 or more coplea, for a period or not less tlmn three months, at tho rate ef one cent per copy per Issue. Advertising rates on application. It you receive this paper, lt ls paid •or. In making remittance by cheque, ax- ahangu must be added. Addrosa all •ommunications and make all money •rears payable to THB WESTERN CLARION. Wax IM Vuoonver, B. O. 630 Watch the label on your paper. If this number ia on it, your subscription expires the next iBBue. SATURDAY, APRIL 29th, 1911. STUPIDUS AND SAPIENS. The Vjlsta opened out by the patient research of the archaeologist, the ethnologist and the biologist in the attempt to unravel the unwritten history of man is one which the most exuberant fancy can revel endlessly. Gradualy there has been unfolded to us picture after picture until we see, far in the past, beyond even the earliest tradition, man flrst emerging ■from the forest gloom of primeval •days. Low of brow, long of arm, -short legged, huge muscled, grim of ■ aspect, the direct forbear of the human race, yet lacking all vestige of aught we are accustomed to associate with humanity. Dwelling as the beasts of the forest, wandering ' through the day in search of food, .grubbing for roots, climbing for fruit or nuts, crouching at night in a cave -or onvthe limb of a tree; mating as 'the beasts; a beast in all things, naked and unashamed. Where do we flnd in him any of that human nature we speak of so glibly? Where any conception of good or evil, of decency, of morality, or faith, hope and charity? , Where is the soul which has been the source of so much anxiety •to his posterity? Where the habits and customs, where the laws, human and "divine?" As says our Haji: "What reck'd he, say, of Good or 111, Who in the hill hole made his lair; The blood-fed rav'ning beast of prey, Wilder than wildest wolf or bear? "How long in man's pre-Adamite days To feed and swill, to sleep and breed, Were the Brute-biped's only life, A perfect life sans Code or Creed?" "Yet, this is a man, blood of our Wood, and bone of our bone. Our relationship to him is undeniable, and Its closeness a mere matter of a few hundred thousand years. A longtime? Not it A mere turn of the glass compared to the ages between' that ancestor of ours and his faraway forbear, the slimy, formless amoeba. Tliat man, urged onward by the same mute, irresistible forceB that have "brought him to the threshold of man- • hood, passes over that threshold, and, ■generation by generation, approaches us of today, just ss we are pressed • onward to the tomorrow we know not. At the stern mandate of necessity he • adapts himself to new conditions, devises new means of gaining his live- llbood, creates tools and weapons, and • ever Improves upon them. ~"Yet, as long ages rolled he learnt "From beaver, ape and ant lo build Shelter for sire and dam and brood, From blast and blaze that hurt and killed." Age by age, we can trace the march of our fathers towards us, ever, as they come, .profiting painfully and slowly by the accumulated experience of past generations; growing in knowledge, growing greater in brain and less brutish In body. Ever impelled by the stern necessity of obtaining a better hold upon the means of life. Improving their dwellings, their boats, their clothing, their toolB and weapons'. Discarding the rough stone weapon for the polished, that for the flint, thence to copper, to bronze, to iron. Free, wandering, warring, hunting, lawless, propertyless, "ignorant" savages. Living thus for nigh three hundred thousand years before the flrst dawn of barbarism even. Then, finding a new source of food supply in the cultivation of the soil, swinging open the gates of Eden and passing out on the way that led to labor and to slavery, to progress and to civilization. That ancient forbear of ours, the child of the man-ape, the sclentlts call "homo stupldus"—stupid man. Us they call "homo sapiens" wise man. Oh, fond conceit. Wise Man!-. We, who revere the antiquity of a civilization barely ten thousand years old, and that with lapses. Who invest -j-ith a halo of heaven-born sanctity a mushroom system of property of little better than a century'B growth. Who bow before the altars of "eternal" deities discovered but yesterday. Who crystallize our miserable modern characteristics aB "human nature" as it was in the beginning and always shall be. Who elevate to the ludicrous dignity of divine law an upstart moral code co-eval with shop-keeping. Who conceitedly plume ourselves upon the possessions of a higher ethical sense than our rude forbears, and daily and habitually stoop to practices which the most untutored savage would abhor. Who lie, and cheat, and thieve, and prey upon one another. Who rob, ravish and oppress the weak and cringe before the strong; who pander to lust and prostitute for a pittance; who traffic, traffic, traffic in all things —ln manly "honor," ln womanly "virtue," in childish defenceleBsness, in the flesh and blood of kith and kin, In the holiest of holies or in the abomination of abominations; and who crown our achievements by pouring over the festering heap of our iniquities the leprous, foetid slime of hypocrisy. Wise Man. Wonderful creature. Lord of creation. Hub of the universe. For whose uses all things, the quick and the dead, were especially created; the stars and the planets, the sun by day and the moon by night to light him; the earth, the seasons the winds, the rain, the waters, the lightning, the metals, the mountains, the plains, the valleys, the foreBts, the fruits, the beasts, the fishes, the birds, the bees, the fleas and the flieB and the corned beef and the cabbage. VANCOUVER AND SINGLE-TAX. Dear Comrade:— We have here a very radical Single- Taxer, who iB continually speaking of how the single-tax worksin your town. He makes the statement that everything is booming there; that therS is plenty of work for every man that wants it, etc. Now, Comrade,, what we want to get at is this—has the Single-Tax been a great boon to the working man, that is, has it solved the unemployed problem, has it raised wages, cut the cost of living, or what has it done. For myself I cannot believe all that this man claims and us boys of the local here have decided to write you. Just give us a true, unbiased report and greatly oblige, Yours for Socialism, GEO. EGAN, Wenatchee, Wn. It is beginning to dawn on us that Vancouver's Single-Taxation is occasioning a good deal of discussion everywhere—excepting in Vancouver. Here ls Is quite frequently not mentioned. So much so that it would be a safe bet that numbers of residents of the city could be found who are quite unaware that they have been residing a couple of years under the beniflcent reign of single-tax. And, curiously enough, there is not a militant single- taxer in Vancouver. In fact the matter would altogether escape public notice were it not for the fact that this "single-tax" here was ushered in under the patronage ot a Mayor who happens also to be proprietor of the "World" newspaper. Owing to this lt is but natural that everything good, or supposed to be good, that happens within the forty-odd mile radius over which the city is expected to grow, the "World" promptly attributes to the benign influence of the system of taxation introduced by His Worship," its proprietor. It is also natural that the subject is, therefore, never mentioned in the two rival dailies. Aside from this, the claims which have been put forward, outside Vancouver, as to tbe benefits here derived from Single-Tax, are utterly preposterous. Moreover, not a single fact can be cited ln their support that could not have been cited in support of the syBtem of taxation which formerly prevailed. Vancouver's chief Industries, like those of any other new Western town, are real estate and building. There are alBO a number of saw-mills, but these may be eliminated from consideration, as they have been here since time immemorial and are manned almost exclusively by Orientals. Then there is the sugar refinery which occasionally gives evidence of its existence by piteous appeals to tbe patriotism of the public to patronize home Industry by buying its sugar. Some day it may attain to celebrity if ItB dealings with the Customs are ever investigated. It also was here before the Single-Tax. Beyond these Vancouver's industries are regllglble lt we except the shipping and a couple of iron-works of no gigantic proportions, where, by the way, the machinists have been on strike for about a year. This, however ls not mentioned as one ot the results of single-tax.) Taken altogether, the city's industries, outside of building and real estate, don't amount to very much anyhow. And If their number and extent has been appreciably increased since the Inauguration of this single- tax, we have still to hear about it Of course we admit that various steel mills, etc., are being contemplated, but where, ln a western real estate imagination, is this not the case? Some of these have been most palpably conceived for no other than real eBtate purposes. Others may have some actual foundation in fact. But, even at the very best, it is rather difficult to see how any credit can be claimed thereby for Single-Tax, as their locations, real or alleged, are miles outside the single-taxed area. This leaves us only real estate and building for consideration. As to the former, there was quite a boom a year ago last winter. We never heard it attributed to single-tax, but If it were, the subsequent quiescence that has lasted ever since might, with equal justification be traced to the same source. Also, there were booms under the old system of taxation. It Is to the building industry, however, that the single-taxers point with especial pride, and that that bas expanded is undeniable. But lt was going at a pretty fair clip before, is quite as active, propcrtionately, in the ordinary-taxed suburbs, and is what would be expected in the face ot the demand that exists. Such a demand that it is extremely difficult to get a house or a flat and that these are frequently let before they are erected and occupied before they are finished. Such being the case, it would be a matter for remark if the building Industry did not boom, under any system of taxation, particularly as population continues to pour into the city, as fast as the boosting agencies can bring it here. To attribute the building boom to the hypothetical inducement held out to property-owners by the few dollarB of difference between levying municipal taxes on land and improvements and on land alone, and to ignore the factor of demand and increase bf population, appears to us to be an exhibition of childishness eminently ln accord with the entire theory of Single-Tax. On the other hand signs are not wanting that the reaction is not so far distant. A population cannot go on for an indefinite period living by building one another's houses and improving one another's streets. (We apologize for having overlooked) this important industry). And the moment the building industry slacks up Vancouver will be right up against the real thing in hard times. If the Single Taxers claim credit for the building boom, how will they dodge the responsibility for the resultant slump. Here let us point out that we have been following above the line of the Slngle-Taxers themselves, without looking at it -from a proletarian's or even a "wage-earner's" viewpoint. As for wages, they are no higher, generally, than before the panic of 1907, and particularly is this the case in the building industry itself. While rents are higher and commodities dearer. That wages are slightly better than in many other localities is due to the fact, that in common with rapidly growing towns, the over-supply of workers is not so acute. That it wlH become acute may be premised from the rate of immigration and the paucity of permanent industries. Then look out for your wages, Single-Tax or no Single-Tax. From the proletarian view-point, Single-Tax is an absurd piece ot inconsequence. Taking it at its own valuation, what does it hold for us? Chains and slavery. More industries? That means more exploitation. More work? More slavery. What do we care if it does trim the landlord to a fare-you-well? Does it signify to the sheep whether his mutton Ib eaten by a cat or a king? While wage- slavery endures all we wage-mules will get, If we are lucky, is our stall and fodder. It Is all tbat is coming to us. What becomes of the rest ot the wealth we grind out is no funeral ot ours. All that affects us ls that we have to pass it up to the owners of the means of life—be they land-lords, money-barons, or captains of Industry, and that the only salvation for us ls to take possession of those means of life ourselves. HAS MONEY TO INVEST. Ottawa, April 24.—L. Froolever For- tugn, managing director of the Netherlands Transatlantic Mortgage Co., who arrived ln Ottawa Saturday, had an Interview with Sir Wilfred Laurier, Hon. W. S. Fielding, Hon. Sidney Fisher and F. C. T. O'Hara, deputy minister of trade and commerce, relative to millions of dollars of Hollander money which he proposes to Invest ln Western Canada Farm land mortgages. All promised him every assistance and gave him assurances that he would be able to do a nice business in Western Canada, stated Mr. Fortugn when seen after the interview.—News Item. Now tell us all about your happy Western Canadian farmer who owns banks, motor cars and things. This Independent gent who is so intensely loyal to his beloved Britain. His flrst of July, or somebody's Birthday holler will take on a dull and hollow sound when he has paid interest on Mr. L. Froolever Fortugn's millions for a year or two. "England expects each man this day to do bis duty." Therefore, Mr. J. Bull Wlndstacker, It will be in order for you to work like blazes for this Dutchman. Just to assist him in doing a "nice business," you know. This is not a Dutch Invasion. They don't have to invade, they simply buy the right to stay home and live in luxury off your toll, my friend sod-shirter ot the prairie. That is, they get a lease of your perspiring back, while your clammy brain can see nothing bui u Union Jack and Work. Do you realize that wealth, prosperity, comfort, happiness, never exist anywhere around where work is going on? Your guardian angel Laurier knows it. So do the rest of his bunch, except perhaps, your local member whom you voted for because he was a nice fellow, and he doesn't know anything but what the Inner Circle tells him. Laurier ls well aware that you are poverty stricken and eager to mortgage every blasted thing near you. He knows that all you are waiting for is to be able to convince some money outfit that you and your family are husky enough to pay Interest Else why would he so blandly assure Herr Fortugn that he could "do a nice bust ness" In Western Canada farm mortgages? The gang are on to you alright, they know you are easy. You aren't on to anything, except scratching the ground. Don't you think its about time you hired a small boy to stick pins in your feet? Otherwise you might never become aware of what Is going on around you. Socialist Directory THEIR METHODS ARE THE SAME TODAY. J. Mahlon Barnes, the National Secretary of the Socialist Party, supplieB us with the following circular, which was published for exclusive circulation among bankers in Bankers' Magazine, March, 1892. G. G. Severance, of Ever- son, Wash., had ln his possession a copy of this magazine. The article was copied in the Chicago daily press of March 21, 1892, one year preceding the panic of 1893. Present conditions will show that the plan of "dividing the workers" over the "tariff question," a question "of no Importance," has been accomplished. The circular reads as follows: "We must proceed with caution and guard well every move made, for the Lower Orders of the people are already showing signs of restless commotion. Prudence will, hterefore, dictate a policy of apparently yielding to the popular will until all our plans are so far consummated that we can declare our designs without fear of any organized resistance. "The Farmers' Alliance and Knights of Labor in the United States should be carefully watched by our trusted men, and we must take immediate steps to either control these organizations in our interest or disrupt them. "At the coming Omaha convention to be held July 4th, our men must attend and direct its movements or else there will be set on foot such antagonism to our designs as may require force to overcome. "This at the present time would be premature. We are not yet ready for such a crisis. Capital must protect itself in every possible manner through combination and legislation. "The Courts must be called to our aid, debts must be collected, bonds and mortgages foreclosed as rapidly as possible. "When, through a process of law the Common People have lost their homes, they will be more tractable and easily governed through the influence of the strong arm ot government applied by a central power of imperial wealth under the control of leading financiers. A people without homes will not quarrel with their rulers. "History.repeats itself in regular cycles; this truth is well known among our principal men now engaged in forming an imperialism ot capital to govern the world, while t they are doing this the people must be kept ln a condition of political antagonism. "The question of Tariff Reform must be urged through the organization known as the Democratic Party, and the question of Protection with Reciprocity must be forced to view through the Republican Party. "By thus dividing the voters we can get them to expend their energies ln fighting over questions of no importance to us except as tetheri to lead the common herd. Thus by discreet action we can secure all tbat has been so generously planned and thus far successfully accomplished."—Chicago Dally Socialist. We have one immediate demand. We believe ln advocating a tired feeling under capitalism. Why go fast? Take a rest Workers of the world, slow up; you have nothing, to lose but your speed, and that isn't yours. Haeckel BayB that if the period of time during which life has existed on this planet were likened to a day, the Christian era would amount to Just fifty-three seconds, and the whole historic period to two minutes. Next time you hear a workingman say: "There have always* been capital and wages," tell him that what he's talking about is not quite born yet. Every local of the Socialist Party of Canudu should run a card under thi-* head. $1.00 per month. Secretaries plea-e note. DOMINION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Socluli.-t Party of Canada. .Meet i every alternate Monday. D. G. McKenzie. Secretary, llox 1 OSS, Vancou- ver, B. C, BRITISH COLUMBIA. PROVINCIAL Executive Committee. Socialist Party of Canada. Meets every alternate Mondav. D. G. McKenzie, Secretary. Box 1088, Vancouver. B. C. LOCAL SOUTH PORT GEOBQE, wo. 01, headquarters and public reading room, Show Building, Hamilton Street. Business meetings every Saturday night at 8 p.m. Kell McLean, Secretary; John Mclnnls, Organizer. Comrades contemplating coming to Fort George are earnestly requested to write for reliable Information. ALBERTA PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE Committee, Socialist Party of Canada. Meets everv alternate Mondav In Labor Hall, Eighth Ave. East, opposite post- office. Secretary wlll be wease.1 lo answer nny communications regarding the movement in the province. F. Danby. Secretary, Box 047, Calgary, LOCAL VANCOUVEB, B. C, NO. 1, 8 P. of C. Business meetings every Tuesday evening at headquarters 2237 Main Street. F. Perry, Secretary, Box -"JS*1? ▼AwoowvBm; b. o, no.~4b; I'tnnish. Meets every second and fourth Thursdays ln the month at 2237 Main Street. Secretary, Wm. Mynttl. MANITOBA PBOVINCIAL EXECUTIVE Committee: Notice—This card is Inserted for the purpose of getting "YOU" Interested ln the Socialist movement. SOCIALISTS are always members of the Party; so if you are desirous of becoming a member, or wish to get any Information, write the secretury. W. H. Stebblngs. Address, 310 Good Street, Winnipeg. LOCAL VERNON, B. O., NO. 38, S. P. Meets every Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. of C. sharp at L. O. L. Hall. Tronson St. W. H. Gitmore. Secretary. ■LOCAL VICTORIA, B. C, NO. a, B. T. of c. Heading room and headquarters, 1319 Government St., Room 2, over Oollister's Gun Store. Business meetings every Tuesday, 8 p.m. propaganda meetings every Sunday at Crys- tal Theatre. T. Gray, Secretary. SASKATCHEWAN PBOVINCIAL Executive Committee, Socialist Party ot Canadu. Meets every first and third Saturday In tbe month, 8:00 p.m., at headquarters. Main Street, North Battleford. Secretary will answer any communications regarding the movement In this Province. A. Gildemees- ter, Secretary, Box 201, North Battleford, Sask. LOCAL CALGARY, ALTA., NO. 4, S. P. of C. Meetings every Sunday at 8 p.m. tntthe Labor Hall, Barber Block, Eighth Ave. E. (near iioslofflcc). Club and reading room, Labor Hull. Geo. Hossiter. Secretary, Box 047; A. Maedonald. Organizer, Box 047. MARITIME PBOVINCIAL EXECUTIVE Committee, Socialist Party of Canada, meets every second and fourth Sundays in the Cape Breton office of the Partv, Commercial Street. Glace nay, N. S*. Dan Cochrane, Secretary, Box 491, Glace Bay, N. S. LOCAL COLEMAN, ALTA., NO. 9. Miners' Hall and Opera Houje. Propaganda meetings at 8 p.m. on the tlrst and third Sundays of the month. Business meetings on Thursday evenings following propngandu meetings at 8. Orgunlzer, T. Steele, Coleman, Alta.; Secretary, Jas. Glendenning, Box 03, Coleman, Alta. Visitors may receive information any day at Miners' Hall from Com. W. Graham, Secretary of U. M. W. of A. LOCAL PERNIE, S. P. of C, HOLDS educational meetings in the Miners Union Hall, Victoria Ave.. Fernle, every Sunday evening at 7:45. Business meeting first Sunday in each month, same place, at 2:30 p.m. David Paton, Secretary, Box 101, LOCAL GREENWOOD, B. C, NO. 9, S. P. of C, meets every Sunday evening at Miners' Union Hall, Greenwood. Visiting comrades invited to call. C. G. Johnson, Secretary. LOOAL LADYSMITH NO. 10, S. P. Ot C. Business meetings every Saturday, 7 p.m., In headquarters on First Ave. J. H. Burrough, Box 31, Ladysmlth, B. C. LOCAL EDMONTON, ALTA., NO. 1, S. P. of C. Headquarters 622 First St. Business and propaganda meetings every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. sharp. Our reading room Is open to the public free, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Secretary, A. Farmilo, 622 First St.; Organizer, W. Steptienson. LOOAL MTHBHIDGE, ALTA., NO. 13, 8. P. of C. Meets first and third Sundays in the month, at 4 p.m., ■ in Miners' Hall. Secretary, Chas. Peacock, Box 1983. LOCAL REGINA, SASK., NO. 8. MEETS every Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in Trades Hall, Scarth Street. Business meetings second and fourth Fridays at 8 p.m.. Trades Hall. Secretary, B. Simmons, Box 1046. LOOAL MICHEL, B. C, NO. IS, S. P. of C, holds propaganda meetings every Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in Crahan's Hall. A hearty Invitation is extended to all wage slaves within reach of us to attend our meetings. Business meetings are held the first and third Sundays of each month at 10:30 a.m. In the same hall. Party organizers take notice. A. S. Julian, Secretary. LOOAL MABA, B. C, NO. 34, S. P. of C, meets flrst Sunday ln every month In Socialist Hall, Mara, 2:30 p.m. Cyril Itosoinan, Recording Secretary. LOCAL MOYIE, B. ft, NO. 30, MEETS second Sunday, T.M p.m.. ln McGregor Hull (Miners' Hall). Thos. Roberts. Secretary. LOCAL NANAIMO, NO. 8, S. P. of C, meets every alternate Sunday evening in Foresters' Hall. Business meeting at 7:00 o'clock sharp. Propaganda meeting commences at S:00 o'clock. A. Jordan, Secretary, Box 410. LOCAL NELSON, S. P. of C, MEETS everv Friday evening at 8 p.m„ in Miners' Hall. Nelson, B. C. I. A. Austin, Secretary. LOOAL BRANDON, MAN.. NO. 7, B. T. of C. Headquarters, No. 10 Nation Block, Rossar Ave. Propaganda meeting, Sunday at 8 p.m.; business meeting, second and fourth Mondays at 8 p.m.; economic class, Sundays at 3 p.m.; speakers' class, Wednesday at 8 p.m.; algebra class, Friday at 8 p.m.; debating class, flrst and third Mondays at 8 p.m. D. France, Organizer, 1126 Victoria Ave. LOCAL WINNIPEG, MAN., NO. 1, S. P. of C. Headquarters, 52S 1/2 Main St., Room 2, next Dreamland Theatre. Business meeting every alternate Monday evening at 8 p.m.; propaganda meeting every Wednesday at 8 p.m.; economic class every Sunday afternoon, 3 p.m. Organizer, Hugh Lald- low, Room 2. 528 1/2 Main St. Secretary, J, W. Hillings. 270 Young St. LOOAL PRINCE RUPERT, B. C, No. 53, S. P. of C, meets every Sunday tn hull in Empress Theatre Block, at 2:00 p.m. L. H. Gorham, Secretary. LOOAL REVELBTOXE, B. C, NO. 7, S. P. of C. Business meetings at Socialist headquarters fourth Thursdays of each month. B. F. Gayman. Secre- lzer; B. F. Gayman, Secretary, tary. LOCAL NO. 34, TORONTO, ONTARIO. Headquarters, 10 and 12 Alice Street (near Yonge). Business meetings every second and fourth Wednesdays; propaganda meetings every Sunduy at 3 and 8 p.m. By arrangement with Toronli; University, popular scientific lectures every Monday at 8 p.m. during the winter. Address all communl- . cations to Secretary, No. 10 and 12 Alice St. LOCAL BBANTFORD, NO. 18, B. P. of C. Meets at headquarters, 13 George St., every Thursday and Sunday nights. Business and speakers' class on Thursdays; economic class on Sundays. Wage workers Invited. S. Kemp, Secretury, 9 George St. W. Davenport, Organizer, 31 Charlotte St. LOCAL ROSSLAND, NO. 25, S. P. Of 0„ meets In Miners' Hall every Sunday at 7:30 p.m. E. Campbell, Secretary, P.O. Box 674. Rossland Finnish Branch meets in Flnlanders' Hull, Sundays at 7:30 p.m. A. Sebblc, Secretary, P.O. Box 64, Rossland. LOOAL SANSON, B. C., NO. 38, S. P. OP C. Meets every Tuesday ut 7:30 p.m. In the Sandon Miners' -Union Hall. Communications to be addressed Drawer K, Sandon, B. C. LOCAL OTTAWA, NO. 8, 8. P. OP O. Business meeting first Sunday in , month, and propaganda meetings following Sundays at 8 p.m. in Robert- Allan Hall, 78 Rldeau St, John Lyons, Secretary, 44 Chamherlin Ave, LOCAL GLACE BAY, NO. 1, OP N. 8. Business and propaganda meeting every Tliursduy at 8 p.m. ln Macdon- uld's Hull, Union Street. All are welcome. Alfred Nash, Corresponding Secretary, Glace Bay: Wm. Sutherland, Organizer, New Aberdeen; H. G. Ross, Financial Secretary, office in D. N. Brodie Printing Co. Building, Union Street. 599 F. PERRY TAILOR 834 Pender St. Vancouver To Canadian Socialists On account of Increased postal rates we are obliged to make the subscription price of the International Socialist Review In Canada 11.20 a year instead of $1.00. Ws can, however, make the following special offers: For $3.00 we will mall three copies of the Review to one Canadian address for one year. For 70 cents we will mall tan copies of any one Issue. For $3.00 we will mall the Review one year and the Chicago Dally Socialist for one year. CHARLES X. XBBX k COMPANY 184 West Klnile St., Chicago. ATEMTS Xf* solicu toe Business or Manufacturers, Eugtaeeru and others who realize the advisability of ha viae their Patent business transacted byGxpctts. Prelimlnaryadvice free. Charges moderate. Our Inventor's Adviser sent upon request Marion ft Marion, New York tlfe Bldg, Montreal: and Washington. n.,C, V.8JU %3U THE CAFETERIA 305 Cambie Street The beBt of everything properly cooked. Chas. Malcahey, Prop. Jii GREAT BOOKS BY GREAT MEN Riddle of the Universe, by Haeckel 25c Life of Jesus, Renan 25c Age of Reason, Faine 25c Merrie England 20c God and My Neighbor, Blatchford 25c Origin of Species, Darwin.. 25c Ingersoll's Lectures, each.. 25c Evolution of the Idea of God, Grant Allen 25c Postage prepaid on books. The People's Bookstore 152 Cordova St. W. DENTIST W. J. CURRY Room 501 Dominion Trust Bldg. LANS AOT. Waw Westminster Land District, Slstrio of Nsw Westminster. Take notice that William Mcintosh, o Vancouver, occupation real estate agenl Intends to apply for permission to pur chase the following described lands Commencing at a post planted about'47 feet ln a westerly direction from th southeast corner of Block lt, Dlstrlc Lot 196, City of Vancouver; thenc northerly 120 feet; thence easterly 12 feet to old high water mark; thenc south 120 feet along old high wate mark; thence west to point of commence ment, William Mcintosh. Dated Feb. 24th, 1911 (630 ®®®*®®#i**®#***®***##**W*##®**®i SATURDAY, APRIL 29th, 1911. THE WESTERN CLARION, VANCQUV ER, BRITISH COLUMBIA. TsVM THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF CANADA This Page Is Devoted to Reports of Executive Committees, Locals and General Party Matters—Address All Communications to D. G. McKenzie, Sec., Box 1688, Vancouver, B. C. Workers, it is not worth your while bothering with reforms, as you never did and never will benefit by them. Go [ in for the. social revolution, called So- : cialism, if you ever want to Improve . yourselves as a class and as individ- [tials. BRANDON FIRE. Dear Comrade.—Last night I re- Iceived a telephone mesage, "Nation llDlock on Are, Socialist headquarters J burnt out, library all up in smoke." Idee! but my heart, stood still; our lib- Irary burnt up. I could not believe it. [it could not be true. However, I Igrabbed my hat and ran for all I was ■worth to the headquarters. Imagine Tif you can, my thoughts while I was punning. Our library, built up with nonths of patient effort, and now composing books worth $250, gone; fur- piture, pictures and other truck all gone, and no Insurance. I reviewed in my mind the struggles that we have had, the tremendous puritanical, petty burgols opposition we (lave gone through, and the Bterling fighting qualities that that opposition liad brought out; the big free-speech pcrap that we now have on, and I" wondered if he had got a knockout blow. • Breathless, I reached the headquarters. There 1 found a blackened building, gutted by tha fire, firemen (still busy drenching it with water, and group of excited Socialists chattering like magpies, wondering what *.'ould be done. The resourceful Bastable soon took the lead, and with the help of a lan- Itern and followed by a band of heroes, [they tackled the job of saving what Ithey could. We found the room in a pitiable Istate. Charred and blackened all over, [plaster off, pictures all burnt, charter Igone with not even a relic left, Karl [Morse smiling from a charred, glass- [lesB frame. Files of "Clarions," "Standards," "Weekly People," etc., all Iburned; blackboard, notice boards, [files of receipts and records, Clarion [subscription list, reference library, etc. [all burned; chairs, trunks, tables,book- lease, all burned to greater or less ex- Itent, but, joy of joyB, our splendid llending library of 225 books was intact. }The case was ruined, but the books |.were safe. We risked our lives and [secured them all, and we were mighty [thankful that things were no worse. Once more we are homeless and very •nearly propertyless. The ups and [downs of Brandon Local would surely [make a good book. By irony of fate Iwe had Just had a spring cleaning and | fixed everything up fine. Our loss is about $75 and a lot of ['hard work and a bunch of stuff that | can't well be replaced by money. We [must start right away to refurnish [new headquarters and push ahead, all [the more determined in spite of our .hard luck. We won't ask for any fhelp, but we are broke and homeless, Land' If any comrades with a dollar to [spare send lt to our organizer, D. Prance, 1126 Victoria avenue, we Twon't refuse it, and we will ensure our I stuff next time. ED. FULCHER. make the baby grow. You cannot get too many subs, for the Clarion, and you can adopt any means you like to get them. We have got a hard task before us and we must all go to it with a will. We have made good progress during the last three months. Keep at it, and by the end of the year you will see a difference in the outlook from the slave's standpoint. The one thing about all organization ls this—keep the end in view, and help and encourage every willing comrade to move in the same direction, LEri'i OR SITUATION ON THE CROW. The coal diggers of the Crow's Nest PaBS are out on strike to all intents and purposes. They are asking for certain small concessions, including a slight increase ln the rate of pay—not, as many, and ln fact, the most of them realize—to increase' the real wage, but simply as an endeavor to keep pace with the increased cost of living. As one of the officials put it to me, "Every other commodity has increased in price and to keep the present standard of living we must get more wages (a higher price) for our labor powers." As a matter of strikes, the present one is a model ln its way. The Socialist propaganda of the past is apparent even in the conduct of the commodity struggle. The men know the limitations of their organization. They are under no delusions. They expect nothing in the way of a "square deal" from the operators. Their respect or confidence in the "good offices" of the government ls nil. They have sized up the "impartiality" of "coalition boardB" and are wise to them. In the meantime, we reds are pushing the revolutionary propaganda. I expect to speak on tbe street every evening this week, and will report later. HIBERNICUS. WORK OF THE ANTI-SOCIALIST UNION IN GREAT BRITAIN. A Handsome Donation. THE CAPITALIST MIRE. HOW TO DO IT. Comrades of Sask.—You and I have [to organize this province; that ls to I say, we have to work together to [spread the gospel of economic salva- | tion. Let the organizers of every local see [to it that every member in their do- I main has something to do. Do not at- J tend the meetings of the orthodox poll- f Ucal parties. Leave them alone. To ] notice them is to dignify them. Never flnd fault with a speaker publicly. Bring all complaints before the comrades in a businesslike manner, It is not good policy for members of the party to ask questions at propaganda meetings. On the whole, it does not pay. Never speak In the language of Marx, but use plain, wage-slave English. Your Marxian phraseology is apt to silence but not enlighten. Let every local organizer send reports at least twice a month to the provincial headquarters. Isolated members and unattached friends cannot write too often, providing they send useful information re the movement ln the province. Never mind one bit what is going on ln other parts of the Dominion. Each man's work is under his nose. If you work yourself, you are at liberty to kick eery lazy member of the party. If you won't help In the work, get out of the movement—you are not worth honso room. We have plenty ol good speakers in the province, but the expense of travel demands that each local must breed its own for the present. Each speaker can work near the place where he happens to have the loan ot a job. Sell as much of the party literature as you can. This is the pap that will Socialism is growing like young corn when the darkies say you can hear it grow at night. The capitalists are alarmed; the clergy are filled with foreboding. The reserve army of the unemployed wander about like ghouls haunted by the ghosts, uncertainty and Insecurity. Their ferocity Is Increasing and will some day burst into revolutionary flame. Hell will be let loose and the dogs of war will be unleashed. Changes in the modes of production are silently taking place, forcing the workers to consider their economic condition. They are dissatisfied and discontented. T'i<* strong men bow them- selveB ln fear and trembling. Away with this robbery they cry. Away with this anarchy In production. The British navy may be all powerful, the Union Jack may float to the breeze on every shore. What is that to us, when we wander around like ghosts and starve in the midst of plenty? What is that to us, when we are bought and sold, robbed and exploited. The capitalists take the young men to grind, and the children they exploit from the cradle to the grave. Women replace men; their neck is under the yoke, they labor and have no rest. The pious wage slave can no longer say, "I have ben young, and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous man forsaken or his seed begging bread." The wage Blave can say with the prophet, "I am the man that hath seen affliction." The poor miserable wretch goes through life rull of trouble, scratching and scraping all bis days for the privilege of eating pork and beans and pork and rabbit. The visions of his head, they .trouble him. He thinks he wlll not always strive and struggle; that after his travail in this vale of tears he wlll forever and forever enjoy the sweets of everlasting bliss. Whatever rewards he may hereinafter enjoy, these visions indicate that he is dissatisfied with his earthly lot. Earth to him is a city of destruction, a slough of despond, a hill of difficulty, a valley of death, haunted by goblins and devils. He has not time to wonder, he has not time to think, he has no time to appreciate the beauties of nature. Toiling in factories and mills, Bhut up in stores and offices, starving when unemployed, he is insensible tb the great, wide, wonderful world with the wonderful waters round it curled. Earth Is a dungeon; the air resounds with his groaning; he sheds bitter tears, he casts not one lingering look behind and shuffles off this mortal coil. With his dying breath he exclaims "Pork and beans! Pork and rabbit, farewell, farewell"! "0 dam'd vacillating state!" sayB Tennyson; and well he might; the wage slave walls In black despair, "I have had pork, I have had beans, and now I die, unwept, tin- honored and unsung. Farewell, farewell, farewell!CLIFFORD BUTLER. 58 and 60 Victoria Street, Westminster, S. W., 24th March. Sir.—In response to the appeal of the Anti-Socialist Union, to which you gave generous prominence in lyour paper, I have received a letter from Sir Charles Morrison Bell, offering to contribute one thousand pounds to the funds of the union, provided nine other persons will contribute the same amount before the end of April. I feel sure that the ten thousand pounds required would be maay times subscribed if the big landlords and captains of industry would examine for themselves the facts and figures in our possession, which show the dangerous advance that Socialism is making in every part of the country where we have not been able to attack it. The Socialist party in the House are playing a gigantic game of bluff. By advancing measures of social reform with the principles of which every humanitarian is in sympathy, they have gained for themselves the support of thousands of right-thinking men, who are thus unconsciously helping them towards the real goal of their ambition—the confiscation by the State of every means of production, distribution, and exchange, and the taxation of all property to the extent of twenty shillings in the pound. The only way to destroy Socialism is to expose it as a huge and hideous sham whenever and wherever it ls preached. Hundreds of students have passed through our schools, where they have acquired the necessary knowledge to deal with the specious arguments of the Socialist orator. If we had the necessary funds to keep four hundred speakers constantly employed in different parts ot the country, we should in a very few years eliminate Socialism from the sphere of practical politics, and relegate it to the dreamland of demented visionaries. We have all the component parts of a great fighting machine. I appeal to those who have most to lose to set It going. —I am, etc.—Claude Lowther, In Glasgow Evening Times. Now is the real object of the Socialists discovered and their ambitious programme to be consigned to the oblivion merited by all such hideous and outrageous programmes of confiscation, fbr has not Claude Lowther, Esq., uncovered its baseness and deception, as per the above letter published in a recent issue of the Glasgow Evening jTimes? That the ten thousand pounds re- iening of the purchasing capacity of quested will be forthcoming from the big landlords and captains of industry mentioned there is no doubt, neither is there any doubt that from the point of view of the said big landlords and captains of industry Socialism is making dangerous advances all over the United Kingdom. But that the movement has made less headway In the regions where it has been attacked by the students from the schools of the Anti-Socialist Union of Great Britain than in those places where lt has not been so attacked is open to question, ln fact if the truth were known these so-called students have undoubtedly contributed a stimulus to the revolutionary socialist movement that would cause those who are putting up the funds to have a lengthy attack of Insomnia did they only realise it. With the real aims of the so-called Socialists in the British House of Commons, or how far their knowledge of the economic basis of society and the consequent position of the proletarian goes, the writer is not very well acquainted ; but that there is following ln the Immediate wake of the social reforms put forward by theBe members a proletariat imbued with revolutionary ideas and very nearly ripe for a change in our social system is a fact in which we are very well versed owing to the highly developed system of capitalist Industry and wage slavery which they have in that land of churches and society charity bazaars. May the gods blesB the efforts of the Union in that they may be able to let loose on the unsophisticated masses these four hundred orators who will proceed to grapple with the task of proving to the poverty stricken mob that they are not slaves to the present system of capitalist property ln the means of wealth production. Methinks the arguments of the Socialist orator who Is posted on the economic position of the workers will require more relegating to the dreamland of demented visionaries than Claude Lowther and all the orators and political satraps his Union can buy. It can not be otherwise than that Socialism is making immense advances ln England, notwithstanding the confusion and political mistakes of the so-called Socialists, for economic conditions, such as all highly developed Don't Swear I at yocf DallSaw take it to Elliott, the specialist REAR 431 DUNSMUIR ST. Industrial countries now have, breed the revolutionary spirit as certainly as hunger breeds discontent. Great Britain for the last one hundred years has been a manufacturing and industrial country, exporting all over the world commodities which its own market was unable to consume, partly on account of a certain amount of the go-ahead spirit of the Anglo- Saxon but principally on account of Its cheap labor, docile slaves and new machinery. That the Anglo-Saxon's boasted supremacy should have been very largely contributed to by his capacity for robbery and bloody conquest never seems to upset his self- complacency, he will even go bo far as to ascribe it to Divine Providence, a line of specious, soporific cant that until recent years has done valiant service for the ruling classes of this aristocrat and priest-ridden country. But a change of conditions in accordance with the evolution of human society and industry has presented to Great Britain a problem that defies solution and with which tariffs, reforms or government ownership are powerless to grapple; that problem is that they a*re able to employ fewer and fewer of the wage slaves every year on account of their being unable to flnd a market for the commodities which by the aid of machinery they are producing, and no saviour has as yet arisen and never will arise, to show them how to employ the slaves while production takes place simply and solely for the purpose of making profit. Britain has no longer the monopoly of manufacturing, practically every country on the globe has already got its commodity producing industries under way or is desperately striving to establish them. Countries that a few years ago were considered markets of practically unlimited extent have, thanks to the grasping and international methods of modern capital, erected huge steel plants, cotton mills and industrial enterprises of all descriptions which spell the death sentence of Britain's manufacturing supremacy. The problem ls simple—very simple—and does not require any elaborate presentation or scientific discovery. From the earlier forms of slavery we have evolved to a system generally known as wage-Blavery (owing- to its being more economical to the master class than chattel slavery), the wage slaves as a class receiving in wages just about sufficient to keep them going which is but a small fraction of the exchange values which they create, and here we have the crux, of Britain's problem. These values over and above the wages of the workers must he disposed of in some manner and the slaves by the aid of modern machinery produce such enormous quantities of these commodities that the problem of disposing of them is choking industrial society. What to do with all these things is past the ability of capitalist production to answer; an aristocratic class is kept in luxury, a capitalist section has all it can consume, the navy and army are maintained; police, lawyers, bankers and a host of other useless adjuncts to a parasite class are kept by the workers and still the warehouses and shops are jammed full with products the market cannot consume, which products, owing to the ever increasing efficiency of modern machinery, are being produced every day in larger quantities and piling up in hopeless masses. What can Britain do about it? The immediate effect of this state of affairs is that the master class have to shut down the mills and factories which means a further less- the home market to the extent of the loss of wages by the slaves. Do you say export these products? Where to, may we ask? It must be borne in mind that Britain is not alone in this dilemma for Germany, Austria, France, the United States and other countries are in exactly the same position and, as pointed out before, even those countries that were until a few years ago looked upon as able to consume these surplus products are producing them for themselves and we find Capitalism strangled with ItB own products the world over. What is the Anti-Socialist Union go ing to do about it? The class-conscious Socialist simply points out these facts to his fellow workers calling their attention to the fact that as long as the machinery of production remains the property of the capitalist class, the workers must he the slaves of this class for they must have access to the means of life or die; the only solution being that the workers shall take possession of these things and produce not for profit but for use. This point ing out the fact of the only means whereby the workers can continue to live, and whereby they can and must achieve liberty constitutes the sole and only charge against the revolution ary Socialist, and we must either admire the forlorn-hope courage of the Anti-SoclallBt Union of Great Britain or contemplate with serenity such a demonstration of Ignorance and lack of perception that permits a number of people to think they can exterminate Socialism. W. W. L. It is contended that labor-saving machinery caiiBOB labor to be more widely employed. What's labor-saving about it, In that rase? PLATFORM Socialist Patty of Canada We, the Socialist Party of Canada, in convention assembled, affirm our allegiance to and support of the principles and programme M tbe revolutionary working class. Labor produces all wealth, and to the producers it should belong. The present economic system ls based upon capitalist ownership of tbe means of production, coaaequently all the products of labor belong to the capitalist class. The capitalist ls therefore master; the worker a ■lave. So long as the capitalist class remains ln possession of the reins et government all the powers of the State will be used to protect ui defend their property rights In the means of wealth production aa* their control of the product of labor. The capitalist system gives to the capitalist an ever-swelling stream ef profits, and to the worker an ever-Increasing measure of misery and degradation. The interest of the working class lies in the direction of setting Itself free frem capitalist exploitation by the abolition ef the wise system, under which is cloaked the robbery of the working class at the point of production. To accomplish this necessitates the transformation of capitalist property ln the means of wealth production into collective or working-class property. The Irrepressible conflict of interests between the capitalist and the worker is rapidly culminating In a struggle for possession of the reins of government—the capitalist to hold, the worker to secure lt by political action. This ls the class struggle. * Therefore, we call upon all workers to organize under the banner of the Socialist Party of Canada with the object of conquering the public powers for the purpose of setting up and enforcing the economic programme of the working class, as follows: 1. The transformation, as rapidly as possible, of capitalist property in the meaas of wealth production (natural resources, factories, mills, railroads, etc.) into the collective property of the working clam. 2. The democratic organization and management of industry by the workers. 3. The establishment, as speedily as possible, of production for use Instead of production for profit. The Socialist Party when ln offlce shall always and everywhere until the present system Is abolished, make the answer to this question its guiding rule of conduct: Will this legislation advance the Interest! of the working class and aid the workers in their class struggle against capitalism? If It will, the Socialist Party Is for it; if lt will not, the Socialist Party ls absolutely opposed to It In accordance with this principle the Socialist Party pledges itself to conduct all the public affairs placed ln its hands In such a manner as to promote the Interests of the working class alone. OVER SB YEARS' Tradc Marks Designs Copvriohts Ac. Anroas sending- a sketch snd description rosy quickly ascertain -»nr opinion tree whether an liiTentlon Is prohnblr nntejitsble. Commanlcj. tlonsstrletlreonlldontM. HANDBOOK on PstouU sent tree. Oldest annoy for se-mrlnipatenta. Patents taken tbroneh Muun A Co. tsoslTS special nodes, wlthsnt eb-inte. In the Scientific American A handsomely Illustrated weekly. Largest circulation ofeny ■clenllfle loumal. Terms for Canada, la.™ a year, poetaaa prepaid. Sold by aU newsdealers. as a WUNN*SCo.»e""o*^«:N8wYijit %-wwih ^t**j*oa *»•***' ,w-»hl»i-f»nr 1 T PRICE LI8T OF LITERATURE PROPAGANDA MEETING Empress Theatre Sunday, April 30 Issued by the Dominion Exeeutive Committee "Slave of the Farm," or "Proletarian In Politics," to locals subscribing to the publishing fund, $1.00 per 100; to others, 25c per dozen. "Socialism and Unionism," to locals subscribing to the publishing fund, |1.00 per 100; to others, 25c per dozen. "The Struggle for Existence," to locals subscribing to the publishing fund, $1.00 per 100; to others, 25c per dozen. "Value, Price and Profit," to sub-' scrlbers to publishing fund, $2.00 per 100; to others, 30c per dozen. "Socialism, Revolution and Internationalism," to subscribers to publishing fund, $6.00 per 100; to others, 75c per dozen. LOCAL VANCOUVER NO. 1 PRICE LI8T OF LITERATURE. Capitol, Vol. I, 11, III, Karl Marx, per vol $2.00 Ancient Society, Lewis Morgan $1.50 Six Centuries of Work and Wages, Thorold Rogers 2.00 Woman Under Socialism, Bebel.. 1.00 Essays on the Materialist Conception of History, Labrialo 1.00' Socialism and Philosophy, Labrlola 1.00 Positive Outcome ot Philosophy Dietzgen 1.00 Philosophical Essays, Dletzgen... 1.00 Socialism and Modem Science, Enrico Ferrl 1.00 Evolution Social and Organic, Arthur M. Lewis 50 Vital Problems ln Social Evolution, Arthur M. Lewis 60 The above works wlll be sent postpaid to any part of Canada. This li only a selection ot our stock and almost any bound work ln Chas. H. Kerr's catalogue can be had. Orders to be addressed David Galloway, 2243 Main St., Vancouver. TO HOUSEKEEPERS el If you would like to spend less time in your kitchen and woodshed, and have much more time for outdoor life, recreation and pleasure, look into the question of doing your cooking with a Gas Range. Telephone yonr address te ear office and we will send a man to measure your premises and s*tvt you an estimate ol cost of installing the gas pipes, Vancouver Gas Company, Limited. four WESTERN CLARION, VANCOUVER BRITISH COLUMBIA. SATURDAY, APRIL 29th, 1011. SPRIN G We who in these latitudes continue Our existence around the industrial centres acquire in time other means of sensing the approach of spring time than that indicated by the growth of vegetation or the presence of certain physical ailments that afflict. Poets and literary people generally have often written of the season as being full of hope and promise. This le true enough, only, applied to the Working class, it is as well to note that these promises and hopes are doomed to remain of a sort they could do better without Soon after the frog chorus has well started, the capitalist press Joins ln with the usual clap-trap of abounding prosperity and tbe certain prospect of Increased Industrial activity. This reechoed by slick politicians is expected to so enthuse the workers as to cause them to forget the experiences of a lean winter in the uplifting ideal of more work In the near future, since we have lt on the authority of a Vancouver M. L. A. that more work Is the working class' natural desire. Nevertheless, there ls an Increasing number who, with a glimmering of common-sense, realize that a lower gauge of prosperity from a working class viewpoint would not be a prospect of more work but a certainty of less. However, the topsy-turvy philosophy of capitalism still sways the majority and the uninformed worker remains the Juicy prey of the host of grafters and schemers who comprise the business element and capitalist class of all countries. Long before we get time to notice the fresh growth on the trees there ls "spring," that hardy annual, the discovery of a new gold field, or sensational developments in old ones. Now, it is proverbial that distance lends enchantment to the view, and certain it ls that during the last fifteen years ln nearly every Instance the locations of the gold fields were in some far an Inaccessible region. This might at first appear to be a serious drawback, but in these days a successful mining venture depends not so much on the quantity of precious metal found as In furnishing a meanB of exploitation to transportation companies and trading concerns. By this means certain nearby cities have built up quite a flourishing trade with the frozen north, which beats carrying passengers to view the midnight sun. This season of 1911 finds the discovery so close that It Is somewhat doubtful It the necessary epidemic of gold fever can be spread around to make the mountains above the Skagit river attractive enough to cause a stampede. Still success in some degree will be guaranteed, but it is a foregone conclusion that the workers whose labor will make it so will get none of their product, being satisfied as usual with all the work, whilst the railroads will this time get the bulk of the gold instead of the steamship companies as heretofore. Another sure harbinger of spring is the frequency with which we meet these fellows who have a solution to the high cost of living in following a course of the simple life. They are going to make a "stake," let you know once more that It can't be done in town, a fact of which you have been well aware since you struck it. Bound for the woods, desert or mountains, they will suffer all sorts of hardships and privations, their standard of comfort be lowered to the limit of endurance (the surest way we know of to reduce the high cost of living) all for the coveted "stake," a pitiful amount that finds them the following spring, as' like as not, where they were the year before. And there are others with like schemes to Interest you; they Infer that they hold good for an unlimited number, besides the petty grafters among whom are some whose business It is to ship as many as possible to some distant point, for the usual fee, where lt seems there is steady and pleasant employment at surprisingly high wages, which piece of fiction seldom falls to bring along the requisite number of victims. Once In a while It Is a fact that some of these propositions turn out good to those that get ln on them, but their relative goodness ls ln Inverse ratio to the number that rejects them. Like all other schemes, whether put forward as the study of the most zealous reformers or just as undisguised business opportunities, the any measure only because the majority effect is alike and success can come ln kept out of them. It Is blcih time the working class realized that within this system of capitalist exploitation no methods can be devised that can benefit all of them. No scheme has yet been proposed that carries nn atom of proof that general application of tho same to society as a whole would not show Its utter absurdity. Moreover, bo long as the wages system lasts, with ItB consequent division of the world's population In the two great classes—masters and slaves—just so long will every attempt to formulate an equitable division of the product of social labor be written a failure. Think it over, workingmen, and yov will see how little interest you have in any re-arrangement that merely changes the personality of the "haves and the have-nots." Flucuatlons of this nature are of daily occurrence and have been a part of the system since it began; yet your class position has in no way been changed, except In that as your numbers Increased your economic power gradually vanished. You are more than ever at the mercy of the capitalist class, whose every move to extend and broaden their sys. tem can only mean still harder conditions for you to bear. You do not know this, and the aim of the Socialist movement is to impart a knowledge of the working of this system that your class may apply the only action that can be applied to the means of life and the machinery of production that will Insure a truer, fuller life—not for some, but for all. RAYNER. WHAT 8HALL THE HARVEST BE? The farmers position occupies a prominent place in the Clarion at present This ls as lt should be because, compared with the farming community, the industrial workers are a mere flea- bite. The contributions of Budden, "Hibernlcus," and others have cleared the ground somewhat The Socialist speaker who has carefully read these articles will speak with more confidence and with more knowledge to the slaves of the farms than he did before. We are advancing steadily towards a solution of the problem, i.e., "How to make the Farmer understand that in Socialism lies his only salvation." A propagandist who is able clearly to explain the law of value wlll always do good work amongst this section of the community because the farmer engaged in pursuing a shadow all his life will by this teaching understand how he has missed the substance. Some of the contributors seem to indicate that in saying the farmer on the whole gets the value of what he produces we who maintain this are only thinking of the producers of wheat Nothing can be further from the truth. I was at Prince Albert's short time agp and saw a team of horses sold for $700. I judged this pair were sold above their value. On inquiry I found that horses, on the whole, are today fetching above their value, ln this part of the world at any rate. The farmers themselves will support me in this, especially those who have them to buy. Perhaps upon investigation we Bhould flnd other commodities produced on the farm that sometimes sell and are selling temporarily above their value. On the whole the farmer gets value for necessary labor time. Unnecessary labor time is not paid for. As time goes on the farmer will, in proportion to his poverty, have to give more and more of his human energy in addition to more and more of the human energy of his wife and kids for nothing. Show him how that must be and you have got him. Imagine a farmer with that ln his mind driving a pair ot oxen, bought on time, becaMse he is too poor to purchase even a team of horses. He sees and feels that he ls a back number for ever more. As greater and greater machinery appears, further and further beyond his reach, he knows that he has to work harder and harder for less and less. That man is a keener fighter for Socialism than the industrial worker because he feels the system every day of his life. Some of the comradeB say the farmer does not get the value of what he creates. I maintain that on the whole be does. I would not call myself a Socialist and state that the law of value was not universal. Every farmer in this and every other country ls in competition with every other farmer and taking the commodities produced as a whole they exchange at their value In the world's market If the capitalist class can put the law of value out of gear by owning the means of production, the reformer has a justification for his existence. The farmer gets the market price for what he produces whatever the price may be, and no class can permanently fix that price. It Is true that the farmer Is still under free competition, a state ot things that other branches of the capitalist system have outgrown. This causes him to frequently have to sell things below their value, because he produces blindly and cannot gauge the demand. But again, although lt ruins many of them, the survlvers reap the benefit In lucky years. And, on the whole, they balance at their value. The English farmer will tell you the rent Is nothing In comparison with American competition. He is undersold by others who produce thousands of miles from him with better tools. In Denmark the farmers produce upon a to operative plan. In Belgium the railways assist the farmers all they can. Taking the thing over a period of say, five years, the law of value works as true here as elsewhere ln the system. Anyhow, I'll build on that foundation. It Is not only machinery that causes unnecessary labor, ramshackle buildings, out of date methods of feeding and housing stock and a hundred and one other things play their part. You give a farmer an up-to-date farm with the latest Implements, the best of buildings, everything O.K. and he is not robbed any more than any other business under this system. Capitalism fastens its grip on the farmer in proportion to his poverty. I was looking at 20 beautiful colts the other day and I said to the farmer who looked after them "Why you are going to have a nice draw shortly." He petted some of them a little while and then said, slowly and sadly: "There is a plaster on every one of them, so damned big that not a leg belongs to me." Ninety per cent, of the farmers in this province are in that fix with everything they think they own. They are slaves and lt ls the law of value that will enable us to prove it to them. I am one who looks at the subject internationally. The farmers in England were ruined by the working of the law of value, not by excessive rents as the farmers there at one time thought Hyndman says, "Rent of land ls that portion of the total net revenue which is paid to the landlord for the use of plots of land after the average profit on the capital embarked in developing such land has been deducted." The rent of land, of course, wlll always be in proportion to the poverty of the tenant. The poorer he is the more he wlll have to pay. The Irish cotter originally tipped up everything but just enough to exist on. He was bound to do it because he couldn't get out of it. If the farmer possesses anything he can bargain with the landlord. But if he doesn't, he takes whatever terms are offered. Some of the comrades argue that when a homesteader gets hie patent he doesn't own his land. I maintain he does, but what value has land anyhow? What is it that the capitalist class capitalize? Is it machinery. Is it the rolling stock of a railway? Not on your life! It is the hides and carcasses of the slaves who operate theBe tools. They, the slaves, are the only things worth owning. The capitalist class controlling the state here vote themselves Into possession of millions of acres of land. This land is not worth a cent until slaves get on it They offer some of this free in 160 acre lots to wage slaves in search of liberty. The moment the wage slaves get on it they are re-enslaved, working six months for the capitalist where they can get a job and making for him the other six the wherewithal to enslave others. Machinery on time, mortgages and the miseries of a pioneer life piled on top of the miseries of poverty, shut out from civilization and contact with their fellows Is the price the slaves of the farm pay to enable the land adjoining theirs to enslave their fellow slaves, for the capitalists' benefit. I am speaking of this province particularly now—speaking of what I have seen. Vote for capitalism If you like it you farmers, watting for that stroke of luck that never comes. Work at your steady job, speed up you sons of guns and when tyou have done your sixteen hours a day and the chores besides, you shall have the pleasure of creating that that will compel you to work harder than ever and thankfully accept less for lt. There is only one way out of hell and that is to seize the devil and take from him the keys that lock the doors of liberty. Forward! all workers to the conquest of political power, but remember when on the march that political power can only be conquered by the education of our class. Otherwise we have no political power even when we get It. We are enslaved because we are Ignorant. We are free when we understand. If every worker knew what we of the Socialist party know the job would be done. Let us all do our little bit to spread the light and push things along. The Clarion is the barometer of the movement. The farmers position ls not yet clearly defined. It never has been, but the Socialist Party of Canada has made the best attempt ever yet made ln this direction. We'll keep at lt till we manage it, however long lt takes. In the meantime Old Capitalism ls doing the biggest share of the work. Let the comrades of Saskatchewan keep the Provincial Executive Informed regarding the work and we'll grow the best ln the Dominion and the smallest amount of funds on the continent to keep the thing going on. A hint to a mule is enough to make it kick. If there is a mule that is a kicker that's got more hay and oats than he can consume, don't let him rob the capitalist any loui.er but send it along. We'll use lt to spread the light. Whether the funds come or not, we are going to keep the Job going. We have put our hands to the moving plough and some hands to the moving plough and come through. LESTOR. If a moon calf saw our earthly laborers paying handsomely for the use of things they make themselves, it would crack a mighty Bmile. We can't laugh. It'B on us. We are admonished to save our money—by the same people who advertise copiously to entice us to spend lt. A MESSAGE TO UNION MEN. Fellow Workers: Being a union man myself and recognizing the necessity of political action in the struggle against capitalism, I hope that this short letter will fall to the notice of some of my class outside the revolutionary ranks. We unite because we must. It is for our material interest. In all hu man actions material interests rule, therefore the master claas can only be concerned in upholding wage-slavery and increasing their power over the workers. On the other hand, the working class ls driven to struggle for the possession of the means of life. It is true that in the past the working class has been put down ln its struggle on the industrial field, when It has been out for a little more of the product of its toil or a little better conditions to work under. All the powers of government stand ready to put down workingmen whenever lt may be deemed necessary ln the Interests of the capitalist class All great strikes prove that the Gov eminent ls under the control of the masters. Their politicians are as servile to that class as are the workers who are depending upon them for employment ln order to live. All political parties are but the expression of class interest. For this rea. son the working class party cannot ally itself with any of the capitalist parties, any bargain between them can only serve the interests of the ruling class. Trade unions being a necessity under capitalism, any action of theirs on sound lines should be heartily supported. Their basis ot action must be a clear recognition of the workers position under this present system and the class struggle resulting therefrom. Defeated on the Industrial field the worker must use his only weapon left the political weapon. They must adopt the Socialist Party of Canada's position to justify their existence. Social- Ism alone can free the worker from the necessity of selling himself for the profit of a master. Socialism alone can free the worker of his commodity character. The emancipation of the working class can only be accomplished by that class organized in a political party recognizing the class struggle as the base. Yours in revolt, D. FRANCE. VANCOUVER UNIONISTS AND SINGLE TAX At the last meeting of Vancouver Trades and Labor Council the subject of taxation came in for a good deal of discussion, following the receipt of a letter from the secretary to the mayor. Here is the reply: Vancouver, B. C, April 13, 1911. Walter A. Hilllam, Secretary to the Mayor, Vancouver, B. C. Dear Sir.—I am ln receipt of your favor of March 22 seeking information and an expression ot opinion as to the attitude of organized labor in this city towards the present Vancouver system of taxation. At the last regular meeting of Vancouver Trades and Labor Council, the questions were taken up for sonsldera- tlon at some length. After a thorough discussion, I, ln conjunction with Geo. W. Williams, of the Building Trades Council, were instructed to reply. 1. Whether In the opinion of the Building Trades and other union officials, Vancouver's system of taxation is beneficial to workingmen. Ans.—I believe it is the general consensus of opinion among well Informed trade unionists that the question of taxation is of little or no concern to wage-workers as such. It can oly affect them ln the event that they are property owners, and the ratio of property owners among the workers Is relatively small. As wage-workers, we realize that whether taxes be high or low, single or double, the fact remains that the condition of the labor market determines the working conditions, and to a great extent the wage of those who have nothing to sell but their labor power, their ability to work. While lt is quite true that in the last analysis wage-workers pay for taxation and everything else, so far as that ls concerned, there Is no evidence to show that these conditions are affected one way or the other by the system of taxation. Our experience, after careful observation, has been that the average cost of keeping wage-workers ls the average wage; that Is to say, for Instance, in Mexico, where men can live for 90 cents per day, the average wage Is about 90 cents a day; or In Alaska, where the average cost of keeping a man Is around $4 a day, the average wage is about $4 per day. Another illustration: Vancouver today has a bonded debt of some $8,000,000. The provincial government is some $9,000,- 000 ln debt. I submit that If this taxation was by some hocuc-pocus process system wiped out, the condition of the labor market, and hence the wage- worker, would remain the same. Or if, on the other hand, this taxation were to be suddenly doubled, our wages would continue to be determined by the same factor, namely, the number of men seeking jobs. I am thoroughly convinced that the value of all the wealth, including land values, is wrapped up in the hides of the working class; it is a case of no work- ers, no value. If the workers were to all go and no more come to take their place, there would be no value left in the city. Title deeds to shops, factories, land.etc, are but the title deeds to slaves, enabling the owners to command services of a propertyless, working class. 2. Whether the number of unemployed has decreased. Ans.—No. 3. Whether workingmen have been attracted to Vancouver by the exemption of buildings from taxation. Ans.—Owing to the favorable geographical position of Vancouver; the fact that three or four transcontinental railways are heading this way; that capitalists all over the world seeking profitable Investment, are headed this way, and particularly In view of the wonderful natural resources of this province, combined with the well organized methods of wealth production In other parts of the commercial world, it is only natural that huge corporations should be seeking reinvestments for their surplus values around the gateway to the Orient. For this and many other reasons capitalists have been attracted to Vancouver. Then, as a logical sequence, large numbers of jobless wage workers follow ln their train. The result is that while there has been a tremendous development, the ratio of men looking for jobs, aB compared with the number of jobs available, has even been Increased as against years gone by. Knowing this, "the powers that be," encouraged by such labor-skinning agencies as tho Salvation Army and others, are busy in the glutted labor markets of Europe, pouring in the unemployed from those sections of the globe. Thus it is evident that while there has been Increased industrial activity and development throughout this province and especially in Vancouver, the problems of other localities are merely being trans, ferred to this section. The labor question here, therefore, is no better or no worse than the labor question anywhere under the flag of international capitalism. It is the same. Through the folly of the workers having elected lawmakers * who, by legal enactment, have handed over to the corporations all the natural resources of this and every other province, we now flnd ourselves confronted with this great problem: The corporations own the earth, and, therefore, the wage-workers' jobs. Through organization and the elimination of competition these gigantic monopolies are able to control the output of their respective commodities, and thus exact a higher price. The very contrary Is the case with the working class. They are endeavoring to organize, but they cannot eliminate competition among themselves for the ever-lessening number of jobs. The introduction and installation of huge machines of wealth production has displaced workers by the million; as it should. The forces of nature have been harnessed to do the world's work, but all these wonderful machines, propelled by nature, have been transferred into the hands of corporations—hence all the benefit accruing from the same goes into the hands of the owners. Under such circumstances, so far its the working class Is concerned, it is no longer a question of taxation, single or otherwise. It is a question of those who do the work and make civilization possible securing control of the lawmaking powers and restoring to themselves the things their labor has made possible. This done, the production of wealth must be carried on for the use and satisfaction of human needs rather than for profit, as at present. This is the mission of the working class,- not only in Vancouver, but of the whole world. In other words, "the unity of labor Is the hope of the hope of the world." Therefore, I am of the opinion that the huge Influx Into Vancouver at this time ts not necessarily because of jthe exemption of buildings from taxation, but rather for the reasons stated. Trusting that the above will be considered as an answer to your Inquiry, I remain, Yours, R. P. PETTIPIECE. SAME OLD GAG. The arrest of McNamara, of the Structural Iron Workers, and his confreres again brings into prominence that highest expression of character in connection with the capitalist class —the deteotlves. Although we recognize that a detective ls a product of the conditions that surround him, we apply the same to a grave-robbing hyena. Capitalists, as a class, were evolved in an atmosphere of cunning. As individuals, they are trained specifically to defraud each other. At the same time, never did there exist a class which bawled so loud and loathesome- ly about honesty, truth and justice. And their cowardice Ib proportionate to their chicanery. Small wonder that to maintain their position in society they employ such social vampires as detectives. Even granting that these union men are guilty of the crimes charged against them, mighty little credit is due to the United States machinery of law. To allow over three million dollars J worth of property and many lives to | be destroyed without apprehending I anyone—until a large reward is offered j is no very creditable record. That the men are guilty ls of course, 1 absurd. The affair iB merely a replica I of the Idaho occurrence. Remarkable [ that capital's minions could not concoct something new to spring on us. But then, nobody with inventive brains I would do such a dirty work. This at-J tempt may bring on a row between] capital and Labor long to be remcm-J bered. We await developments. LAMENT OF A HOMELESS BRANDONITE. April 17, 1911. Comrade Editor. — Brandon local! headquarters was destroyed by fire on| Monday evening, April 17. a spectator In the crowd Informed me the cause of the blaze was a gasoline explosion In the stove below. The charter, plc-J lures and pamphlets on the walls wentj up ln smoke. The portrait of Carl Mar (that mighty prophet, seer and serenl lty blest!) alone withstood the flamesi He looked out upon the desolation of the room with his usual serenity, wittf that same serenity he viewed the deso| lation wrought by capitalism. Surely the people is grass, and cap)] talism is the fire that consumes then The material productive forces, UkJ Are, are bad masterB. Society has losl control of these forces and the wagi slaves are being frizzled to a frazzle! Like fire, these forces are good serj vants but bad masters. Arouse, ye wage slaves, and gel control. No longer view the desolal tion and destruction. No longer weeif and wail. Put a stop to this anarchjj ln production. The bookcase was badly charred bud the books were not much damaged] In the room that has resounded to the voices of Gribble, O'Brien, FulcherJ Butler, France, Malllen and others, in] eluding Comrade Legge and our old] friend Higgins, there Ib water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.! For God's Bake, a pot of small ale.] Yours ln haste, CLIFFORD BUTLER. COARSE FOR JOHN. April 1th, 1911. Dear Mac—Kingsley often said that| the condition of tbe worker would eve be getting worse. That the standardl of living would reduce Itself to its] lowest level, viz., rice and rats of the Orientals. But according to today'sl New York Times, even the Chinese! are complaining of the bill of fare] under the capitalist system, for "thir-f teen Chinese sailors deserted yester-1 day from the British steamship 'Ser-f geant Fels' at the Standard Oil docksl in Bayonne. They went to police! headquarters and declared they had] been Ill-treated and poorly fed and! asked that the British consul send! them back to China. Chief of Policel John Yore returned them to the ship] and notified the consul," and so Yours for the revolt, C. McMAHON SMITH. UNIONISTS FEAR SPREAD OP] SOCIALISM IN BRITISH - NAVY. London, April 19.—Alarmed by re-J ports of the spread of Socialism ln the English navy, Conservative members! of the House of Commons declared to-1 day that the matter would soon be J formally brought, up In parliament! Unless First Lord of the Admiralty I McKenna is able to declare tbat the] reports are grossly exaggerated, ef-j forts will be urged to suppress thej spread of the doctrine. The present I determination of tho Conservatives is] largely due to a recent article ln a Socialistic newspaper, "JuBtice," in J which it was stated that the paper ls j sending Its correspondents ln the navy' "occasional parcels of leaflets for free | distribution." Continuing, the paper says: "It ls perhaps needless to say that because the men are becoming more Intelligent through more initiative and intelligence being demanded of them, they flnd the feudalism of the service all the more revolting." In a service journal recently there appeared an article referring to the spread of Socialism under the title, "The Canker of the 8ervlce." This article helped to fan the flame which may result in parliamentary action.— News Item. This week's sub-list: C. Q. Johnston, Oreenwood, B. C...17 Bert Savage, Steelton, Ont 7 'Smith," city 4 J. Watson, Winnipeg * A. Budden, Sask 1 Jim Thomson, Medicine Hat 2 D. A. McLean, Calgary t C. Steen, city * Local Oreenwood Bdle. Singles. Wm. Faulkner, Staveley, Eng.; John Pollock, Victor, Alta.; W. O. McClus- key, Calgary, Alta.; J. C. Turpel, Chinook, Alta.; Ed. Hutchison, Soo, Ont.; A. Taylor, Toronto, Ont; F. E. Boss- ley, Sicamous, B. O; P. Gosden, SPa- mous, B. C; T. A. Austin, Nelson, H. 0.1 R. tt Taylor, Chase, B. C; J. C. Burgess, Fitz; D. M. Coutts, J. A. Mc- Kechnle, city."""@en, "Titled The Western Clarion from June 18, 1904 to June 1, 1907; titled Western Clarion thereafter."@en ; edm:hasType "Newspapers"@en ; dcterms:spatial "Vancouver (B.C.)"@en ; dcterms:identifier "Western_Clarion_1911_04_29"@en ; edm:isShownAt "10.14288/1.0318718"@en ; dcterms:language "English"@en ; geo:lat "49.261111"@en ; geo:long "-123.113889"@en ; edm:provider "Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library"@en ; dcterms:publisher "Vancouver, B.C. : The Western Socialist Publishing Co., Limited"@en ; dcterms:rights "Images provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy, or otherwise use these images must be obtained from the Digitization Centre: http://digitize.library.ubc.ca/"@en ; dcterms:isPartOf "BC Historical Newspapers"@en ; dcterms:source "Original Format: Royal British Columbia Museum. British Columbia Archives."@en ; dcterms:title "Western Clarion"@en ; dcterms:type "Text"@en ; dcterms:description ""@en .