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tr I [WESTERN r OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF CANADA CLARI PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING CLASS ALONE JUMBER 679 VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1912 Subacriptlon Price *H| an PER V&4K RAISING FOG AND DUST British Political Tricksters Have "Nice Old Time" Blabbing and Blithering in a Wilderness of Economic Ignorance and Deceit. We are having a nice old time here in the Old Country. The Insurance Act will be in operation on July IS. The gabfest continues on Home Rule. The Labor party Is going to oppose <?) the Liberal party. Then, there is foot and mouth disease amongst the cattle in north of England. Meat is increasing in price. Two bye elections are taking place at Hanley and Crewe, and what do you think? Mr. and Mrs. Borden, Mr. Hazen, Mr. Doherty, Mr. Hantnl and Mr. Pelletier have arrived from Canada. Personally I don't know any of the last-mentioned individuals, so cannot endorse the inane flattery "our" papers have accorded them. Mr. Borden gave the usual Imperialistic speech, statins; that besides ties of kinship and allegiance which bound Canada to the motherland, there were also ties of commercial enterprise, and he trusted that those ties might be more fully developed than in the past. There was no need for either his colleagues or himself to give utterance to expressions that those ties of loyalty were bound to grow stronger with the ties of their commercial undertakings." You see, it's the commercial business they are most concerned about. It must be plain to all that Borden and ■ his confreres represent the capitalist class, who are seeking and devising means of further securing their hold upon the workers. The development of "commercial ties" means more misery, slavery for the working class. Correspondingly, it will mean greater ease and enjoyment for the capitalist class. The important point must be realized that the new market of Canada is an outlet for the surplus products sent from this country. But soon the consumers in Canada will be competing with the labor of those who today produce the commodities exported from here. When that time arrives it may convince the workers of the necessity to overthrow capitalism. Canada is but in her Infancy from the capitalistic standpoint. She needs development. Borden and the gang from Ottawa are here for that purpose. It is not a matter of regret, but one of extreme satisfaction to see that the dumping grounds for England, America and Germany are producing their own commodities now. It is apparent that the revolution In industry is developing rapidly and soon the breakdown will arrive. Well, then It will be up to the workers to do things for themselves. .-To conclude about "your" Prime Minister, he has been invited to numerous banquets and no doubt he'll have a glorious time. He is being feted because he is a Canadian. So there's a chance for anyone who comes over here cattle punching. Let him write the l^ondon Chamber of Commerce and he might be banquet- ted. The Insurance Act seemB to be a good thing for those who have jobs to administer it. David Shackleton, late Labor M. P., is one of the Commissioners. Many appointments have been made, and where examinations are not necessary jobs have been given to Liberal party speakers. The men who have been paid to "explain" the act were nominees (in the main) of the National Liberal Federation. Perhaps it will not be amiss to say a good many successful job getters are "Labor" men of some "local" importance. The act ls designated for the purpose of smashing up the labor unions and the smaller friendly societies. All workers must either join an "approved" society or make payment through the post- office. The Tariff Reform League has started an "approved" society. As to Home Rule. Well, it's the TO NEW READER3 If you get this paper sent you, it is paid for. All we wish you to do is to study it, and if you find anything in it that you object to, write to the office of publication and let us know to what you disagree. This paper is' published in the interests of the working class, therefore if you are a wage worker it is to your interest to study it. SPREAD OF KNOWLEDGE. greatest joke we've had here for a long time. I've heard that some people in Ireland want something. Some say they want England to boss them as it is today) others want to rule themselves. I heard the other night that they (the Irish) did not want any more absentee landlords. It w unfair, said a Nationalist speaker, for landlords to draw rents from property ln Ireland and not visit that property! Yes, but what's the row about? The Nationalist was asked by the writer "If lt was wrong (as he called lt) to draw rents for no service rendered, waB it not wrong for a manufacturer to get profits from the labor of others when the manufacturer rendered no service?" But then the Nationalist hemmed and could not answer. That'B the case in a nutshell. It is simply an endeavor by the capitalist class to "free" the land in order to develop Industry. Instead of the poor agricultural farmer, the capitalist wants him transformed into a poorer wage slave. It will mean that history will repeat itself and Ireland will be a country of propertylesB wage slaves in quick time. Anyway, Home Rule doesn't matter. It won't add a half cent an hour to the wages in Ireland and not another "spud" to the soil. Irish people lament the fact that Canada and the rest of the colonies have "Home" Rule, why not Ireland? Anyone would think because you "rule" yourselves in Vancouver that you are well off. I know well that here in Manchester (where we "rule" ourselves) there are hundreds of thousands lacking decent nourishment ami accommodations. How in the name of goodness wtll "Home Rule" benefit those who have nothing in Ireland? Perhaps someone will answer! Now to very Interesting matter. The Labor party is threatening to oppose the Liberal party. They are going to put up candidates against the Liberals in certain seats. The reason is this: Mr. Enoch Edwards, Labor M.P. for Hanley, died last week. The Liberals say he was a Liberal. The Labor party Bays he was a member of their group. Neither Liberal nor Labor is wrong, for anything in the political line that appertains to trickery and compromise can join the Labor party. But, says the Liberal, lt is our seat and we ought to have a Liberal as member, and the Labor party should not put up a candidate. The Labor party say the same for their side. Now you see what it is about. Both the parties who believe in democracy wish to exclude the other from an endeavor to obtain representation. That's the joke. Why should any party say it Is their seat? But it is producing quite a nice situation and ls a proof that all reformers are against working class interests. G. Roberts, M.P., whip of the Labor party, said at a meeting last night that "resentment against the Labor party in the House of Commons is becoming more and more manifest owing to the action we were compelled to take ln respect of the recent great strikes. "Hanley afforded them the first evidence of the intention to challenge the very existence of Laborfs political representation. "There are two sections of the Liberal party who are Betting out to reduce the power of Labor. "One the wealthy men, who feel that the Government ls going too far in the concessions, and another—one to be most carefully watched—a body of land reform radicals who believed they can put forward a policy of land taxation and will wean the Labor vote away from the Labor party to the side ot this new radicalism. "Nobody on the Labor side of the House objects to land reform, but used as a bait it becomes highly desirable that keen scrutiny be observed as to where the hook Is hidden." Now then, reforms are admitted to be used to assist the capitalist class. It has always been the function of the Labor party, I. L. P. and S. D. P., to betray working class Interest. Mr. Keir Hardie gives the game away completely when he says that the Liberal party had stolen part of the programme of the I. L. P. If, then, the Liberal party uses any reforms and advocates them as a means of support to their parly, it is unmistakably of value to the capitalist class. Any Socialism is the only school that teaches how to apply scientific research to human history. Such a statement Is becoming every day more correct, for the forceB of this new school are penetrating almost every Institution of capitalism. We use its governments as forums to spread our propaganda. The students of the State University of Michigan recently debated as to the desirability of Debs, the Socialist candidate, or Taft, the capitalist candidate, and tben gave a majority vote for Debs. The day of the last Provincial election in British Columbia Miss McDonald, a school teacher ln Fernle, took a vote among her pupils whether Davidson, the Socialist candidate, or Ross, the capitalist candidate, should represent that district In the Legislative Assembly. The result showed a large majority for the Socialist. A few months ago I addressed the students in Alberta's highest educational institution on "The Labor Theory of Value." Every one present assured me that It was the best expla nation of value they had heard. Com' rade Alf. Budden received a like reception when he addressed the same students on "The Application of Science to Human History." In the country districts we use the schoolbouses for public meetings. The teachers are usually present and often become interested. Some of them purchase our literature. The "Coward's Castle" in sacred institutions is being used to spread our propaganda. Even preachers who are opposed to us often cause the discussion of Socialism among their congregation. Indeed, it would appear that some are only pretending to oppose us for the purpose of Introducing a discussion of our propaganda. The number of teachers and professors that have been dismissed because they taught Socialism is further evidence of the force of our movement. Our doctrines are spreading ev< i<y where, and if we are careful to keep ourselves well informed on the "materialist conception of history, the labor theory of value and the class struggle," and learn to present our conceptions in an understandable manner, the most of those who listen to us will become desirous of further study. C. M. O'BRIEN. The increasing number of "Instalment plan" houses In Vancouver, not to mention several new "three ball" fronts, Is proof positive of "prosperity." If in doubt consult some of the poor devils who have to go up against such institutions to meet today's obligations. party having such a programme is admittedly anti-Soclallst. Keir Hardie is of that class and here is his speech to prove it: "Speaking at Merthyr last night, Mr. Keir Hardie said he believed that the Hanley Liberal Association would have assented to the adoption of Mr. Finney, the Labor candidate, had not the hungry pack of party hacks and office seekers hurried down from London and taken a new. candidate with them, giving as the excuBO that they were starting a new programme with reference to land reform. That programme had been lifted from the programme of ttie Independent l^abor party, where it had been for years."— Daily Dispatch, July 1, 1912. Note that the Labor party nominee would have been agreed to by the Hanley Liberal Association. Yet there are men in Canada who will swear to the honesty of the Labor party. There are men in Canada who want a Labor party there on the lines of that in this country. I hope you get it. The above newspaper cuttings should be sufficient to prove the political rascality of the Labor party and the necessity for an organization of a party in absolute opposition to the capitalist class. The Labor party I, L. P. and B. S. P. are simply adjuncts to the capitalist political party, when they have reforms in their programme. The Canadian workers will no doubt use their intelligence, and profit by the political mess ln this country. The present situation simply endorses the Marxian position, namely, that of an ever increasing hostility, uncompromising in every way, to the class that rules the workers. The necessity for reforms shows the rotten condition of a country. The capitalist clasB arc now guessing. They are carrying a heavy load which soon will overwhelm them. It needs a fearless and clear-mind to assist in tho reorganization for Socialism. AND REFORMERS CANNOT DO IT. MOSES BARITZ. Manchester, Eng., July 5, 1912. THE PEOPLE RULE? Sure! Very well, then. They rule tbat $1700 on the average be taken from every man, woman and child who do the necessary work of production in Canada ln one year. This ls your (the people's) census figures. Ot course, you are aware of this, and of course this $1700 per man per year is the cost of the "administration" of "your" government of education ln "your" schools, law and order, protection of property and "life," public health and morals, roads and bridges, too, etc. Four-fifths of what you produce to secure you ln getting one-fifth to live on? Pretty expensive rule, isn't lt? Why, when the "peepul" ruled in the old baronial days they kept one-half of their product! "Your" census figures today are: You produce $2000 per man per year, ln food clothing and shelter and on the average you keep to live on $300 per man per year, which is just the average value of your labor. Therefore, you work for your keep! And that's slavery! And we, the people, are slaves! Can slaves rule? No! They only rule who have power to rule. Slaves have as much power to rule the State as a farmer's mules to rule his farm. The capitalists rule. They own the land you live on, the machinery you work with. They rule with your consent; withhold that consent and their power ls gone and comes back to you who gave it. Look to it! The Government exists solely as an instrument of the ruling class to collect that $1700 per man per year. A tax collecting agency for the capitalist class. This is its sole function. Workingmen have absolutely nothing to do with the Government now existing except to vote for or against When will you use your power and abolish wage slavery? Study Social- Ism! That is what intelligent workers are working for today. What will "you" do about it? Will you work and toll and worry your miserable lives away in a brutish struggle to get that $300 a year, or will you use your brains to retain the Know your position in society and then work to improve it. Will you work for economic freedom by using brains in working class poll- tics, or be content with slavery and a promise of ham and eggs for breakfast in a mansion on a golden street after death? Politics is better than religion. By that means you can get what you want before you are dead. One of the type of wage plugs distinguished by a weak head and strong back said to me the other day: "Why do you use your time and money working for Socialism? You'll never see It." "Why do you," I said, "bend every energy, working long hours, ruining your bodily health and mental faculties, to get wealthy? You'll never get that by working." Which will we have, money in old age, or Socialism, the hope of a weary, waiting world? We know which is best. We want your help; $1700, that's all, and there'll be neither peace nor safety till we get it. CHAS. MACDONALD. FAMINE IN JAPAN. Great headlines announcing the death of the Mikado of Japan appeared in this week's capitalist press, but not a word about the thousands of Japanese who are dying for want of food. The price of rice has so increased that Ihe Japanese working class are forced to send their children, seven yeara old and over, to work to earn enough to buy food, thousands are dying and children are forced to go to school without meals. AUSTRALIAN NOTES. PLAIN TALK TO WORKERS Address Delivered By Comrade L. T. English, at Convention of Farmers and Trade Unionists, Lethbridge, Alberta, June 1912. Delegate English: Mr. Chairman and fellow delegates, I have listened On June 13 tho Labor Government arrested seven men for addressing the unemployed. Amongst the number were Comrades Rutherford, Whltmore, Hurst, and Cassell, of the Australian Socialist Party, also Thompson, Warner and Phipps. This action the Government bearB out the contention that the immigration scheme is a fraud. The growing number of unemployed Is a direct result of the Government's action in flooding tho country with laborers from other countries, and now the game ls to close their mouth when they commence to be critical.—International Socialist. with interest to tbe farmers' expres sion' of their opinions, but I cannot say that we have been clearly shown wherein their grievances, in any of the particulars mentioned, apply to labor as a whole. I might keep you listening open-mouthed to the disabilities and hardships that the printer ls compelled to put up with in his calling, and I might possibly succeed in convincing you that the printers' lot is not the most enviable one ln the world but in doing so I very much doubt If I would have added any items of information on the subject of labor as a whole, or have given you any additional information of a nature that would aid in the solution of our troubles as a class in human society. The gist of the complaints of both the miners and tbe farmers is that they suffer under certain disabilities. The miner suffers under certain exactions of his employers, every petty exaction being imposed upon him in the way of labor and price, and the conditions under which he works; but that is all to one end, and it is to the end that the employer may reap the maximum of profit out of such labor. When a man works In a mine he is producing a form of wealth; but wealth comes out of the mine as the result of the application of human labor power to the natural resources of that mine, and ot course it is to the Interest of the capitalist owner to see that' he gets as much of a return out of the man's labor as it is possible for him to get. The thing the worker is up against is this thing CAPITAL or Capitalist Property, and when the farmer takes his produce tb the market, he finds that between him and the realization of the full value that he has produced stands this thing known as CAPITALIST PROPERTY. It may be In the form of railroads or elevators, or anything else, but he finds he is up against it in just the same way that every other worker Is up against the same condition. The essence of this capital is that its sole aim and purpose Is to extract the greatest possible returns from the labor of some one else, and to acquire more property; and it does acquire more property, for the simple reason that lt stands in a position of advantage to wring returns from labor. Now, It is suggested that we form ourselves Into a united body, and petition the legislature to enact particular laws that will apply to us as wage workers and farmers—to enact laws that will place us In a more advantageous position, that we may demand higher wages and better conditions. But what do we find in the legislatures? We find precisely the samo thing that wo find when we go to Bell our produce or our labor. We find capital entrenched there, and what can we hope to obtain from the representatives of those whose sole aim and purpose In life is to extract the maximum returns from our labor? Some mention has been made of the political parties. I have given considerable study to the political situation, and to the different parties represented in the legislatures of the country, and I have come to the honest conclusion that there Is only one political party really In business ln this country today, Ihe party of CAPITAL. It is true there are two aspects to this one political party—two sides to it; one of the sides may be in favor of reciprocity, or some other side issue of that nature, which might seem to suggest that there Is a vital divergence of views anil alms, and a vital difference of opinion existing between them; but as an actual fact they represent ono and tbe same principle, and If you wlll examine the principles on which the two sides o( this one political party stand, you will find that they are united, and united strongly, though It is not a unity on which political battles are fought The political party I speak of Ib Capital and no matter whether It calls itself by the name of Liberal or Conservative, If you trace Us principles down to bed rock you will find that what I say Is true, and that lt merely represents two Bides or aspects of the one question. They are united on this one question of capitalist property, this form of property that exists solely for the purpose of extracting profits out of the workers and Insist that that condition shall be defended and maintained. I challenge any exponent of capitalism to disprove the statement I make that capitalism embraces both Conservatives and Liberals. They may call lt whatever they like, but Its principle is that capitalism shall be protected and maintained, and that capitalist property shall acquire the product of the workers. Now, if lt is possible for labor to achieve to a decent state of living, If it ls possible for labor to rise to any extent and make its living secure alongside of a form of property whose sole aim and purpose ls to extract profits out of such labor, then I will grant that something may be done along the lines spoken of in getting remedial legislation; but the wage earners as a class give their consent to such a state of affairs; they do not question theBe representatives of the party of capital, and the majority of them actually vote ln favor of the principles of capitalism by voting ln favor of the parties that stand for ita protection and maintenance, and once having endorsed that principle, they must of necessity be prepared to accept its logical effects. But we cannot consistently vote In favor of a system of society and a system ot property whose very essence aims at the degradation and exploitation of labor, and at the same time expect decent and better conditions for those who labor. The two principles cannot exist side by side, and as wage workers it is our duty to devise a principle for labor to work along. Let us devise a platform that will expresB the common interests of all wage workers, and if we do this we will find that it cannot, at the same time, contain anything that will protect or defend a form of society or property that is based on their exploitation. Now, the President of the Farmers' Association says that we are the people who produce the wealth, and he wonders why we should be compelled to beg another set of men to enact certain legislation in our interest, when we, the people who produce the wealth, should be in the position of dictators. Now, why is It? The question should really answer Itself, but it does not. There is a reason, however, and that reason runs right down to the fundamentals of human society. Why is it that labor, which produced all the wealth that makes ils appearance In the world's markets, is not in possession of that wealth, and ls at all times at the mercy of some one else ln the community in which it makes its living? Every man born naturally into this world has to supply overy human want by the application of human labor to the natural resources of the earth. The application of human labor to the natural resources of the earth la the sole means of wealth production, and that has alwaya been the case. Human labor la always producing wealth; but human labor has never yet been, to any great extent, the master of Its own production and the wealth It has produced. And why? That Is the question. When wo get the anBwer to that we will find ways and means to work along In the future, ways and means that will bring about the result we desire. What is the thing that stands between ub and the realization of our desires? It is this thing known as capital. What Is capital? It is the wealth produced by labor, called capital. That Is the first point which we must realize, that capital is the wealth produced by labor. Tho next point to take into consideration is that capital is tho master of the labor that of wealth over labor which gives It Its character of capital. In speaking of capital the President of the Far- (Continued on page three) LOCAL VANCOUVER Propaganda MEETING Every Sunday Evening Empress Theatre PAGE TWO M WESIGRN CLARION PuWished every Saturday by, the Socialist: Party of Canada at the office of the Western Clarion, .Labor.!' Tvmple, lunsnlulr St., Vancouver. B,'-C. POST OPriCE' ADDBEBS, t,ABOR TEMPLE, DUNEMUIB 8T. THE WESTERN^CLARION /j/ANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA. SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1912.- SUBSCRIPTION. 11.00 Per Year, SO cent! for Sir Months, 25 oeiitn for Three Montlut. Strictly in Advance. Bundles of 5 or more copies for a period tt not lese than three months, at the rate etl one cent por copy per Issue. Advertising- rates on application. Ji you receive thla paper, It Is paid for. In making- remittance by cheque, ex- •hange must be added. Address all com- ■Hinlcattonj and make all money orders payable to THE WE3TEBN CLABION Labor Temple, Dunsmulr St., Vancouver, B. C. -JOA-Watch the label on your paper. If vOV this number fs on tt, your subscription expires the next Issue. SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1912. THE LAST ACT. The Industrial revolution of the last couple of centuries has been sweeping and complete. The old time handicraftsman with his petty little workshop and puny handtools has been wiped oft the boards and the huge factory, with its power-driven machines and organized and disciplined army of wage-slaves, has gained complete command of the Held of wealth production. The dpwnfall of small production has been swift and complete during the past fifty years. The one-time workingman with his hand tools and comparative independence is now little better than a memory. His successor Is a wage-slave, dependent upon the uncertain circumstances of a mercil- less labor market for his narrow and pitiful existence. With every step forward in capitalist development his tenure of employment becomes more j insecure, his continued existence more uncertain. By virtue of the circumstances of agriculture, this particular field of human endeavor has not been so readily invaded by the application of machinery to its processes. But, as the Socialist has persistently pointed out, by virtue of the fact that the vast bulk of farm products must pass through those channels of industry and exchange controlled by the huge combinations of capital that dominate the entire system of the world the values produced by the "agricultural workers have been .largely absorbed by these dominant capitalist Interests. This has long since become so pronounced as to have practically reduced the working farmer to the level of a harried and hard driven slave whose slavery is hidden beneath the mask ot small property. The more perfect becomes the development of big capital, and, therefore the more complete and thorough its exploitations of the working farmer, the more transparent becomes this mask of small property. Small property In agriculture has long since become a farce as far as being an assurance to its owner of anything except a steady job for himBelt and family at Blaves' wages. The application of gasoline, petrol and cheap oils to power production has been making rapid strides during recent years. The cheap power thus provided has brought the opportunity for capital to invade the field of agriculture, strip the small farmer of his fancied property and convert this horny-handed son of toil into a simon-pure wage-slave. No one who has taken note of the rapid application of the gasoline or oil driven tractor to agricultural purposes will be in-1 ciined to doubt that the doom of the small proprietor ls sealed and that this horny-handed (and often horny- headed) individual is destined to permanently participate in the joys and beatitudes of the swamps and bogs of wage-Blavery. In California it no uncommon thing to see a huge tractor do practically all of the work upon a big ranch. The plowing, seeding, harrowing, harvesting and threshing and hauling of the crop to market are all done by this monster whose operations are directed and wants attended to by a few wage- Blaves. An Immense acreage can be handled with a single equipment and , one small crew of men. By doubling crews the process can be carried on night and day in true factory style. The same methods are being rapidly applied wherever the conditions of soil, climate and nature of products will allow. In Alberta and the other wheat provinces the tractor is becoming a familiar figure. With its ten or more plows it turns over from 25 to 50 acres per day, with but two slaves to guide it. It is needless to say that an equipment of this sort will entail no inconsiderable initial outlay. Such an equipment could only be used economically upon a large acreage of land. It, therefore, becomes an Impossibility as far as the small farmer ls concerned. As Impossible for bim to purchase and operate it as for the indiv idual artizan to purchase and operate a modern factory. The ability to do in either case requires considerable capital and a wide field of operation^' Agriculture, as well as all other lines of production, '"Wll be completely brought Minder me 'domination of .Capital. Tlie'means of production wflfbe- eome capitalist property.. The operatives (workers) will become wage- slaves. Small property, whether agricultural or industrial is already little better than a sham and pretense; a veritable millstone around the neck of the possessor holding him in fealty and bond age to capital, whose rifling of his pockets he fails to see because of the aforesaid millstone collar. The capitalization of agriculture, which is now coming rapidly along as a result of discovery and application of cheap power, will speedily remove the millstone - from the neck of the small farmer. The property he now fancies he owns, but does not own, in fact, will pass into the immediate possession of capital ln such a way that the farmer will understand what has happened. He will discover himself as a wage-slave. Rid of the millstone he will be able to stand erect and view things from the standpoint of j the slave who is conscious of his slavery. Perchance he will become imbued with the spirit of revolution and a valiant warrior in the struggle for the overthrow of capitalist rule and abolition of wage-slavery. The day of reckoning for the capitalist class is coming. The downfall of small property in agriculture, etc., and the consequent swelling of the proletarian host in a cheering herald of its rapid approach. woman from the home, thrust her ihto the economic field incompe'tition with the opposite sex, grinds her life into profits and ultimately forces her to sell her body in order to live, Capitalism, today is fast - destroying the hpmg£, the palace, that yrn are told woman should exclusively occupy as her position in society. As woman fought fiercely resisting when their rights were being wrested from her in the ancient world, so must she fight side by side with her proletarian male partner, under the" Socialist banner, in the modern world for the restoration of that which she lost in primitive times, "liberty ana equality"; also for the establishment of the home, where peace, happiness and plenty will be the rule. GEO. PATON. The Socialist Party in Spain has now 200 branches. It has ten newspapers and has elected over 100 city councillors and has one representative in parliament. IN AMERICA AND ELSEWHERE. WOMAN IN SOCIETY. We are now living In an age of many changes, always undecided but ever mounting upwards. New thoughts are being propagated, many questions are being discussed, but none more so than the woman question. Those who say that the present social position of woman has always been the same and will always continue to be so pervert the facts. When we look back along the line of human evolution we see the horde representing the first human community living promiscuously together with very little knowledge of anything but searching for the means of subsistence. But with new discoveries, new inventions, making the meaiflj of living more stable and secure, a powerful stimulus was afforded primitive man ln the direction of the development of family and social ties. The prominent feature of the various stages of family growth during the early days of humanity was the preference given to women In the line ot descent. Woman enjoyed a position in ancient society that she has never enjoyed since. She not only assisted in providing the necessaries of life, but had a say in the making of the laws and took an active part in the development of the social structure. The institution of private property made it imperative to change the laws of inheritance. Not that woman was mentally inferior; not that she was physically weaker; not that she couldn't bear her share of the burden in the chase; but because of the path that she must travel in the evolutionary process of human development, did her position change in society. Dr. Livingstone, during his travels With the explosion, the mine took fire. The experts declared that there waB no chance to get the men out alive. They ordered the mouth of the mine to be closed so as to shut off the air and by that means smother the fire, otherwise valuable hay, coal, timber and machinery would be destroyed. When the air was shut off the slaves in that mine would also smother, but slaves are cheap. It Is easy to replace them. Anyhow, they may have been killed by the explosion or might get poisoned by the gases that accumulate as the fire consumes the air. The j relatives of these entombed miners' and fellow workingmen, women and children rushed to the mouth of the mine and tried to tear it open, but the local state authorities would not allow them to do so. At the same time twelve carloads of regular soldiers were ordered from Chicago. Before they arrived, McDonald, an official in the miners' union, gathered a mob in another district, marched to Cherry Hill, united with a local mob and In spite of the authorities tore open the mouth of the mine, went down into it and brought out a number of those miners alive. We in Canada, England and other parts of the world threw Up our hands in holy horror. What are these awful Americans coming to? Mine owners under the British flag would never dare do the like. Why, the Government would not allow the mouth of a mine to be closed as long as there was a chance to save a life. One Briton, he was not killed by an -1700 you produce as well? Be a man by being a Socialist and working for the power to live decently, anarchist, neither was he killed while doing useful labor, but after about seventy years of a most useless life, and in spite of the efforts of the best physicians that could be had, he died, completely worn" out. Orders were given for the Empire to go into mourning. It was a mental suggestion. Even moral men and women who only knew of this Individual as a very immoral man, were affected and all joined in weeping and wailing. Crocodile tears came from those who knew him best and who live as he lived. It cost more to bury him than it costs to bury all the useful folks that die In a year. Six days after his death bulletins were posted showing that the atmos- in South Africa, discovered among __^_^_^_^_^_^_______ some of the wild tribes that woman 1 Pheric conditions were very bad in the mines at White Haven, was not only man's equal physically, but In many cases his superior. Woman's mental deterioration and physical weakness has been the result of her environment. Her path through the' long ages of chattel slavery and serfdom, In company with that of her masculine copartner, has been a path strewn with agony and oppression. The practice of Malthulsm, even by the great Aristotle, painted a picture too black to describe. It wrested from woman the last vestige of liberty and held her In the lowest estimation by the leading men of the age. The Athenian mother of ancient Greece was Imprisoned within the walls of her castle, denied the right of sitting in company with her husband at the table, refused permission of friendly conversation with visitors; she was bound and gagged, reduced almost to the level of that of the dumb brute. The position of woman in this modern ern world under the present method of capitalist production ls little better than that of her Athenian sister. She Is shut up within the walls of her prison (home, they call it), performing her maternal duties under the' most strenuous circumstances; she may be allowed to sit at the table—providing she has one—in company with her husband, but the meagerly decorations of the same with tne necessaries of life, handed to her male provider for services rendered to the owners of the means of life, Is fast reducing her to a position that cannot possibly mock tho blackest period in the history of civilization. Capitalism has torn Cumberland County, England. Any one familiar with the science of mining would not have allowed valuable animals to go underground while such conditions lasted. As wage animals work for nothing and board themselves, 137 of them were not only allowed but were eager to go under lest the privilege be given to others of their species, for even at that price of the greatest danger the supply Ib much greater than the demand. Soon there was an explosion, followed by fire. Not even ordinary safety appliances were at hand. Had to send to GlaBgow and Manchester for them. By the time the safety appliances arrived the experts said there was no chance to Bave any lives, so they ordered the mouth of the mine bricked up to stop the air to smother the fire. Also the 137 wage animals, but what of them? Valuable coal and machinery was burning. Relatives, fellow working men, women and children tried to prevent the mouth of the mine from being closed, but their well-taught respect for law and order enabled the authorities to keep "peace" and the Queen, who was only six days a widow, headed a list to raise a relief fund for the dependents of the 137. Fourteen days after the explosion the legislative -assembly of Alberta convened. The first minister Introduced a resolution asking that august body to extend sympathy and condolence to whom?—to the relatives of the late 137?. Not much; but to the relatives of the late King Edward VII and to assure George that they were pleased he got the job. The leader of His Majesty's loyal opposition assured us that he was proud to associate his name with such a resolution. He spoke eloquently as he told of the liberty and freedom that British Queens and Kingfe had given to their\ubjects. Particularly did he lay emphasis on the "freedom- of speech." The writer: decided to put It to the test and find out if he meant it and if we really had such freedom. So when he got through I Baldwin part: ".Mr. Speaker, I wish to amend this resolution so as to make it apply to the relatives of the 137 useful British subjects who were murdered to appease the greed of the God, Capital." About this time there was considerable uneasiness among the honorable members. I said: "Mr. Speaker, I do not intend to criticize your late King. The fact Is, I have a certain amount of ad miration for him. He set a good example. He lived well and did little Even as King he didn't work very hard at his job." By this time there was so much noise I could not be heard. If at any other time those in the gallery should make the slightest noise, several honorable old fogey members would ask the speaker to have the spectators removed. Now they joined In the, hissing, "baahing" and cries of "throw him out." No one even called order. The honorable members, Liberals, Conservatives and Independents jumped to their feet as one man and voted on the resolution, denying me the privilege of putting my amendment, all in open violation of their own laws and rules of order, which proves how little respect they have for these things when they are put to the test. At the first pause I proceeded to put my amendment, but the speaker informed me that the resolution had been disposed of. I said: "Mr. Speaker, so far as I am concerned the resolution is still before the Assembly. I have not had the privilege of voting on it." And when I proceeded to speak to my amendment they rushed in the Lieutenant-Governor and prorogued the Assembly. One spectator rushed up to my desk and called me a damned scoundrel. Some papers said "it was fortunate for O'Brien that he was in a place of propriety. Had he been on a street corner he wo|uld have been mobbed." Since then I have been on street corners and in halls from the Pacific to the Atlantic and have repeated all that I said in that Assembly. As well, I have added a great deal that those honorable cowards would not let me say, and I have never yet been interfered with. The only place I was in danger, Insulted and called a damned scoundrel was in the "place of propriety," the Alberta Assembly Chambers. Some papers said "O'Brien should have been kicked, cuffed and pounded, tarred and feathered and a cat of nine tails would have been very appropriate." And why? What crime had I committed? A very grave one from the master class point of view. I not only asked for such valuable goods as sympathy and condolence, but also asked for a large quantity, and then I slighted their dignity by asking to have these goods—for slaves—wrapped in the same parcel with similar goods for masters. If the Socialists had not been represented in the Alberta Assembly the 137 would not have been mentioned and the honorable members would not have been placed on record as master class periences that I have had In and out representatives. This with other ex- of that Assembly, is added proof to what the Socialists have always taught, that is, a political party, no matter what it may call Itself, cannot, when put to the test, function in the interest of the working class unless it has inscribed on Its banner, "The abolition of wage slavery by the transformation of capitalist property in the means of wealth production Into the collective property of all." C. M. O'BRIEN. P. S.—Whei*. they opened up the White Haven mine again some months after the explosion they found that some of the 137 had left recordB for thirteen days. Some may have lived longer, too insane, depressed or weak to leave any records. And yet the majority of wage slaves loyally defend the rule of capital. But let us cheer up, for ever-increasing millions of us are getting wise.—C. M. O'B. Socialist Party Director? DO—OTION EXBtnjT-rr« COMMiTTB-l VANCOWVEf"t Socialist Party of Caiiada,'jrneelS'Hec- * -3- I'-'Jpt _f?.— ml and rTjn. Wi ,,- St.o Vancouver, Bi£. ; bhU and fourth Monday. Secretary. *viJ"*ii,__Watt3, Labqr» Temple, Dunsmulr BRITISH COLUMBIA " PBOVIWCIAL ■'fWtecutlve Committee;-■Socialist'' Party of Canada, meets second and fourth Mondays In month nt Labor Temple, Dunsmuir St., Wm. Watts, Secretary. ALBEBTA PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE Socialist Party of Canada, meets every alternate Tuesday, at 429 Eighth Ave. East. Burt E. Anderson, Secretary, Box 647, Calgary. SASKATCHEWAN PBOVINCIAL EXECUTIVE, B. P. of C, Invites ul! comrades residing In Saskatchewan to communicate with them on organization matters Address D. McMillan, 222 Stadacona Street West, Moose Jaw, Sask. MANITOBA PBOVINCIAL EXECUTIVE Committee: Notice—This card Is Inserted for the purpose of getting "YOU" Interested in 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 Secretary, J. D. Houston, 493 Furby St.. Winnipeg. MARITIME PBOVINCIAL EXECUTIVB Committee, Socialist Party of Canada, meets every second and fourth Sundays In the Cape Breton office of the Party, Commercial Street, Glace any, N. S. Dan Cochrane, Secretary, Box 491, Glace Bay, N. S. . BH LOCAL No. 58. -Busyness meeting: every first Sunday of the,, month and prupa- fuhda" meetlng'*et?ery third Sunday, 'ree word for'every body, at'612.'ebr- dova ■tUreftt East,*? p. ■ m. *■ Secretary, Ad Kreelljijt ,_ , r ... LOCAL VANCOUVEB, B. C, NO. 45, Finnish. Meets every second and Fourth Tluirsduys In the month at 213 Hmtings St. East. Oiva Llnd, Beoretary. LOCAL VANCOUVEB No 1, 8. P. Of C— Business meeting every Tuesday evening at Headquarters, 213 Hastings St. East, H. Hahlm. Secretary. LOOAL COLEMAN, ALTA.', NO. t. Miners' Hall and Opera House. Propaganda meetings at 8 p.m. on the first and third Sundays of the month. Business meetings on Thursday eve-ling* following propaganda meetings nt I. Organizer, T. Steele, Coleman, Alta.; Secretary, Jas. Glendennlng, Box If, Coleman, Alta, Visitors may receive information any day at Miners' Hall Secretary, Wm. Gralinm, Box 63, Coleman, Alto, LOOAL EDMONTON, ALTA., NO. 1, ■■ P. of C. Headquarters 622 First St. Business and propaganda meetlnge every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. sharp. Our reading room ls open to the public free, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. dally. Secretary, J. A. S. Smith. 622 First St.;. Organizer, W. Stephenson. LOCAL VANCOUVEB, NO. 69, S. P. Of C. Headquarters, Room 206 Labor Temple. Dunsmuir Street. Business meeting every Friday in the month at 8 pm Heading room-open every day. Socialist and Labor papers of all countries on file. Secretary, S. Lefeaux. LOOAX OBJSENWOOD, B. - C, VO. 9, S. P. of C, meets every Sunday evening at Miners' Union Hall, Greenwood. Visiting Comrades Invited to call. C. Prlmerlle, Secretary. LOCAL PEBNIE, 8. P. Of C, KOLD holds educational meetings in thc Miners Union Hall every Sunday at 7:30. Business meeting first Monday in each month, 7:30 p. m. Economic class every Sunday afternoon at 2:30. H. Wllmer. secretary, Box 380. LOCAX ROSSLAND, NO. 35, 8. P. Of 0., meets ln Miners' Hall every Sunday at 7:30 p.m. E. Campbell, Organizer. Will Jones, Secretary, Box 126. Finnish branch meets in Finlanders' Hall Sundays nt 7:30 p.m. A. Sebble, Secretary, Box 54, Rojsland, B.C. LOCAL HIC—BL, B. C, NO. 16, B. T. ot C, holds propaganda meetings every Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. In Crahan's Hall. A hearty Invitation ls extended to all wage slaves within reach of us to attend our meetings. Businese meetings are held the firs/ and third Sundaya of each month at 10:39 am. In the same hall. Party organizers take notice. 'A. S. Julian, Secretary. LOCAL CALGARY, ALTA., NO. 4, 8. P. of C.—Business meeting every Saturday evening at 8 o'clock at the headquarters. 429 Eighth Ave. East, between Third and Fourth streets, A. S. Julian, Secretary LOOAL BEOINA NO. 6, BASIC., Ull every Sunday, Trades Hall, 8 p.m. Business meeting, second Friday, I p.m., Trades Hall. B. Simmons, secretary. 1909 Garnet St., P.O. Box 1041. LOCAL BBANDON, MAN., NO. 7, 8. P. of C. Headquarters, No. 10 Nation Block, Ilossar Ave. Propaganda meeting, Sunday at 8 p.m.; business meeting, second and fourth Mondays at t p.m.; economic class, Friday at 8 p.m. Secretary, T. Mellalieu, 144 Third St., Brandon, Man. LOCAL LETHBBIDQE, ALTA., NO. 18, S. P. of O. Meets first and third »ua- days ln the month, at 4 p.m., la Miners' Hall. Secretary, Chas. Peacock, Box 1983. LOOAL NELSON, 8. P. of C, —BETS every Friday evening at 8 p.m., in Miners' Hall, Nelson, B. C. I. A. Austin, Secretary. F. PERRY TAILOR Removed from 58 Hornby St. to LABOR TEMPLE. ATEIMTS ________E-MEai] In all Countries. Ask for our Inventor's Adviser. Marlon & Marlon, 364 University Street, corner St. Catherine Street, Montreal, and Washington, D. C, TJ. S. A. A Good Place to Eat at Mulcahy's Cafeteria 137 Cordova Street West The beat of Everything properly cooked LOCAL VERNON, NO. 38, S. I*. OP C— Meets every Tuesday nt 8 p. m., in I.. O. L. Hall, Tronson St. W. H. Gtl- inour, Hecretury. LOCAL REVELSTOKE, H. 0., ~N07~7, S. P. of C. Business meetings at Soelaliat headquarters fourth Thursdays of oach month. B. F. Gayman, Secre- __tary. LOCAL SANDON, B. O., NO. 36, 8. P. OT C. Meeta every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m tn the Sandon Miners' Unlor Hall. Communications to bt addressed Drawer K, Sandon, B. C. LOCAL VICTORIA VO. 2, S. P. Of C Headquarters and reading room fiju Yutes St. Business meeting? every Tuesday, S p.m. Propaganda meeting every Sunday, 8 p.m., corner of Yates and Langley LOCAL SOUTH PORT QBOROR, B.C., No. 61, meets every Friday night at 8 p.m. ln Public Library Room. John Mclnnls, Secretary; Andrew Allan, Organizer. LOCAL CUMBERLAND NO. 70 8. P. Of C. Business meeting every Sunday, 10:30 a.m. Economic Cln-ss held twice each Thursday, 10:30 a.m. (for afternoon shift), 8 p.m. (for morning shift). Propaganda meeting every Sunday 3 p.m. Headquarters: Socialist Hall, opposite post office. Financial Secretary Thomas Carney, Corresponding Secretary, Joseph Naylor. LOCAL MOOSEJAW, SASK., *«._,». F. OP C.—Propaganda meetings «rer*y Sunday, 7:30 p. in., ln tne Trades Hall. Economic Class every Sunday, I p.m. D. McMillan, Sec. Treas., South Hill P. O., Sask.; A. Stewart, OrganiMr. South Hill P. O., Sask. All slaves wal- come. LOCAL NO. 1, WINNIPEG-, MANITOBA, 8. P. OF O.—Headquarters 528% Mais Street, Winnipeg, room 2, next Dreamland Theatre. Business meeting evary Sunday morning, at 11; economic claaa Wednesdays, at 8 p. m. Secretary'* address, 270 Young Street. Propaganda meeting every Sunday evening in Draamland Theatre, Main Street, at 8 o'clock. Discussion Invited. LOCAL OTTAWA, NO 8, S. P. OP C. Open air moo tings during summer months, corner McKenzie Avenue and Ktdeuu Street. Business meetings, first Sunday in month in the Labor Hull, 219 Bank Street, at 8:00 p.m. Secretary, Sam Sturges.*-, Horwlth, 16 Ivy Avenue N.K, Ottawa. Phone 277. LOCAL OLACE BAT, No. 1 OF MARITIME—Headquarters In UuUasin Block, Commercial St. Open every evening. Business and propaganda meeting at headquarters every Thursday at 8 p. m. Alfred Nash, secretary, Box 158; Harold G. Ross, organizer- Box B05. LOOAL SIDNEY MINES NO. 7, Of Nova Scotia.—Business and propaganda meetings every second Monday at 7:30 ln the S. O. B. T. Hall back of Town HaU. WilMam Allen, Secretary, Box 344. SOCIALIST FEDERATION of tbe S. P. of C, Is organized for the purpose of educating tha Ukrainean workers to the revolutionary principles of this party. Tha Ukranlan Federation publish their own weekly organ, "Nova Hromada" (New Society), at 443 Klnlstlno Ave., Edmonton, Alta. English comrades desiring information re the Federation, write to J. Senuk, Fin. Secretary. PLATFORM Socialist Party of Canada We, the Socialist Party of Canada, in convention assembled, affirm our allegience td and support of the principles and program of the revolutionary working class. Labor produces all wealth, and to the producers it should belong. The present economic system is based upon capitalist ownership of the means of production, consequently all the products of labor belong to the capitalist elass. The capitalist is therefore master; the worker a slave. So long as the capitalist class remains in possession of the reins of government all the powers of the State will be used to protect and defend their property rights in the means of wealth production and their control of the product of labor. The capitalist system gives to the capitalist an ever-swelling stream of profits, and to the worker an ever-increasing measure of misery and degradation. The interest of the working class lies in the direction of letting itself free from capitalist exploitation by the abolition of the Wage 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 in 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 ina struggle for possession of the reins of government—the capitalist to hold, the worker to secure it by political action. This is 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 program of the working class, as follows: 1. The transformation, as rapidly as possible, of capitalist property in the means of wealth production (natural resources, factories, mills, railroads, etc.) into the collective property of the working class. 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 in office shall always and aver*—her* until the present system is abolished, make the answer to thl* question its guiding rule of conduct: Will this legislation advance tha interest! of tho working class and aid th* worker* in their elass struggle against capitalism T If it will, the Socialist Party is for it; if it will not, the Socialist Part yis absolutely opposed to it. In accordance with this principle the Socialist Party pledge* itself to conduct all th public affair* placed in its hand* in such • manner as to promote the interests of the working class alone. SUBSCRIPTION CARDS 5 Yearlies - - - $3.75 10 1-2 Yearlies - - 4.00 20 Quarterlies - - 4.00 \ SATU*_AV;'AdG0Sf^1&f2. THE^WESTBRN GEMHQN.;-VANCQkl¥ER; .BIjtiTISH jEftWMWA:; Editor Western Clarion, Dear Comrade:— The local here held a meeting in the open air to test whether we would be interfered with by the police, strange to say our meeting was carried out successfully, although the police were on the spot all the time, also the city recorder and the commissioner for public safety. Comrade" J. W. Eastwood offered to speak and be arrested and go to jail ii necessary. The other comrade had guaranteed to put up twelve dollars a week to maintain his wife and family whilst he was under the good protection of King George. It seems that when the authorities saw what a determined bunch the Socialists were they thought it best to keep their dog off, "Chief of Police". As you are aware we have some public works going on here in the shape of a breakwater and dry docks, consequently the city is infested with land speculators and St. John has been advertised as the heaven on earth for both worker and capitalist;. Tbey evidently did not want it spread broadcast that a man was serving In Jail for speaking in the open air, as we had determined to keep a -man In jail all the time until they left us alone. You wanted to know the strength of this local, well, I think it safe to say that we have about twenty good and true comrades, but they are not all workers. We have about eight who are always to the front. Tne others can be relied on for a few dollars when the rent Is due. Tbere seems several of the clauses in our constitution that are almost or wbolly ignored, this one about the quarterly report cards has never been carried ou,t by this local as we have never received any cards until about a month ago. While I have heen secretary I have ■written a letter to the secretary of the Maritime Executive Committee and reported our progress. J can assure you that Comrade Gribble started a good work when he came and organized vtlils local, as it seems we .are commanding the attention of the .capitalists in this part of Canada. It has been very hard work, but the .local is very much alive and jio doubt will continue bo. Yours in the .cause, A. TAILOR. The sub list has not such a good showing this week as it had previous weeks. One of the reasons for this is that no hustling hag been done except by the' few who have been doing it right along. Now, comrades, what are you going to do about it? You have either got to get out and hustle some or we will have to suspend publication. We want at least one hundred dollars in subs every week to pay expenses, If that ia not forthcoming we, will have to cease publication. Most of you are aware that the funds of the Dominion Executive have been used to keep the Clarion going, and as there is practically no funds In the treasury there can be no further help coming from that quarter. The ten cent subs have been the means of tiding us over the last few weeks, and ii you wih only keep it up we will be able to get over a few more. Now, boys, It is up to you. A dollar for renewal from you will help some. A few trials subs will help more. What do you say about lt? Here are the old standbys. H. G. Ross, Glace Bay, N. S 51 W. K. Bryce, Demalne, Sask 25 Chas. McDonald, Steam Mills, N.S....21 King's Co., N. S 21 Local Forest Hall, Sask 20 character, with perhaps six inmates,, depend upon six .visitors? ■ Instinct for a woman^is proverbially for her kin. Were it not so, there may |t be cause for fear that .with the turning of a new leaf In .civilization our positions would only be reversed. Whereas, it Is Socialism we want, incentive for gain being gone. No profit, no exploitation. . Did some one say "the vote." What? Man's instrument? How can we expect fair representation when a working man, without property qualifications and a wealth producer cannot get lt? It requires no stretch of the imagination to find that women are in ad vance in all the civilized countries. Up to the present time man as a self-imposed capitalist has conceded nothing. I am superstitious enough to think that the time is coming when he will wish that he had never had any power. With regard to honored veterans of the Socialist movement, such as Prosy Blatchford and some others, they are in the old rut of quiet tolerance and condescension. Finally, man as an individual has presumed too much upon his powers. They are evidently ended. WILHELMINA REES. PAQfi,TWBEE THE WORKERS IN HISTORY. (Fifth Installment.) By Wilfred Grubble. The Roman empire developed from Walter Suley, Moose Jaw, Sask 14 the foundation of a vigorous colony by and,.l?eiflg,told, tha,t a,bath of;virgin's, blood,each day wquld lengthen his lifed had a virgin ..Hilled each day and her blood : ^as drained in his bathu.He did actually live; to be ninety-three. They don't do such things today. No; not just that way, but what about that rain of girls from the windows of that burning factory in New York? What about the appalling number of deaths and Injuries the workers suffer in the field of Industry. There Is no doubt that as great, even a greater, proportion of the workers are tortured and slain ln the service of the modern master class as ever ln the service of the ancient master class. The method is different but the result is the same. The function of the ancient slave class was to proluce for, wait on, suffer for, the ancient master class. The function of the modern slave class is to proluce for, wait on, suffer for, the modern master class. What's the difference? The method; that is all. There is one way In which we workers are better off than were the slaves of ancient times. We are nearer the end. For, as the empire of Rome fell, so will that of Capital fall. But no other empire or class system will arise upon its ruins. We will institute a classless system of society. We will bring about a real civilization. 80CIAL1ST PICNIC. iUOCAL OF FENNELL MALL. _Sask, My 21,1912. meeting opened by chairman. Patesent—J. Woloshyn, Hjihdlt.lCrow, Gale, Timmer, Habenlcht, Mrs. Woloshyn, Mrs. Habenlcht. Minutes read and appnov*<l. T. Habenlcht and J. Nybslt .appointed auditors for remainder af 1912. Moved and carried that the local guarantiee $2 per month tor two months .and do best pesaihJe afterwards in support of Provincial organizing. Moved and carried that 20 Clarions be sent lo -persons outside ttSbe party as propaganda work. Warrants .issued for due damps, Clarions, etc- Value $5.25. CHA3 r. GALSD, Sec.-Treas. G. R. Dafoe, Brookville, Ont :.ll a nuraber of the inhabitants of Italy J. E. McGregor, Crawford Bay, B.C. 10 The atorv of the toundation o{ Rome W. E. Cocks, Regina Sask 8 and itg early tlmeBj afl ,t ,g to]d ,n A. Paterson, N. Battleford, Sask 7 Howarth, Edmonton, Alta .'._ 6 current "histories," Ib undoubtedly _______^_____^_____ largely legendary, but we know W. H. Anderson, Dewberry, Alta 5 enough abfmt tne matter to know G. O. Vennesland, Granum, Alta 5 that lu founder8 were a y,g. H. Collingwood, N. Battleford, Sask 4 j orous_ mimant _ce ,arge,y giy. Moses Baritz, Manchester, Eng. 4 , en to treebootlng, They had a very Chas. Gale, Forest Hall, Sask 3 3 A. Taylor, Toronto, Ont Geo. Grazier, Moose Jaw, Sask 3 | J. Grindler, Amhurst, N. S 3 Zabul McLeod, Amhurst, N. S. 3 C. M. O'Brien, Calgary, Alta..._ 2 Geo. F. Sterling, Salmon Arm, B. C. 2 .1. C. Turner, Victoria, B. C 2 SINGLES. John Thomson, Courtenay, B. C; P. A. Feley, Collingwood E.; A Manson, Nelson, ES. C; J. Williams, South Hill, 11. C; D. M. Coutts, Vernon*; S. Phease Lytton, R. O.J A. Anderson, Jordon River, B. O.J A. Samchuck, Manistee; W. McQmold, Edmonton; E. Antijuntl, Barons, Alta.; S. K. Read, Calgary, D. G. S. Thomson,, Delburne, Alta.; P. J Tipping, Glen Currie, Alta; H. Hoet, Cardston; A. Stewart, Moose Jaw; M. LightstoDt-, M«ntn*_l; P. JS. Kelly, Hull, Que; A. McKinnon, GHace Bay; F. H. Fillmore, Albert, X. S.; H. E. highly developed propensity for doing Noakes, Celista, B. C. Bundle*. Tottenham Branch, S. P. <£. B., 25; Local Victoria, 50; A. Taylor, Toronto, 10; W. Cartwright, Toronto, 5. LOCAL BARONS, NO. 47. Secy, of Dom. Ex. Com., Labor Temple, Vancouver, B, <C. Dear Comrade: Concerning the question of guaranteeing two lollsrs a month for tbe maintenance of organizers, at the regular meeting of Locni Barons, No. 47, July 17th it was moved by Comrade Jno. Lund and seconded by Comrade Wm. H. Snell "that we guarantee the two dollars ($2.00) a month." Carried. Secretary was Instructed to notify Dominion Secretary of same. Yours for emancipation, ELVIRA ANTYJUNTI, Secy., Barons, Alta. SPECIAL OFFERTO, READERS Until further notice, we will accept 3 Month's Subs, in lots of 5 or more, at the rate of 10c Each <J Bush them in and thus help extend the circulation of the Western Clarion Glace Bay makes a long muve this week, Kentvllle lands on the list. Winnipeg was just saved from dropping back to her old place by a cwnrade who has just left the city. Winnipeg, Man 1 Vancouver, B. C 2 Toronto, Ontario 3 Calgary, Alberta 4 Victoria, B. C 5 Edmonton, Alta 6 Cumberland, B. C 7 Moose Jaw, Sask. 8 Regina, Sask 9 Fernle, B. C 10 New Westminster, B. C. It St. Catherines, Ont 12 Montreal, Que 13 Glace Bay, N. S _ 14 j Amhurst, N. S 15 Enderby, B. C 16 Brandon, Man 17 Kentvllle, N. S 18 Nelson, B. C 19 South Hill, Sask 20 DOMINANT MAN. It is edifying to find the Socialists at least admitting the industrial development of women. Were It not for her weaknesses that dominant man has created and catered to for profit, Industry would become nil. Her development commenced when her mate neglected to provide for —found the earth too warm for them, the'r children. He being free to hunt for food took upon himself more privileges than was necessary. In tjme he became proprietor instead of provider Next, he needed laws to protect his possessions. Sometimes different proprietors would go to war. There never yet was a war ln history but what it was either for property or a woman. The love of woman for her children became double, his share as well as hers. He feeling secure, became a free iance and to have eyes for other lovely women. A demand was then created and a supply meant profit, until it has become the surest and most profitable business for a woman at the present time. Dominant, man may sneer at her weaknesses, but he economically profits most by them. Will pert comrade Budden answer the following questions? Does a proprietress of a saloon subsist on one customer? Does a house, say, of questionable in their day to surrounding peoples what the capitalists are today doing to us. Their method of robbery was more open, in fact, was entirely undisguised, but the result was the same. From time to time the Romans would make war on other tribes or peoples and return in triumph to Rome with their spoils. As time went on they "extended their Held of operations," increasing their plunler as a result. Rome grew, and in process pf its growth, classes arose amongst i the Romans themselves, the patricians, or noble, titled class, the plebeians, who we may best describe as the merchant class, though there Is evidence to show that there were a consiredable number of artisans and other workers who took rank as plebeians; and the lowest class of all, tbe slave class. By the time a well developed system of slavery had come Into exlstenco a lame- iuxn ol the inhabitants of Rome were liot of Roman origin, a vsrv great ;i-.portion of the slaves lari'ic,i lavly iNE'ug of non-Roman "birth or origin. This was so in regard to the army in the service of Rome, as well, Every country which Rome subjugated, from Britain to Palestine, supplied its Quota of slaves for the Roman slave market. Every part of Rome's dominions, aa of Britain's today, supplied either a small or large numbe* of men tu he.o spread her conquests. l'-*t the time at last arrival when Rome, who had conquered earlier civilized, but lesa vigorous( peoples than herself, such as Carthage and Greece, had to herself pass through tbe same historic process. The story is too long for me to tell tonight. In order for you to be well posted on the matter, you must read for yourselves| Tho Local can supply you with the necessary books, If you want to get a real grasp of true history, read that series of stories, "The Mysteries of the People," by Eugene Sue, They are written ln the form of novels, but there are no books of history, so-called, that I know of that can give you such a clear idea of the times of which they are written, or which are as Interesting. At the time of and for a considerable time previous to the collapse of the Roman empire, the state of things in its centre, Rome, and other cities was this: A small proportion of the population was entirely idle, taking no part in either industry or war, spending their lives in the greatest possible luxury, soft, effeminate and cruel, always craving a new sensation, and, in consequence, inventing and indulging In nameless debaucheries to a great degree. Be neath these "rulers" were their satellites and pimps, who guarded them and ministered to their vices—the soldiers, priests, courtezans and so on. Beneath this whole precious bunch were the slaves, hordes of them, grown so numerous that the masters could not make any real use of all of them, even though each of the "great" lords and ladles had a' rldlcvulous number of personal attendants, even though they used to make whatever use of the slaves they chose, kill or mutilate them for the slightest offense, kill them out of sheer fiendish sport, use them in any way and for any purpose. One old debauchee, for instance, (To be continued.) CALGARY AND ITS FUTURE. All those who are somewhat Interested in passing events are getting quite accustomed to reading the praises showered upon Calgary by English and American capitalists who scour the western parts of Canada for chances of exploitation. "Amazed to find a metropolis where I expected to see prairie"; or "The growth of Calgary is marvellous, and I can predict a great future." These are some of the pearls the local papers pick up, and hand over to their readers. In reality those capitalists want to see a greater number of workers attracted out here, so that real estate should jump sky high and also to be enabled to get labor cheaper, for the more workers there are in competition for jobs the lower down go wages. As long as capitalists cannot see their way clear to successfully compete against Montreal and Toronto manufacturers, so lemg will Calgary remain behind as an industrial centre, and in order that Calgary should attain to the glory of "becoming a manufacturing town, her population must grow in numbers and destitution. In short, there must *be more slaves to pick from. The secret of capitalism is to have a large army of unemployed to serve as a threatening symbol to those that are employed, so that In case of a strike or revolt, there should be thou-j sands of slaves willing to replace their rebellious brothers as working machines. But admit we must that the growth of Calgary has been tremendous in the last few years, and that the world may look upon Calgary as a future slave centre. The keen observer could predict that Calgary must Inevitably become a second Montreal for exploitation. Thanks to the benevolence of the Salvation Army and the wisdom of Almighty God, thousands of hopeless, homeless nnd brainless workers pour in here from the four corners of the globe. With them they bring and establish poverty, destitution, crime and vice; ln short, all tbe qualifications for the making of modern slums. It hardly takes a keen observer to notice the rapid development of the local slum element. The shacks of East Calgary, Crescent Heights and Bank View are proof of the rapid strides Calgary Is taking as a competitor ln tho slave market. The best we could do Is to take snapshots of these comfortable residences and send them broadcast throughout the world, to show that we here are not behind time. Yes, once more, let us kneel down and thank God from the bottom of our hearts for the good things he has showered ou us Calga- rlnns for the last few years. Child labor has come into vogue, hundreds of unemployed parade the streets looking for work snd molesting the passerby for the price of a meal. ShackB for human habitation unfit for hogs, prostitution, crime in abundance, with policemen wherever you turn, some of them stationed in the richest hotels of the city. We have pimps on every corner, also newly established charitable institutions as well as moral reform leagues. What else could we demand to make our city beautiful? Can we still be dissatisfied while provided with all these modern equipments? Shame on all that dare to kick against such a blessed system. May the curse of the gods smite them! J. K. MERGLER. !,,Tjhe Red Ravfen and ^f-Shl'.o.., Locals held, a picnic on Juny- 2*1*, 'jviiich was Well* attended. Spoijts oif air description were indulged in; one accident occurring, caused by a dog crossing the track in front of the horses, and causing a horse to turn a somersault with its rider; fortunately neither was seriously hurt. Although it was rather warm for sports, we could not have been blessed with a fairer day for tbe occasion. Good Ice cream and lemonade were provided, and the crowd certainly did justice to the same. After an excellent dinner the programme was opened by singing, "The Red Flag," followed by a talk by C. M Christiansen of Dickson, on the need of education, after which he introduced C. M. O'Brien, speaker of the afternoon. He delivered one of the best lectures it has been our pleasure to hear in this part of Alberta. Although there were a few old "soreheads" in the crowd, lt ls safe to say, that with very few exceptions all went home well pleased with the lectures and everything in general. It is to be hoped that in the future we may be able to bave more such good times, only better. Our real mission was to start the people to thinking if possible, and get them to read and study Socialism and educate themselves. Nothing can be accomplished until most of us understand Socialism and understand it well. The working class must be educated and taught economics in order that we may be able to accomplish any thing worth while. We must understand economics and the position we occupy today. We are often asked why the Socialists do not practice what they preach. The thick-headed slave cannot seem to understand that we cannot practice what we preach only to a Bmall extent. So long as we live under a capitalist system we are forced by economic conditions to "Do the other fellow before he does you." But when the working class gets ready to take over the reins of Government and will unite to overthrow this capitalist system and use the machinery of production for their own benefit; then and not till then will the Socialists be able' to practice what they preach. We must have the co-operation of the working class the world over; we must stand together, work together, become class conscious and understand the position we occupy in modern society. There is nothing the capitalist class fears more than the co-operation of the working class. There ls nothing they oppose or condemn more. They fully realize how true the motto ls, "United we stand, divided we fall." If they can keep that.iha.title -leeds to. that property give possession of, ls capable of giving; that jnoflppoitv rflj,i^nsj^at.jfili: pay a fet# 8 j*.' interest'' 'bn fait' $itorri-.ojtts> capita -(J "J-^ad- ibi (rthjei' 'd*y ttat Andrew Carnegie was supposed to bo- the owner of capital to the amount of 500 million dollars, which yielded* him an annual return of 25 million dollars.. It merely means that that man owns and controls Industrial em terprlses that are capable of talcing: the returns of working men to the e» tent of 25 million jjollars a year. Now;, if those working men, for instance;. were to cease work In Andrew Carnegie's mines and mills and factories, and no other working men took their place, it would be worth nothing at all. His wealth Is quoted at that amount today because of his ownership of essentials that place him ln a position of vantage whereby he can force thousands of working men to. sell their labor power to him and to- yield up to him the product of their toil to the extent of 25 million dollars a year. That is all that capital amounts to, examine it how you will. When the farmer mortgages his farm to pay for his machinery lt ls precisely the same thing; it is only another way of yielding up the produce of his farm, which is the produce of his labor, to pay up the Interest, and the.capitalist who owns that mortgage is in the position that he can profit at the expense of that farmer's living. When the working men of the world can place themselves in the positions of possessors, then they will be in the- position of masters; but while they are in the position of toilers, and' some one else is in the possession of that which their labor has produced, they will remain in the condition they are in today. There Is no hope for them under the present social system; the only hope labor has is to. place itself in the position of the possessor. They must place themselves in the possession of the things that produce the wealth ln connection with their own labor, and once they are in that position then the question of wealth production for the benefit ot* those who produce it is solved. Labor,. as the delegate of the Farmers' Association has said, can produce everything for human existence, and all they have to do to come into posses-. sion of their own ls to remove,.that which stands between themi and/ tbe products of their toil. When they have „ done that they will have solved the. • so-called industrial problem. Now, the question again arises, how are we to do it? How are we to accomplish the removal of this system of capitalist property which stands between us ' and our desires? We have this one political party that I have mentioned, and we know that ft is _• control, and' that it intends to say in control!'. We ' the workers divided they know they _^^—-————_._______—————. are safe, and there is nothing too know a,so that il wl" **** ln <**-*** mean or low for them to stoop to, so Bltion Hntil W(* remove "• Who Is long as they can accomplish their pur- golnS t0 remove it? * wll> ***™r pose. We are worked from morning till night, daylight till dark, in factories, mills and mines, for starvation wages and are permitted to have no time to read and if we do it is generally'some dime novel or penny story put out by the capitalist class to warp tbe minds of the people. Tbe money power does not want the people to have time to read and educate themselves. They might accidentally get hold of a Socialist paper and get their eyes open and the result would be that they would bave less slaves to help keep tbem in power, so the they could continue to rob tbe workers. GLADYS LEE. The Japanese government contemplates to have laws enacted which will make a strike illegal, and a punishable offense. Sixty-five lumber-jacks, members of the Brotherhood of Timber Workers have been Indicted on charges of murder by a Grand Jury of Alexandria, Louisiana, I*. S. A. The indicted unionists were arrested on the night of July 7th after a meeting of tho Brotherhood of Timber Workers at Grabow was disrupted by thugs concealed in the offices of the Galloway Lumber Company, who are said to have fired Into the meeting of the timber workers with rifles and pump guns loaded with buckshot, Two of the unionists fell dead under the fire. Another person not connected with the Brotherhood of Timber Workers was also shot, while many others sustained wounds of varying seriousness. Miners in British Columbia are only working about half time. The Laborers on the G. T. P. in BritlBh Columbia are on Btrike because of the intolerable conditions. The C. N. R. strike is still in progress and the miners on Vancouver Island aro being treated so bad by the bosses tbat they will likely be on strike before this is printed. Yes, British Columbia is a damn fine place to live out of. PLAIN TALK TO WORKERS (Continued from page one) Local Ottawa reports everything going fine; they have had some good . meetings lately and the slaves In that wishing to live as long as he couldlocallty are getting wised up. mers' Association mentioned the capital of the railroads, wbich he stated had been watered, and that if the water was squeezed out they would not be worth nearly so much as they were supposed to be; but watered stock does not apply, In my opinion. that query by asking you In whose Interest is it that capital should be removed? It Is surely not in the Interest of capitalists, nor yet in the interest of those who represent capital. Not at all. It is up to the men- who toil and labor ln the mills and' factories and on the farms of the world, the men who are being exploited, the pien who are being crushed under the wheels of capital. They are the men whose interest lt Is to have this system of capital abolished and removed. Some one has said on the floor of this convention that he did not believe in party politics; but I believe In it. I believe that all men who have a common Interest should get together in a group and fight for their rights. The only trouble is that we have no political party representing labor. The political party of capital divides us this way and that by a pretext at dividing Its own parly, but there is no actual division In the parly of capital; they may call themselves Liberals and Conservatives, but they represent a common Interest, and there ls no actual difference between them. They call an election, but there is really no election about it; whichever party you vote lor stands for capital, and capitalist Interests, A labor party to be worthy of the name must stand for the removal of that condition In society which works harm to labor, and that condition Is capital. Any party that means anything at all In the Interest of labor must stand for the abolishment of capital and the substitution of something fhat will serve the interests of labor. The present Bystem of capitalist property only works its ruin and Its degredation. We must take cognizance of the fact that the machinery of production, ,and all the things that are necessary for the production of wealth, are possessed by one class, and are owned by that class for the purpose of deriving profit out of labor; and the purpose and programme of labor must be to form Itself Into a political party strong enough to overcome tho parties that protect the interests of the capitalists. When we-have done that and have seized tho reins of government In our own hands, then we must inaugurate a system of properly that will conserve the aspirations of labor, and not ruin and degrade them. (The conclusion of Delegate Eng- Why are the holdings of any one mo nopoly worth say 500 million dollars? hish's remarks was greeted with hearty I will tell you why; because the labor applause.) PAGE FOUR THE WESTERN CLARION, VANCOUVER. BRITISH COLUMBIA. SATURDAY, AUGU8T 3,1911 3 What is Socialism? A Short Study of Its Aims and Claims By W. E. Hakdenburg (Continued from last issue) WHY THE MODERN CATACOMBS EXIST TODAY. From the foregoing it is plain that poverty and ita resultant evils, slums and degeneration, will also disappear. As we have already seen, the chief causes of poverty are questions of employment—low wages and unemployment. These we know are caused by class ownership of the means of life, the machinery of production. Remove this class ownership, and each worker will have free access to his work -and the full value of his work. In other words, there will be no masters to rob you of four-fifths of what you produce, if lie does permit you to work. You will be able to work as often, as much and as long as you desire, and what you do ■will be your own, for no master will exist to deprive you of it. And with the removal of poverty, slums and the vile abominations that serve today to shelter God's creatures, "made in His own likeness,' will also disappear. We cannot conceive that people in this twentieth century inhabit these modern catacombs from choice, or because they like them. They do so only because they are too poor to live anywhere else. We have already seen WHY they are too poor and have shown HOW this poverty can be eliminated. Poverty once eliminated, the elimination of the slums necessarily follows. HOW TO STOP LEGALIZED MURDER. Another great advance will be the abolition of war and militarism in every form. As we have already seen, ■war and militarism are caused by the greed and rivalry of different factions of lhe international capitalist class. Once •we transform this vicious and useless capitalist class into useful workers, capitalists will not longer exist to incite wars and keep up armaments; and nobody else will have any motive to do so, for production will be conducted along rational and scientific lines—for use, instead of for profit and by the workers, instead of by the shirkers. Thus, there will be no surplus products—wrung out of the unpaid toil of the workers—to find a market for, and no slave class to keep in subjection. A direct result of the abolition of war and militarism will be the putting to work of the vast armies of strong, healthy men, now busy learning the most up-to-date methods of legalized murder in the various military and naval forces. Another equally large number of men, now engaged in building and constructing battleships, cannon and other wicked instruments of slaughter, will also be transferred to useful and productive industries. Thus, these men, now doing no useful work, but living upon the products of those who do, will be enabled to devote their time to work of utility and value, instead of the degrading and ignoble task of making the instruments by which they and the rest of their class are held enslaved. A direct result of this will be to shorten the hours of all. That this is true may be seen by the following example: Suppose three of us own a pile of wood, which must be split. If I have to do it alone, it will take me three days. But if you, who are spending your time learning the goose-step, and the third man, who is spending his time making mud pies, are put to work to help me, we can do it together in one day. This, of course, applies, not only to the men already mentioned, but also to all others engaged in useless toil, such as salesmen, commercial travellers, advertisers, middlemen, stock-brokers and other gamblers. Some of these may be necessary to-day, but under Socialism there will be no need for them, as people will then have plenty wherewith to buy and no motive to hoard. They will not need to be persuaded and cajoled into acquiring objects they desire and that they can well afford. CO-OPERATION AND ECONOMY VS. COMPETITION AND WASTE. Furthermore, Socialism will be far more economical and scientific than the present system—if such it may be termed. Take, for example, any town. We see numerous different stores, different bakeries, different restaurants, each with its own staff, books, accounts, equipments, etc. How much energy and material is lost here? Time after time we see a delivery wagon go up a street, stop at one or two houses and return. Then up comes another from another store, and then another, and so on, each one delivering at one or two houses only. How much more economical and efficient, how much more sensible and scientific to have ONE wagon go up and stop at ALL the houses, to have ONE big, systematized store, ONE big, adequate bakery, ONE big, well-planned restaurant, instead of so many small, unsystematized, re-duplicated ones! Why not co-operation and economy, with the workers as owners and beneficiaries, instead of competition and waste, with the idlers as owners and beneficiaries? EXIT THE MIDDLE CLASS. That the principle of co-operation is rapidly gaining ground everybody knows. The trusts are examples of this. They do things on a big scale, which means economy, system and efficiency. And it is due to this large-scale production alone that the trusts are so successful. This is what enables them—at least very largely—to kill off their smaller and less well organized competitors so easily. The small manufacturer sets up a howl loud enough to raise the dead, but he must go. The small shop-keeper lays awake nights worrying over the advent of the big department store and the insidious mail-order house. He, too, is doomed. The small farmer, the homesteader, with his oxen and his hand- plow, is being rapidly transformed into the tenant and the wage-slave by the introduction of the $4,000 steam-plow and the $3,000 harvester. They must all go. The Juggernaut of intensified Capitalism is trampling them into the dust. They have performed their part; their work is over. There remains but the funeral! That this is so may be realized when we consider the two hundred odd restaurants of J. Lyons 6c Co. in London alone; the enormous chain of United Cigar Stores, stretching throughout the entire eastern edge of this continent; the great farming companies, such as the one south of Lethbridge, which has a capital of a million dollars and owns 220,000 acres of land. What chance has a man with small capital to compete with such concerns as these Under Socialism, however, we should see the same thing—co-operation and a high degree of organization— even more developed than to-day—with this difference— that the owners and beneficiaries of these industries would be the men who work in them, the men whose labor-power, mental and physical, has created, built up and developed them—not the useless and parasitic class of wealthy loafers who own them to-day. THE FINAL VICTORY. With the introduction of Socialism and the consequent abolition, of the evils we have mentioned, it seems certain that benefits of incalculable value will be secured for humanity. What with the leisure, the freedom, the improved moral atmosphere, mankind will have reached such a plane of development and expansion that is scarcely dreamed of to-day and of which, owing to the unfavorable factors at present surrounding us, we can necessarily have but the faintest conception. Furthermore, humanity will then, for the first time in history, have a chance to be truly free; to be reasoning, thinking men and women, not mere slavish machines; to be bondless human beings, not imitative, obedient monkeys. For under thc Social Commonwealth, no man can bring down the club of coercion upon his weaker brother; no one*) can plant the devilish demon of fear in the heart of another; no man can, in any way, hold dominion over the actions, feelings, thoughts or ideals of his fellow. Workers of the world, unite! Unite to free all humanity from its present torturing bondage; unite to bring about a better system and a better civilization than the world as yet has seen; unite to win the final victory and end the age-long struggle, so that there can really be "Peace on earth, goodwill towards men." FINIS. ECONOMIC DETERMINISM Continued from last issue The aims of the Federations were still to raise wages, shorten hours and Improve conditions. It is, today, patent to all that they did not succeed in materially raising wages nor in shortening hours. They did, perhaps, succeed ln reducing the number of hours •worked, but as the machine was being rapidly perfected and the speed of work increased they had to use up the same amount of energy in a shorter period and hence did not reduce the proportion between the hourB worked and the hours NECESSARY for rest, since the same amount of energy consumed ln a shorter time requires a longer period of repose. Hence they did not shorten hours. As the individual mode of production was forced to give way to the small group owing to competition and the growth of the machinery of production, and the small group ln its turn was replaced by the Corporation, so too did this latter form have to .make way for a further development. The law to which capital is subservient is that of increased aggregation, and as time goeB on we see more and more capital fixed in machinery, buildings, etc. Under the stress of this law the Corporation becomes gradually superseded by a greater organization—the TntBt. This form comprises, not only the industry of which It Is principally composed but also those industries' which are accessory to It. Under the Corporation mode of production we have one organization dealing, for instance, with the growth of rubber trews, another with the manufacture of crude rubber, and another converting this into commercial articles. The Trust combines these and controls the ■whole industry. Here we must state that this form of production has been in existence lor some years and is rapidly developing to its completion. In the case of previous changes in the mode of production we saw that, sooner or later, labor was forced to change its own organizations in order to be more fitted to deal with the economic situation. So, too, after the transition from Corporation to Trust production, we find labor following suit. Moreover, as all the Trades Unions did not follow the principle of Federation but new unions, built on the Federation basis, sprang up, so also the Federation is standing back ■and a new labor organization is rapidly growing. This organization iB the Industrial Workers of the World. Brought into existence some eight years ago by half a dozen devotees of organized labor (Federatlonlsts) its structure and ambitions demand our consideration. The unit of organization is the "Local Industrial Union," which implies a local branch of the general organization embracing all the workers of a given industry in a given city, town or district Here we see a distinct development from the Federated Craft Unionism existing under the Corporation mode of production to the wider scope of a trust organization, such as would naturally be expected to evolve from the trustified mode of production. The units of the same Industry are combined into what ls termed a "National Industrial Union" and these latter are further concentrated into "Departmental Organizations." These departmental organizations control, as their name implies, certain departments of the economic field. To quote from their own pamphlet, "National industrial unions of closely allied industries are combined into Departmental Organizations. For example, all N. I. U.'s engaged in the production of Food Products and in handling them would combine Into the Department of Food Products." Let us look for a while at the formation of the capitalist organization— the Trust. Down in Texas, the Argentine, etc., are the animal raising units, the herders, feeders, vets., etc. In Chicago and other cities are the units for preparing the animals for human consumption, the butchers, those who prepare the killed animal for the canners, the can makers and canners, packers and case makers, etc. In the different towns and cities are the distributing concerns. Those are the units of organization, leach embracing all the workers of a given Industry, and they are subservient to the Central Offices, Which in their turn are under the control of the Trust Magnates. It will be seen from this that the structure of the I. W. W. ls a complete reproduction of that of the Trust, and that it was brought into exisence on account of this particular economic development is proved by the preamble of that organization. "We flnd the centering of the management of industries into fewer and fewer hands makes the trade unions unable to cope with the ever-growing power of the employing class." A tacit admission of the fact tbat labor organizations only follow the development of production. In regard to their ambitions it is well to point out that they differ completely from the older forms of labor organizations. It is true that they will talk of raising wages and shortening hours, etc., but these are considered only a means to the end, the end being the complete abolition of the wage system. In order to realize this most desirable ambition they propose to have recourse to the weapon of the old trades unionists, polished and garnished a little and fired with electricity instead of a fuse. In other words, their chief weapon is that of the strike, but not the strike we have known ln days of yore, not the craft strike, but the general strike. This general Btrike, however, must not be understood to mean a strike of all the workers, but only of all the workers in the particular Industry concerned. We see in this general strike only the weapon effective under the form of production which called It forth and moreover that the weapon itself bears a strong resemblance to those of bygone times in its relation to capitalist powers of resistance. We have Been how the weapon of sectional strikes had to give way to the enlarged one of federated strikes, how, for instance, the strikes of coal miners in one district became ineffective and they had to combine their efforts and all coal miners strike together. Now we have a weapon which is replacing the last mentioned. The strike of the coal miners alone is, today, useless and that only is of any use which embraces the whole of the mining industry. So that the general strike, Instead of being anything new or being in front of economic development, is really only an adaptation of old methods to a new environment. Lest any will doubt that my definition of the general strike is correct, permit me to quote the following from a pamphlet entitled, "The I. W. W., Its history, structure and methods": "The organization . . . aims, where strikes are used, to paralyze all branches of the Industry involved." A little further along ln the same book is the following wise provision: "The great progress made in machine production results in an ever increasing army of unemployed. To counteract this the I. W. W. aims to establish the shorter work day and to slow up the working pace, thus compelling the employment of more and more workers." Let us first examine this ln the light of what other forms of labor organizations have endeavored to do—and have failed to accomplish, and then from the standpoint of how the Capitalist Class has tried to cope with the economic situation—and have likewise failed. We have seen earlier how the craft unions aimed at raising wages and shortening hours, and it is well known that they tried to limit their numbers j and so keep up their wages. However, I the economic fortes were working against them and the development of the machine largely displaced their kind of labor power. In the face of a market in which the demand for their special variety of labor power was falling it became impossible for them to raise the price of that commodity. They had, in fact, scarcely succeeded ln maintaining it at its level and ln spite of their aims to raise wages and shorten hours, the economic forces eventually reduced wages and increased the intensity of their work. When the Federation of the Unions was sufficiently strong, they, too, endeavored to consummate their ambition but ln this case also failure was experienced. According to the leader of the Conservative party in England, "the cost of living has risen ten per cent in the past ten years, but wages have remained stationary." And the honorable gentleman would hardly be suspected of overestimating the position. The same condition of affairs exists in the United States, and even in "prosperous" Canada, the workers know too well that the cost of living is not falling. We must now glance at the manner in which tbe Capitalist Class is endeavoring to cope with the economic situation. First of all, there is that important factor, the market. They (the capitalists) are straining every nerve to extend the world's markets, to induce tribes and peoples of a different economic development to take on tbe habit of consuming products created under the Capitalist mode of production. In China, India, South Africa, the Fiji Islands, and many other places, the people are becoming "civilized" and buying, goods from Capitalist countries. For many yeare this has taken eff some of the surplus products and tbe markets have been kept somewhat within bounds. Now, however, some of these countries are producing for themselves and will very shortly have a surplus. In the meantime the home market has not been neglected, but carefully watched. The trustified mode of production has been able to regulate the production of commodities better than any other system that has yet been experienced. Indeed it ls to tbe interest of the "Trust" to produce less than can be consumed in order to have the demand greater than the supply and thus keep up prices. However, there are still those powerful economic forces at work that determine the relation between supply and demand. Curtailed production presupposes less workers and less workers means a curtailed market. Hence the trust defeats its own end and fails to keep above value the price of the commodities it sells. In spite of the fact that they have trained experts, high salaried officials, devoting their whole time to the study of the economic problem, they cannot succeed In their AIM because the purchasing power of the people ls diminished. Taking the statements in the pamphlet of the I. W. W. mentioned above, let us see how they have thus far fared ln their struggles to obtain control of the means of production and distribution, to Increase wages and shorten hours. Out of ten strikes recorded they only claim three to have been won, admit three to have been lost, and the result of the remaining four is not distinctively given, but we may rest assured that they did not end in victory for the organization or the fact would be proclaimed with a megaphone from the house tops. We observe then, that this vigorous organization of high ambitions has not got very much in spite of all its efforts, The final statement ln their description of tactics and methods casts reflections upon their mental balance. "Interference by the Government ls resented by open violation of the Government's orders." It is very profitable to resent Interference by open violation when we have the power to "WHAT IS SOCIALISM?" The article by W. E. Hardenburg, under above title, concluded in this issue, is to be run in pamphlet form, same size and style as the Party Manifesto. It will be ready for mailing next week, at the following prices: 1 Copy 10c 12 Copies 75c 100 Copies and over, per copy, 6c Rush in your orders. This is one of the best little pamphlets yet written and should be widely distributed. If it is readily disposed of we shall feel warranted In the publication of others. Address: WESTERN CLARION, Vancouver, B. C. do so but unhappily the power at present rests with the Government and the dignity of the law must be maintained. Besides the Government is put into power by the ignorance of the workers, who are willing to be lead by those interested and it is only by removing this ignorance that the workers can be got to act as a consolidated body. But when this Ignorance is removed the thing that keeps the Government In power ls gone also. In other words, when we can get the workers to strike together we will be able to get them to vote together or rather we will get the latter before the former. To sum up, we have seen how the -different labor organizations that have been known in Capitalist Society have failed ln their ambition to improve the condition of their members, much less that of the working class. We nave also observed how the Capitalist Class Itself has to bow down to the economic forces. We have carefully noted how the different forms of labor organizations FOLLOWED ln the track of industrial development and how the I. W. W. ls no exception to the rule. Since all these have failed, and the I. W. W. can produce no convincing record of Its successes, is it to be expected that this latter organization will succeed in its AMBITION? Indeed, it is not ambition that counts, but what we have the power to do and the power of the I. W. W. like that of its predecessors, is limited to the economic environment that called lt forth. When this environment changes and it is rapidly changing, their power is gone and wltb it their transcendent ambition. It is not my object herein to detract in any degree from the efficacy of this movement nor to say that it is unnecessary. The very fact of its existence proves that it is essential. My one motive throughout has been to try and Bhow how it has grown up through certain causes and how lt is limited to a certain field. If I have succeeded ln this, then my work has been well accomplished, for those who know just how and why an institution is, will not expect too much from lt and hence will not be disappointed, S. K. READ. E. T. KINGSLEY ^[Printer Publisher High-Grade Catalogue Book and Commercial NEW LABOR TEMPLE VANOOUVER, B. 0. GREAT BOOKS BY GREAT MEN Age of Reason, Paine 25c Origin of Species, Darwin 25c Eight Lectures and Essays, Inger- soll 25c Human Origins, Lalng 25c The White Slave Traffic (cloth), (Illustrated) $1.50 Ingersoll's 44 Lectures $1.25 All books postage paid. People's Bookstore 152 Cordova St. W. M YEARS* Trade Marks Designs Copyrights Ac. Anyone lending R fikol *n and description may quickly uieort'iin our opinion free wbatlic an Invention Is probably pnt- ■ strictly conudonUiU. free. Oldest fluency * rooiunlcft* on Patent* _ fluency for aoelirinii patents. Patents taken through Munn _ Co. rec " onari tlona sent free. •pfcU' notice, without charge, In the . receive Scientific American. A handsom*, -Unsiratwl weekly. Urge* ap. cutaUoo of any •eUtmtno journal. Terms for Canada, $*.» a year, postage prepaid. Sold o? all newsdealers. Vancouver City and Suburban Real Estate B.C. Acreage and Fruit Lands W. W. Lefeaux Labor Temple, Vancouver and at West Vancouver & Revelstoke Brackendale - Cheakamus MOTOR STAGE Leaves Squamieh wharf daily, on arrival of Vancouver boat Better Service Same Old Prices H. JUDD, Prop. 50 &0rialt0t &Ott0B with music, 25 cents. By Bouck White. Handsomely bound. For labor mass meetings, the home, etc. Propaganda on every page. New. Postpaid. Stamps or coin. Address, Socialist Literature Co, "Dept. P" 15 Spruce St., New York City LITERATURE. We need money ana we want to make way for new pamphlets. Therefore we make the following offer: Manifesto of S. P. of C 10c Socialism, Revolution and Internationalism 10c Socialism and Unionism Be Slave of the Farm 6o Struggle for Existence 60 Summary of Marx' "Capital" So The State and Government 5c Value, Price and Profit 60 50c THE WHOLE BUNCH FOR 25c. Party Lapel BUTTONS Price: 50c each or 5 for $2.00 Dominion Executive Committee Labor Temple DENTIST W. J. CURRY 301 Dominion Trust Building Vancouver, B.C. The best and cheapest WORKMAN'S HOME Cordova Boarding House 512 Cordova Street East
Titled The Western Clarion from June 18, 1904 to June 1, 1907; titled Western Clarion thereafter.
Newspapers
Vancouver (B.C.)
English
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Vancouver, B.C. : The Western Socialist Publishing Co., Limited
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BC Historical Newspapers
Original Format: Royal British Columbia Museum. British Columbia Archives.
Western Clarion
Text