CONTENTdm
application/pdf
ran is tlDVBIB 546. Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, September 25, 1909. subscription Price $1.08 THE HAPPY FARMER i AND HIS HIRED HELP ' "Well, sir," said Dooley "1 see me .'rind Rosenfelt has applnted a commission to make the wives ot the farmers happy, though married." There is generally considerable tragedy behind Mr. Dooley's humor, and the above phrase is by no means exceptional to this rule. James J. Hill has discovered that people do not stay on the farms. In fact so many are leaving them that he fears the United States will he- come in less than ten years a wheat importing nation, and sheds some crocodile tears over the fact that "the cost of living is raised everywhere by this relative scarcity of bread," and some other things which we need not consider. We will suppose that this is not arrant nonsense, and give it some consideration. Hill points out, through statistics, that people are crowding Into the cities at an alarming rate "In 1790 only 3.4 per cent of our peo pie lived ln towns. In 1910 more than 31 per cent, of our population was urban." The rest of his remarks and the comments of the cheerful idiot who slings ink for the Province Can be dispensed with. The fact Is, people do not stay on farms, notwithstanding numerous real estate circulars and newspaper editorials setting forth the joys derived from farming and the wealth obtained in healthy pastoral pursuits. The reason people do not stay on the farms does not seem to bother either Hill or the worthy editor. So perhaps it will not be out of place to seek for a reason, which their mighty brains find too trivial for consideration. An American farmer, writing a letter to the American .Magazine some time ago, lays bare the revolting life's experience of his father's family. He is the only one of five sticking to the old folks, and he says, "I don't mind telling you I am plumb sick of it." A brief record of a mean, sordid, unsociable existence; a brute existence, unbearable to anyone with an ounce of red blood in their veins, and a lingering desire for freedom in their minds; a life to which anything that maintained the vital spark were preferable. And yet "they had a 200-acre farm in pretty fair shape and were getting oft some crops that paid well." Two of his brothers ran away on the same night. They heard of them years afterward. One was a brake- man and one was a bartender. "You Bee," says the poor serf who is laying this tragedy of his life on paper, "they had had no education; they couldn't do anything else." Perhaps if Hill or the wise man on the Province had to tear from their tongue or pen a sentence like the following, they would understand why the wheat crop ls falling oit. "One morning we found that my eldest sister had left ln the night. In a month the other went. We never heard from them again." Nor Is this an isolated and uncommon case; he tells us he has "watched other farms and families and Been our history repeated time after time." The life of the women is worse than that of the men. We are toU "you get the real tragedy of the story when you talk to the women and girls and get them to talk to you." Rosenvelt's Commission bears out the substance of this farm victim's sad story. One Investigator along fifteen miles of road lined with dairy farms, found a stepmother In every household. Others tell tales similar to our friend in the American Magazine; the girls, however, not Infrequently writing back to say they are living in brothels and taunting the father with having driven them to it. Land-hunger is stated as the principle cause but that will not wash, when in New York state 20,00 farms ;i re for sale. These, mark you, are cases of men who own their farms free from mortgage; what then must be the condition of those who have to find interest for their mortgage (and they are legion) and those who have to find rent. Slavery, base and hope less, thinly disguised by nominal ownership of property. I remember being the object of considerable laughter some time since, when speaking of women wearing calico dresses. My female friends thought the joke perfect, and an excellent example of how little a man knows. The idea of a woman wearing a calico dresB. Yet I read quite lately of a visitor to a farm catching sight of the farmer's wife in a blue calico dress, and I felt considerably relieved to discover that after all I was quite correct. I don't know what there is about calico dresses which make them particularly obnoxious, but those initiated in the mystery of female attire may rest assured that calico, blue calico, serves as apparel for their less fortunate sister on the farm. The farmer who owns his farm is not to be envied apparently, much less is he who has a plaster on, or who rents his job. But there is another link in the chain of misery which is not often considered, and, by the way, I know of no reason why it should be and that is the hired hand. A much abused wretch, despised and rejected of men. A social outcast, whom even politicians neglect ln election addresses; whose voice is never heard amid the general clamor for better life; who has neither home nor social standing; who gives more to and receives less from society than did ever any slave since slavery blighted the face of this fair earth. The cheapest, meekest slave of us all, why should he be considered? During harvest he ls helped by an army of unemployed drawn from the labor markets of the East. These men receive double his pay and go to bed when he is still intent upon making the animals comfortable for the night. True, sometimes his master will tell you the hired hand is beter off than he is himself, but that Is small comfort for the slave. It has always been somewhat of a mytery to me how, with rivers so deep and numerous and poison so cheap, farmers could secure hired hands at all. But they do it, and therefore I must conclude that those eminent citizens who say the working class is lazy, must be lying in their throats. This part of our class, owing to the conditions of employment working singly and isolated from his fellows, would be very expensive to organize, and from their economic position, the hireling of a hireling, who between poverty and property, is blind to his true social status, has not sufficient spare cash to attract even the most altruistic of pure and simple trade unionist. How we can reaoh -him save by literature is difficut to determine. Literature is not trustworthy as he ls generally too tired to read even if he have time. The comrades in Alberta adopted a good plan. They would organize a dance, and after a couple ol steps Comrade O'Brien would deliver the goods. I am doubtful if this would work ln the States; lt is questionable if the hired hand would be permitted to come to such a social event. If any long suffering wage animal of the hired hand variety should cast his eyes on these lines, I heartily invite him to let us hear his squawk. "Show us yer spit," as they say down the 'Ditch. Raise your eyes from the ground sufficiently high to see that there is more than a team of mules and yourself and your boss on earth. Lift the blight of work from your mind long enough to find out there is a mutiny among the slaves of this earth; an intelligent revolt; an inspiring, ever-widening rebellion. Get into the fight, shake the clay oft your shoes and the cobwebs from your brain; you're not worth much it is true, but you will fill a hole as well as any better man. And one word more, the ignorance which surrounds you like the stable smell which clings to you, will dlsolve and pass away If you change your occupation. The job makes the man. So much for him. Maybe he will get his back up. I spoke of him being assisted by others during busy times. These are recruited from the industrial centres of the country. 20,000 have been shipped by the C. P. R. to harvest that company's crop. The funny part of this proposition is that the farmer thinks the C. P. R. sends men at cheap rates to harvest his crop, this, of course, accords well with their hallu- cations ln other directions. There is something else worthy of note: This enormous army of men have left the East and not a single factory or mine hast shut down, or slowed down, or shows any signs of doing so. Where did they come from? Whither will they go when the harvest is over? I guess they will riot around some city all winter on the extortionate wages they have extracted from Mr. Farmer for the privilege of feeding themselves fat on his sow belly and spuds. The Grand Trunk Pacific contractors cannot get enough men who will tolerate the conditions imposed upon their slaves and must therefore set up a howl for the long-haired variety. One writer said the trouble was they fed meat three times a day. Well, if they fed 'em meat that often, they deserve all the trouble that comes to them. Fancy throwing away meat three times a day on slaves. And fancy slaves kicking because they got too much to eat. By the gods but some of these penny-a-liners who conduct campaigns and build railroads from the seclusion of a two dollars a week room are the spice of life. If there ls any variety that approximate to the hired hand they do. They have the advantage of him, perhaps, in having had more "schooling;" they, might wear better clothes and it is just possible they smell sweeter, but they bear Indignities with the same uncomplaining spirit, endure the same long day of drudgery, and excite the same common contempt of mankind. Well, sir, I hope Roosevelt's commission will enable the U. S. Government to make the farmer's wife happy, though married. Perhaps the farmer's children will then stay on the soil and J. J. Hill will be free from the night mare which hauntB him always—the escape of his Blave from the soli, and it is just possible that farmers' wives will not say upon the death of their husbands, "This is the fist day's happiness I've had in thirty years." I hope this, to ease my guilty conscience, for I take grim pleasure In this self-evident truth. A slave's part in life is the production of profit, not .the pursuit of happiness. Hill may warn us periodically, and the Province may feebly comment on his, remarks; commissions, too, may ask questions innumerable, but the fact remains, slavish conditions are the necessary outcome of a slavish existence. One thing only can help the farmer class: The Bocial revolution. The farmer shows signs of waking up.' I wonder if the row he is making will wake up the hired hand. J. H. VERNON. Dear Comrade: Last night Com. J. F. Johnson, of Enderby, candidate of the Socialist Party for the Okanagan, gave Local Vernon a very good address. Jim is improving all the time. It is idle to try to forcast an election, but we feel certain of making big inroads on the old parties. A collection of $5.05 was taken for the Campaign Fund, which is steadily mounting up. Yours for Socialism, GEO. W. PATTERSON, Sec. Local 38. CHEAP PATRIOTISM OF HOGTOWN JINGOES The W. C. T. U. in Vancouver, at the last elections wanted "votes for women" and they showed it by using their Influence against the only party that stands for the Political equality of the sexes. They are now getting ready for a similar stunt at the coming elections, when they will no doubt again "go it blind." Oh! you women! ECONOMIC CLASS. Local Vancouver's Economic Class will re-open for the winter on Sunday, October 3rd, 3:00 p. m., at the Headquarters, 151 Hastings street west. All workers especially invited. 546. PLAIN POINTERS FOR PLAIN PEOPLE Respect the law if you can; if you their fellow workers of the towns and cannot, do your best to respect the judges, lawyers and magistrates. The laws have become so mixed up and fixed up that even the lawyers do not claim lo understand them. Then no wonder thnt we poor people can't make head nor hoof of the laws we are expected to obey. "Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Thirty days.' Herein lies the graft of the lawyers and incidentally a percentage of the decisions handed out. Still a judge in Canada, as we all know, is better than in any other country and absolute justice is generally meted out. It does not matter that all of them were lawyers and most of them politicians, before they were made judges, because they become different men ln some way I am not able to explain. Of course there are cases where a decision ls not just what a union might like and such cases as Socialist speakers being arrested for speaking on the streets, while whole battalions of the Salvation Army preach, screech, beg and beseech to the side racket of very indifferent, scarcely competent, amateur brass band music, most of it parody. Respect the laws you may not but take my advice and obey them meanwhile. But cheer up all you poor' people who labor and are oppressed by the laws of Capitalism. You have only to send Socialists ' to parliament to change the laws and back them up. The laws of to-day centre around one great idea. This is that it is lawful for the Capitalist class to take away the things that the working class produces and to give them such w,ageB as they are forced to by circumstances. And ln the case of the farmer they control his product by controlling the markets. The farmer takes what he gets and can like or lump lt and I am glad to say that the farmers are lumping it and acting accordingly by joining the Socialist Party along with cities. To be brief, it is the legal right of anyone to live by the profit of others' work. It ls play to the Capitalists and death to the workers. It is play of a nature that depends on cunning and deception. Victor Hugo says a successful man under this system Is a courageous man, an unscrupulous man and an ungrateful man. It these laws suit you vote for the Liberals or Conservatives. If they don't then dig ln and help the Socialist Party. The object of the Socialist Parly is to change the laws to suit the workers and to make it unlawful for any man or class of men to live off the labor of the workers. The human race Inherited the earth because they were born on it. It belongs to all. There ls plenty for all of us afid no longer any need lo engage in a scramble to see who gets most to run the millions of people. The mission of the Socialists is to stop the fight for life and bring peace and plenty. When that Is done then the human race will be fre« to go ahead to something better than dollars aad cents. Yours in Revolt, TAQUE. LABORERS SOLD AT LE8S THAN THEIR COST OF PRODUCTION. I advanced this theory in the Party reading room at Winnipeg some time ago, and got severely called to book, However, I Btlll maintain that I am right. I know that labor-power ls sold at its average cost of production in Bocially necessary labor. Hut that is In the abstract, labor-power as a whole. In its particularized form. Its units, that ls, the brain, brawn and muscle of the laborer hlmBelf, it is sold at less than cost. When selling our power to labor we are really selling ourselves pteeomeal, and if we wei'3 getting our cost p-ice w» would keep up to the some s'andard instead of degenerat- "The Canadian National Exhibiton" as the Industrial Fair is grandiloquently styled was, as usual, a carnival of jingoism with Lord Charles Beresford as the principle attraction. Before the opening, Lord Charles was as cautiously guarded from public Inspection as though he were a dime museum freak and carefully hustled off into hiding as soon as he struck the town. During the show he was trotted out and put through his oratorical paces as often as possible and no secret was made of the fact that he, as well as the prize cattle and big pumpkins, was on ex hibition to bring grist to the mill. Of course he talked loyalty and patrotism and the old flag and all that sort of thing, as was duly expected. * * e But there was one thing which, to his credit, he did not do. He was billed to lay the corner-stone of the monument to the poor deluded fools who got themselves deservedly shot, or otherwise obliterated in South Africa, but he jumped the job. Went fishing instead like a sensible man. I don't wander he. balked. Every self-respecting Old Countryman, even if he belongs to the privileged classes who profited by the South African piracy, is ashamed of the whole dirty business. It brought grist to the mill perhaps at the time, but they are glad to have for- .'otton It. No British city would now think of commemorating it by a monument, whatever they might have done at the time. Glorying in the unequal struggle is a depth of abasement, of which only Canadian Jingoes would be guilty. • » • The meanness of the Toronto Jingoes comes out through the whole business. The affair is ' ■> cost $37,000, or thereabouts. Of this sum $15,000, or nearly half, has been or will be borne by the generai public of the Province and the city. This left only $22,000 to be raised by subscription and they have been eight years about It and ii Is'nt done yet—not by several thousands, Think of it—after all their boasts of loyally and public spirit and readiness to make sacrifices for their principles, the Imperallstlc blowhards and blatherskites of Toronto are too contemptibly mean to raise twenty thousand dollars among them In eight years, for a "patriotic" object. Oh Hogtown! Hogtown! Rightly named when the characteristics of "leading citizens" are borne In mind. inn. The condition cf the working- class is worse now than at the nd- vent of capitalism two hundred years a^o. Wc are degenerating physically, as can be seen by anyone visiting large Industrial centres where capital ism has been in force a few, generations. At the present time there ls quite a difference between the rural worker and Ihe city worker, showing that ihe keener competition of city life has caused the worker lo sell himself at a lower price than his rural brother. It fe said that it ls Impossible to find a family of more than three generations of London (England) residence, that they die out before they reach the fourth generation, showing that they cannot receive their cost price. Another thing, the average age of the worker Is not three score yearB and ten, but just 33 years. We know that the average is kept down by industrial accidents, but the majority die just because they have not received sufficient clothing and shelter in return for the labor-power sold. Their poorly nurtured bodies are a prey to a hundred a*d one diseases that they could escape If they had sufficient of the good things of this life, and the reason why they have not these good things is because they are sold at less than cost. This theory help'- to prove that Socialism is inevitable, because when a society reaches a stage that It cannot feed Itself, then It must take on a new form or perish. EDMUND FULCHER. And the job ls being done by scab labor. How truly Illustrative of the fitness of things! It was a scab business all through—a capitalist war against workers, in which every Iahor-- er who took up arms to extend the area of capitalist supremacy was a traitor to his class. * * * By the way I wonder what a rea*' fighter like Beresford, who has proved' his readiness to risk his life in tbe cause of his class, thinks of the stay- at-home patriots and heroes by proxy who made so much of him. It would be interesting to get his real opinion of the contemptible poltroons of the press, pulpit and platform, who, wltlr- out the slightest intention of sharing the dangers and hardships of warfare- in person, are shouting for a Canadian navy and increased military force*^ They know that somebody else will do the fighting and actually seem to think that they reap a kind of reflect' ed glory by urging warlike prepara- tions and stirring up the war spirit. And the funny part of it Is that the- average ordinary man seems to be of the same opinion, and takes fellows like Willlson of the Toronto News, Graham, of the Montreal Star, and Rob*, y of the Ottawa Journal at their own ew timatlon. There arc plenty of other* but I mention these because they have been particularly noisy In urging other people to fight and claiming credit for so doing. • e • Harrlman, American railroad magnate, Is dead and his life is being used by ten thousand editors and pulpiteers- to point a moral or adorn a tale. Th*" burden of the song In most cases Iff that Harrlman's alms were purely selfish and his life consequently a failure, as he did not work to benefit the community, but merely for self-aggrandizement. These wise-acres fall to see that If Harrlman had considered the public good or striven to benefit others, he never by any possibility could have become a Napoleon of finance or a railroad magnate. They might as well draw the moral that the original Napoleon would have left a more enduring reputalion If he had been an ad\oeate of peace. Harrinian was simply one of the ultimate products and crowning glories of capitalism. He was what he was, just because he wenl ahead utterly regardless of public or private considerations, and of all the nonsense talked about liis career the most ridiculous Is the assumption that he might or could have done great things for the" public If he had only been some other kind of a man. Fortunately no Harrlman or other financial magnate will or can do anything to benefit the fool public, or do anything lo them but exploit them. It Is right that it should be so, for the people deserve no better than what they get until they have- the Hense W suppress the Harrlman's, along with the whole capitalist outfit, and work out their own salvation under the cooperative commonwealth. e • • A writer in the "Lance of Toronto" published in the Interest of working men and women offers a bet of "A million to one that Economic Determinism is as undiscovered as the South Pole." And yet the editor seems to have an Inkling of It, for ln reference to "professional reformers" lie quote* tbe lines: "Not a deed will they do, Not a word will they utter Till they've weighed Its relations ti> plain bread and butter.'' There's Economic Determinism for you In a nutshell. A glance at the numerous whiskey ads in the Lance's advertising columns, considered in con' nection with its strenuous opposition! to license reduction, might furnish another Illustration. PHILLIPS THOMPSON. Toronto, September IB. "TWO THE WESTERN CLARION, VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th,. 1.909. As iestafa. VnblliheA every Saturaay by the •oolallst Party of Canada, at the Office ef I the Western Clarion, Flack ' Blook aaeement, 165 Kaatlntre Street, Vanoon- tn, B 0. SUBSCKIFTXOV: (1.00 Vex Tear, 50 oenta for Six Montha, ' as cents fox Three. Months, . BtrioUy la ASeasioe < ■ Bundles of (or more copies, for a Kriod of not less than three montha, at a rate of one cent per copy per Issue. Advertising rates on appllcatlbn. If you receive this paper, it ls, paid lor.' " . Im making remittance by cheque, ex- ehange must be added. Address all sommunlcatlons and make all money orders payable to THE WESTS** CLABIOH, •ox 836. Vanooaver, B. O. w Watch the label on your paper. If Oil number Is on it, your subscription expires tlie nest lean*.. ; SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, 1909. I - i ■ ■ | ■ THE TAX-PAYER. "Labor conquers all." In the dim past Labor, with 'prentice hand, fashioned the rude celt and stone axe wherewith he conquered the mammoth and the aurochs; tamed the beast of the field; mastered the stubborn soil and compelled It to yield him sustenance; wrested tribute from the very waters, and bent the winds to he his galley-slaves. The glories of. Assyria, the grandeur of Egypt, the art of Greece, the prowess of Rome, all were upheld by the knotted hand of Labor. Statue, shrine, pyramid, stand, mute testimony to Ltfbor's might. In Labor alone is Man's salvation. Century by century, slowly working out his destiny, like the coral, he has built upon the living rock of his past the foundations of his future, generation upon generation. With arduous toil, ln untold'agony, with infinite patience, he has built up for himself a mighty heritage. To>day, fn the homely garb of the proletarian/ propertlfess, he who has created all property, homeless, whose hands have built all homes, landless; whose toil has mastered all lands; comfortless, whose genius has brought forth all comfort, he stands, in that darkest hour that precedes the dawn, upon the threshold of a brighter day when he shall achieve the last and greatest of his conquests, that of Liberty. AN INTREPID EXPLORER. Friend Victor Berger is great on the tax-payer. He tells, us that "Social- Democrats are agreed lhat the interests of the tax-payer must be conserved." We reckon that settles it; we cannot possibly be a Social-Democrat. J"or we don't care a curse about the JntereBt of the tax-payer. The people we are interested in are those who, like ourselves, are notable only for the possession of property rights in that untaxable commodity labor-ppwer, by the sale of which we procure our meal-tickets, and for which we receive - approximately Its full value. Victor of course discriminates against the big tax-payer (or it. is tax-dod- - ger) In favor of the little one; but all tax-payers look alike to us. The main interests of all tax-payers are identical; they all want as big returns for as small taxes as possible. Anyhow all taxes are paid out of that portion of our product which has passed beyond our control, so how ls it any of our funeral what happens the tax-pay- -er? True, individual members of our class here and there have incidentally acquired or accumulated taxable pro perty or a semblance of possession thereof; if their Interests as holders of this property are to be considered they can be considered only along with the interests of the rest of the .tax-payers, with which they are Identical. What alone distinguishes us Into a class apart from the rest of society as at present constituted is that We live by the sale of our labor power and are compelled to surrender the products of our toll into the hands of those who own and control the means of production; that we are in fact, riot citizens or tax-payers, but slaves. As slaves we are not i interested in tax-paying or tax-dodging; we are interested only In achieving our emancipation. Finding that to the owner of the means of production belongs the product, that these, the mines, mills, factories, etc., are owned by a class, and that by virtue of this owner- ehip~"that class Is enabled to compel us to surrender to them the product Of our toll, we can see that, in order to achieve our emancipation, we must obtain possession of these means of production by taking them away from those who now hold them. As these are the very people who pay the most fit the taxes (when they cannot avoid lt) it is rather difficult to see what interests we have in common with them. And furthermore, as this class already maintains two political parties especially to look after their interests, there does not seem to be any very good excuse for us to butt In. "LABOR OMNIA VINCIT.' Such is the proud motto of the A. JT, of L, to which organisation it ls about as appropriate as is the motto "Invlctus" (unconquered) to the county of Kent In England, the first place on which almost every Invader has get foot. For one thing the A. F. of L. does not represent Labor, but only those vendors of the commodity labor-power, who have combined to secure an advantage on the market by collective bargaining. And furthermore a tinge of irony is lent to the motto by tho .succession of defeats that have of recont years been Inflicted on that body. In fact, In place of an all-conquering American Federation of Labor, It lias been practically Btripped of all ItB weapons, with Ihe exception of the union label, with which it Is yet allowed to furnish gratuitous advertising to ils patrons. A sorry caricature, indeed, upon that wortd-cdnquer- Ing host the record of whose achievements Is writ large across the ages, ■with the relics of whose craftsmanship I Ito sands of time are sown, the monuments of whoso Industry rise • hip-'"•(• out of tho upstorieil OUR PROPER STATIONS. At a recent meeting of the Juvenile Protection Association, or something of the kind, one of Vancouver's handmade pewter aristocrats formulated the theory that public servants should be made to "keep their place." Quoth he in effect, "We make our servants keep their place at home, and there Is no reason why they should not be made to do so in public." This bourgeoisie of ours is certainly the' most impoverished excuse of a ruling class that has ever infested this planet; not only is its entire huckstering system built up on credit, but it must perforce masquerade in the borrowed finery of its predecessors, the feudal nobility. And having neither ancestry, chivalry, manners, pugnacity, dignity, culture, indeed, naught but mere money, to distinguish it from surrounding mediocrity, it is compelled to surround itself with a troop (more or less, according to the indi vidual's means) more servile and contemptible than itself in order that it may shine somewhat by comparison; and as there is not much to distinguish visibly between either in manner, bearing, or otherwise, it becomes a matter of constant solicitude to make the menials keep their place. In really "high" circles the men- servants must be clothed in livery, in toadying imitation of the uniform of the old-time retainer, in order to distinguish them from the "gentlemen," while my-lady's maid must wear a cap that she may not be mistaken for my-lady. In circles not so select, that is, where money is not. so plentiful, the matter becomes one of serious difficulty. Even servants to the manner born do not take any too kindly to the badges of their servitude, and the problem of keeping them in their place is complicated with the dilemma of keeping the servants. ■ To us one of the most pleasing prospects foreshadowed by the Social Revolution is the rumpus it will create in "Society," through the abolition of servants. Picture to yourselves our near-blue-blooded dames, servant- less in their ornate and expensive homes, returning perforce to the wash-tubs and slop-pails of their mothers. Imagine hubby's uncomplaining efforts to masticate and assimilate their cookery. Break up the home? Well, we guess ] yes. What Is home without a hired help? Nothing they will want anything to do wlfh. About a-one-roomed I flat will look pretty good to them, with airy old restaurant meals, and it won't matter so much if their lingerie is not hand-laundered. No more ponies that they don't know how to feed and groom; no more autos that they can't tinker; no more lawns that they are unable to mow; no more flower-gardens that they have no Idea how to grow. Poor, helpdess. shiftless creatures. Left to their own devices they would starve and freeze In short order. Vulgar, showy, artificial and affected as it is, all that, life Is and means to them fs possible by grace of Labor alone; and they despise the hand' that feeds them, the breast that nourishes them, the brawn that makes their leisure, their pleasure, their follies and their vices possible; they who are unworthy to loose the Iatchel of Labor's shoes. When Ihe unbiased historian of the future shall come to pass ln review the history of mankind, In the light of accumulated knowledge and with no Interest to conserve but that of truth, whnt a sorry and Ignoble figure will our blatant bourgeois cut then. Other ruling classes have had at least some virtues and a few manly vices to recommend them, but the bourgeois has bul a glorified duplicity for a virtue and respectability for a characteristic vice. Talking about Cook and Peary, it might be in order to recall the fact that not all eminent discoverers get the credit which is their due. For instance, but little attention has been attracted by the recent remarkable discoveries of the Vancouver World. Hardly a fortnight ago it discovered that that wicked combination of American capitalists, the Sugar Trust, was bobbing .Vancouver consumers True, it took it all'back the next day, nevertheless, it must be admitted that this niight-have'been a very important discovery. The very next week it caught the dairymen red-handed ln the act-of robbing the cradle by conspiring to raise the price of milk. Any time now we may expect it to attribute the rise in the price of eggs to an illegal combination In restraint of trade among hens. i -.; ■ I Meanwhile it rests not in running after some new thing. In Monday's issue, evidently refreshed by its Sabbath rest, lt proclaimed no less than three, discoveries, all brand new to it. They are, that the rise in prices is due to the fall in gold consequent upon its increased production;-that slavery exists in Mexico, and that the C. P. R. exercises a censorship over news printed in Canadian papers. In this connection it intimates that that is the reason why it has virtuously refrained from having anything to do with the C. P. R. (The G. N. R. apparently not being given to such practices.) If the World persists in its giddy career, one of these days it may discover that its own editorial_staff has a habit, on receiving "news" concerning any of Its heavy-weight advertisers, of referring it to theb "for verification" before publishing; this, of course, is not censorship. As regards the slavery in Mexico, it is stated that the facts have never before come to light owing to the strict censorship exercised by President Diaz, and this despite the fact that Mexican peonage has been pretty thoroughly thrashed out In the Socialist press these many moons. As for the fall ln gold values, let us suggest that the World hire someone to read the Western Clarion*, had It done so it might have made this discovery a year or two ago, even granting that the Clarion ls not quite the swiftest news-getter on earth. The moral of all which is that if you want the news eventually, take a Socialist paper. Our news comes by freight, but, if it's of any importance to the working class, it will arrive sooner that way than by leased wire. REVOLUTION. AH Socialists who claim to be sclerf title are proud to acknowledge themselves the disciples of that towering genius, Karl Marx. The theory of social evolution, formulated by Marx, and called by him, the materialistic conception of history, is accepted by all Socialists. But while It is true that the fundamental doctrines of Marx are not seriously contested, the conceptions as to the probable working out of the evolutionary hypothesis, are many and varied My object here, is to offer a few suggestions that may help to clear away some of the mist of doubt, that at present befoggs the mind of some Socialists, in regard to the question of evolutionary, as opposed to revolutionary Socialism. I am well aware that Socialists disapprove of visionary probing into futurity, yet speculation is not a crime, and if the speculator clearly states that his conclusions are nothing more than speculations, and should not ln any way be confounded with scientific Socialism proper, harm cannot be wrought in intelligent minds. This I do at the outset. Take heed all ye who hearken, that these are but the dreams of an Irresponsible vislondTy. The Fabian, evolutionary, or constructive Socialists hold that the social change will be gradual, and forced on society by economic conditions, regardless of individual opinion or class volition. The class struggle Is not to them a living reality, and they do not expect to see an abrupt, or cataclysmic demolition of the present social structure. The revolutionary Socialists, while fully recognizing the concealed and silent evolution that Is carrying society resistlessly to Its goal of collective ownership of the means of Industry, believe thnt class strife and class volition do play a part in the scheme of things; they do expect to see the process of evolution declare Itself to the vision of man In a spectacular, and possibly violent, "revolution." The gigantic iceberg from frigid iiorlhern seas, when in warmer regions, gradually melts away from beneath. Normally Its Immersed bulk stands In the proportion of eight to one. A point is reached where this ratio no longer obtains; and tho iceberg cannot maintain Its equilbrlum, The necessary readjustment takes place In the shape of ti somersault—a revolution. This change In position is sudden. Terrible disturbances are occasioned to the surrounding sens, it Is the culmination of hidden, yet in- Bidlously irresistible process; overt, noticeable, nay, forcing recognition from observers. lt Is a pretty simile, to liken capitalist society to an iceberg. Secret, yet important changes are taking place in the structure of this society. Changes analogous to those Of our iceberg. The iceberg of capitalism is becoming top-heavy. It cannot maintain its balance. It topples, falls with a tremendous reverberation, and'you have what? An iceberg turned turtle; a reversal of the positions occupied by the classes. Whereas the capitalist class ruled all, was sole dletator, it has been dethroned. Yet our simile should not be adopted without reservation. To liken ths j exposed portion of the Iceberg to the capitalist class, and the submerged, to the working class, and then to Illustrate the I coming revolution by a relative change of position, would not be wholly correct. The aim of Socialism is to emancipate the working class, to raise it from its submerged position, not to substitute one class rule for another. Its object is not to enslave the capitalist class, but to establish a form of society wherein no I man shall be divorced from those resources to Which he must have access, and wherein every man, even the erstwhile capitalist, shall be free to apply i his labor power, be it of brain or ; muscle, to the natural wealth and tools of production. To my mind, it is a safe prediction that, as the great problem at issue becomes clearer defined, class strife will heightan in intensity; the war of the classes wage more fiercely. Society will spontaneously divide; everyone will know exactly where he stands; on whose behalf he fights. There ls no unity of Interest between the classes, and harmony is impossible. My humble opinion is that force will be the final arbiter. Although the working class comprises nearly 85 per cent, of the total population, there Is such dense Ignorance and blindness to ultimate welfare ln the proletarian mind, that the capitalist army is sure to be swelled by many renegades, by favor seeking traitors from the working class. These spineless ones will be called the LOYALISTS. If, as Is possible, and as I sincerely hope, the victory can be won peaceably by the ballot, the struggle for supremacy between the classes is not thereby rendered less a struggle, nor is the possibility of the final act of this great drama taking the form of an abrupt and complete social change or revolution, in any way minimized. Before the Socialist ideal can be realized in its entirety, the whole social structure must be remodeled. The necessary changes are so radical that It Is not reasonable to suppose they can effect themselves spontaneouly. The abolition of the wage system, the establishment of production for use instead of profit, foreshadow fearful industrial disturbances. Transformation of capitalist property In the means of wealth production, into collective property, is not a consummation to be reached by unnoticeable, and friction- less evolutionary processes. You do Socialist Directory g/gf Every Local of the Socialist Party of Canada should -run a card under this head $1.00 per month. Secretaries please note. DOMZMTOar BXBOUTIVB COMMITTEE, Socialist. Party of Canada. Meets every alternate Monday. D. Q. ' McKenzie, Secretary, Box 836, Vancouver, B. C.I amxTxnc .. coiumsia psotzxoiaz, Executive Committee, Socialist Party of Canada. Meets every alternate Monday. D. O. McKenzie, Secretary, Box 83«, Vancouver, B. C. luiiti pxoVxxciAi, xatacsTzra Committee, Socialist Party of Canada. Meets every alternate Monday in Labor Hall, Eighth Ave. East, opposite postofflce. Secretary Will be pleased to answer any communications regarding the movement ln the province. A. J. Browning, Sec., Box 647 Calgary, Alta. MANITOBA PXOTZHCIAIi tlve Committee. Meets flrst and, third Mondays of every month. Jubilee Hall, corner of King and Alexander. The Secretary will be pleased td furnish any Information and answer any correspondence relative to the. movement. Secretary, J. W. Amer. 748 Victor stteet, Winnipeg, Man ONTABIO PBOVmCIAl EXECUTIVE Committee. Meets In Finnish Hall, 2H Adelaide St., Toronto, on 2nd and 4th Wednesday. Organizer,, W. Gribble 134 Hogarth Ave., Toronto; P. C. Young, Secretary, 910 Pape Ave.; G. Colombo. Italian Org.. 234 Chestnut St. X.0CAX, VANCOUVER, HO. 1, S. T. O* Canada. Business meetings every Tuesday evening at headquarters, over Edgett's store, 151 Hastings St. West. F. Perry, Secretary, Box 838. lOCAI, VANCOUVER, B. 0„ NO. 45. FINNISH I —Meets every second and fourth Thnrsday in the mouth at 151 Hastings St. W. Secretary, Matt Manilla not seriously entertain the opinion that the idle and luxurious rich, can be constrained with loving suasion to relinquish their life of ease, and in the sweat of their face, eat bread. These ends are only to be attained by right of might. Socialists, it is said, foment class hatred, induce class strife. It is not true. The class war is the inevitable product of an economic condition based on class rule. Socialism strives to Interpret aright the facts of history and contemporary life. "Seek ye the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Harm cannot come from denouncing the evils of our day, nor from fearlessly proclaiming their remedies. If our analysis of capitalism be a. true analysis, lt is well that it be pub- llshed abroad; If false, still well, for' so much soon shall we be driven from' our false position. We welcome attack; invite examination for what ls untrue is unworthy to live, and no one admits this more readily than the Socialist. Our faith is, in mankind and in our class. We believe that the unspoiled human may safely be trusted to choose, of two alternatives, the better course. Life ls normally a clean thing, scorning filth, cleaving to the high and noble. It is only when our natures have grown rotten from long contact with a crazed world, wherein each strives to cut his fellow's throat, that we lose faith in.the innate nobility of our race. The society that offers all the prizes of life to the criminally selfish; that passes verdict of extinction upon honor, and high ideal^ ls a bad society, reflecting Bhame upon the generation that tolerates It. Therefore we ask ull men who are men, not to tolerate it any longer; to join these men and women whose object Is to hasten the death hour of the present Illogical competitive system, and to prepare for a new era jn which the welfare of each shall be the welfare of all.—A. Percy Chew, In The Voice. LOCAL VTCTOEIA, HO. 3, «. T. OT O, Headquarters and Reading Room, Room 1, Eagle Building, 1319 Government St. Business meeting every Tuesday evening, 8 p.m. Propoganda meetings every Sunday at Grand Theatre. • as Mclndoe. Secy. Room I, 1319 Government St. ~ LOCAL BOBSLANB, Ho. 35, S. *. OI O, meets ln Miners' Hall every Sunday at 7:30 p. m. A. MoLeod, Secy., P. O. Box 874. Rossland Finnish Branch meets ln Flnlanders' Hall, Sundays at 7:30 p. m. A. Sebble, Secy., P. O. Box 765 Rossland, B. C. LOCAL FOBT MOODY, B. O.. NO. 41, #. T. ot O.—Business meetings flrst Sunday ln each month. J. V. Hull. Secretary, Port Moody, B. C. LOCAL PRINCE RUPERT, B C -Meets every "Sunday at 8 p. m., on the street corner* Snd various halls. J B.King, Sec. LOCAL LABTBMXTX HO. 10, ■. T. OT C. "Business meetings every Saturday 7 p.m. ln headquarters on First Ave. Paiker, Williams, Sec., Ladysmith, B. C. LOCAL BERLIN, ONT., NO 4. S. P. OF C— meets every second and fourth Wednesday evening, at 8 p.m., 55 King St, east opposite Market Hotel. H. Martin, Secy. 61 Weber St. east. UMAX, HBLSOH. ». P. OP C., MSStt . every Friday evening at 8 p,m„ In ''Mlnets' Hall. "Nelson. B. C. "Ftaffit Phillips, Organizer; I. A Austin, Secy. LOOAL PHOENIX, HO. 8, «. T. OT C., Seets every Sunday at 8:30 p.m.. la iners' Hall. Matt Halliday, Organiser H. K. Mncilinis, Secy. LOOAL OALOAKT, ALTA., HO. 4, «. P. of C. Meetings every Sunday at 8 p.m. In the Labor Hall, Barber Block, Eighth Ave. E. (near postofflce). Club and Reading Room, McTavlsh Block. 817 Second St. E. Opposite Imperial Ho.el Fred S. Faulkner, Org., Box 647; J. Gibbs Secy.) Box 647. LOCAL BSLLEVUB, ALTA., HO. 18, «. P of C„ meets every flrst and third Sunday evenings, Bellevue Town Hail C. Stubbs, Secy. LOOAL NANAIMO, HO. 3, ■■ T. of C„ . meets every alternate Sunday evening in Foresters Hall. ' Business meeting at' 7:00 o'clock sharp. Propaganda meeting commences at 8:00 o'clock] Jack Place, Rec. Secy., Box 826. LOOAL rEBNIE, 8. P. of O, HOLD* educational meetings in the Miners' Union Hall, Victoria Ave., Fernle, every Sunday evening at 7:45. Business meeting first Sunday tn each month, same place at 2:30 p m. J. Lancaster, Sec Box 164. LOOAL GREENWOOD HO. 9, S. P. OP C.'j meets every Sunday fn Miners' Union Hall at 7:30 p.m. Business meetings, 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. T. Y. McKay, Secretarp Pro Tern. LOOAL VBBHOH, B. C, HO. 38, S. P. OP C. meets every Friday night at 7:30 In Ttmmlns' Hall, cor. of Seventh and Tronson Sts. Business and propaganda combined. Geo. W. Paterson, Secretary, Vernon, B. C. LOCAL BEVELSTOKE, B. C, HO. 7, * P. of C. Propaganda and business meetings at 8 p. m., the fourth Thursday of each month in lodge room over old post office, neur opera house. Everybody welcome. B. F. Gayman, Secretary; W. W. Lefeaux, Organizer. LOCAL COLBMAN, ALTA, HO. t. Meets every Sunday night ln • th* Miners' Hall arid Opera House at t p.m. Everybody welcome. Socialist Speakers are Invited to call. H. J. Smith, Secy. LOCAL EDMONTON, ALTA., NO. 1, B. P. of c Meets every Thursday at I — ""' —----- —•■ - - -iic „_. s ana propaganda meetings combined. J. R. Huntbach, Secy., 161 First St. S.; U. MacQuarrle, Organiser, 623 Second St. p.m., ln Trades and Labor Hall, Fourth St. Busnsss and propagasds "— ■- - — "untbaoh. LOOAL WXHHXPBO, ■. P. OP O. HBAB- quarters Kloiutyke block, corner of, Pacific and Kiug Business meeting every Sunday morning 11 a. m. Propaganda meeting Sunday evening 8 p.m. Everybody welcome. W. Cummlngs, Organizer. Jas. W. Amer, Secretary, 336 Maryland street. LOCAL TOBONTO, B. P. OP C—BHO- llsh Branch. Business meetings flrst and third Wednesdays of each month, Finnish Hall, 214 Adelaide St. W. Speakers' class meets alternatS Mondays and Tuesdays at 134 Hogarth Ave. Economic classes meet every Friday night at 814 Wellesley St Speakers supplied on shortest notice to Ontario Locals. Corresponding Sec, A. Lyon, 134 Hogarth Ave. LOCAL COBALT, HO. 9, B. P. OP O. Props gandn and business meetings every Wednesday Everybody at 8 p ,m. in Miners' Hall. Invited to attend. Arthur L. Botley, Secy., Box. 446. LOCAL MONTREAL, QUE., HO. 1, I. P. of O.—Meets in Labor Hall, St Dominique street, Sundays at 3 p. nt Heaequarters No, i St. Charles Uorromee St Otto Jahn Secretnny, 528 Cliausse. Directory of Western Federation of Miners in British Columbia Executive Board Member Wm. Davidson, Sandon DISTRICT ASSOCIATION NO. 6. President Vice-President Secretary-Treasurer Jno. A. McKinnon, Rossland Thos. J. McKay, Greenwood A. Shilland, Sandon No, Name Meeting Night Sec'y, TO. Box Add. Atlln .Camborne Grand Forks,. Greenwood ... Hedley Kaslo Kimberly Lardeau Marysvllle M. & S. U. Moyie 96|Nelson 8IPhoenlx 38" 81 95 C2 118 105 .Rossland ... Sandon Sllverton .... Slocan Texada Trail M & M. 85|Ymlr Wod Wed Sat Wed Sat Sat Sat Sat Sat Sat Wed Sat Sat Sat Snt Mon IWed , <C. Galrns Wm. Wlnslow James Tobln Patrick O'Connor W. K. Hadden Charles BIrce Geo. Heatherton., |C. Bennett T. H. Rotherham. Mike Mc Andrews.. H. T. Rainbow.... Joe Armstrong.... A. B. Carter Fred Mellette Chas. Short B. Lundln Malcolm McNeill. Paul Phillips R. Silverthorn.... J. A. McKinnon... L. R. Mclnnls. Robert Malroy, Blair Carter... G. B. Mcintosh Wm. HeHketh '|A. Burgess ]J. Hays James Roberts F. Phillips W. A. Plckard... Geo. ..'asey A. Shilland .Fred Llebscher.. . D. B. O'Nealll... . T. T. Rutherford. . F. D. Hardy .|W. B. Mclsaac. 12 124 42 391 01 12 Discovery Camborne MIGrand Forks "' Greenwood Hedley Kaslo Kimberly Ferguson Marysvllle Moyie Nelson Phoenix Rossland Sandon Sllverton Slocan City Van Anda Trail Vmlr 35 106, 294 421 K] 85 90! 8881 377 COG! What to Bead on Socialism BrChtrles H. Kerr, Editor of the International Socialist Review. Eighty beautifully printed pates, with many portraits of socialist writers. Includes a simple, concise statement of tbe principles of socialism. One copy Iras on request, U mailed for loo: 100 for 11.00; 1,000 forHO.08. CHARLES H. KERR * CO. 163 Kitulo Street, Chicago, III. Brother Farmer continues to complain about the low prices ot wheat. Why does he not "fix the price" at aay $2.00 per bushel; that would help some. c. PrimS Practical Boot Hand-Made Boot* and Shoci to order In •11 styles. Repairing promptly and neatly ly done. Stock of staple rendy-inad* ■ Shoes always on hand. ''".*■■' 1456 WntMlMttf Avt. ~ AT E M TT S . 'e so I ict- the business of Manufacturers, Engineers and others who realize the advisability of having their Patent business transacted by Experts. Preliminaryadvice free. Charges moderate. Our Inventor's Adviser sent upon request". Marion & Marion, New York Life Bldg, Voutreal: "hd■Washington, D.O, U.S.A. NEW SOCIALIST GAME "Tfte Class Struggle"" Ms!Ini tarAM in fUui]'.*: •■ ~ CHARLEB H. KERft ft 00. Ths whms Utelh-MM pis) jl lUitiji-: ■f.tinvsulo.i. " " 103 Klazls Stmt. Cfcksup, IU TYOLAISET CANADASSA Jos tahdotte jotakin tietaa tyovaen puolueesta ja sosial- ismin edisty ksesta Canadassa, niin tilatkaa kohta. "Tyokansa" 'Box tS7, Port Aflhir, Oat. Se on Canadassa ainoa Suo- men kielinen sanomalehti, jo- ka taistelee sinunkin puolesta. Edistat tyovaen luokkaa tila- amalia Tyokansan. Mikm alnooitun, $1.50 vuoiikorti "ViKileuka" Makiaa, $1.25 ia meeting Sunday Evening, 8 o'clock CHAS. LESTOR National Theatre Formerly the Cameraphone 58 HASTINGS ST. W. VANCOUVER, B. C. • ■- SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, 1909. THE ■ WESTERN CLARION. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA. THREt This Page Is Devoted to Reports of Executive Committees, Locals and General Party Matters—Address All Communications to D. G. McKenzie, Sec., Box 836, Vancouver, B. C. PRICE LIST OF 8UPPLI5S. Supplies will be furnished Locals by Executive Committees, at the following prices: Charter (with necessary supplies to start Local) $5.00 Membership Cards, each ' .01 Dues Stamps, each 10 Plattorm and application blank per 100 25 Ditto in Finnish, per 100 60 Ditto in Ukrainian, per 100 50 Ditto in Italian, per 100 50 Constitutions, each 20 Ditto, Finnish, per dozen 50 DOMINION EXECUTIVE. WHOSE OX IS GORED. Meeting September 20th, 1909 Present, Comrades Lambert (chairman), Karme, Mengel, Morgan, Petersen, Stebblngs and the Secretary. • Minutes Of previous meeting approved. Charters granted Sydney Mines, N. S.; Dauphin, Man., and Woodstock, Mclntyre and Graham district, Ont. Correspondence dealt with from Ontario and Manitoba Executives; Locals Albert, N. B.; Locals Montreal and Lachine Locks, Que.; Winnipeg and Brandon, Man., and Regina and New Fintiland, Sask. From Organizers Gribble and O'Brien, and Comrade Walter Tru- scott, Blackfoot Hills, Alta. Receipti. Ontario Executive $50.00 Lachine Locks, Que., stamps 2.00 Brandon, Man., stamps 1.00 New Flnnland_ Sask., stamps.. 1.00 Reglna, Sask., stamps and buttons Sydney Mines, N. S., charter... Lloydmlnster, Sask., charter... Literature, etc 8.00 6.50 7.50 .75 Total $76.75 BRITISH COLUMBIA EXECUTIVE. Meeting September 20th, 1909. Minutes of previous meeting approved. Correspondence dealt with from Locals Fernle, Hosmer, Phoenix, Vernon, Kamloops, Port Moody, Gibson's Landing, Nanalmo (English and Finnish), Ladysmlth (Finnish), South Salt Spring Sointula and from John McKenzie, Shields. Receipts. Fernie, stamps $15.00 South Salt Spring, stamps 2.00 Kamloops, stamps 1.00 Sointula, stamps 10.00 Port Moody, stamps 2.00 Phoenix, stamps 5.00 Vancouver, stamps 10.00 Vancouver Finnish, buttons 4.00 Ladysmith, buttons 10.00 Nanaimo, Finnish, Comox, campaign 2.50 Member-at-large 1.00 Total 74.50 Warrants ordered drawn for postage, etc., $2.50; John Harrington, organizing, $50.00. • Sufficient funds having accumulated it was resolved to again place Organizer Harrington in the field. ONTARIO PROVINCIAL TIVE. EXECU- Regtilar meeting September 8th, 1909. . Present—Green, Watklnson, Zalk- Ind, Woodhouse and the Secretary. « Woodhouse elected chairman. Minutes of last regular meeting read and approved as read. Communications from Locals Woodstock, Toronto Eng., Berlin, Brock- vllle and Gait, were dealt with. On motion, Comrade Colombo was instructed to proceed, to Welland to try and organize Local there. ' On motion, Secretary was instructed to purchase 5000 pamphlets from the Dominion Executive, entitled "The Little Business Man," and to ascertain from the Locals throughout the province how many each Local can use. Bills. To the Dom. Ex., stamp $25.00 Receipts. Berlin, stamp ...- $2.00 Brantford, stamp 3.00 A. Baker, button 50 Port Arthur Finns, stamp 10.00 Toronto Finnish, assessment in full 34.25 Toronto English, supplies 32.40 Total $82.15 P. C. YOUNG, Provincial Secretary. MARITIME ORGANIZATION FUND. Previously acknowledged ....'. .$92.80 Com. Cheesman 1.00 Com. Alex Lyon 50 "A Toronto Comrade" 1.00 Total $95.30 ROSCOE A.FILLMORE. Albert, N. B. Albert, N. B., Sept. 10, 1909. Dear Comrade,— From time immemorial, Socialist soap-boxers have been the lawful prey of- the police; throughout the world, the standard of efficiency ln the Socialist Party has been measured by the number of times the different speakers have been "pulled ln; man who has spent six months or a year in gaol ls a martyr, one who has been arrested five times is a "leader" or an "orator," while the unlucky man who has never offended the police is called a "subordinate" by the old party press. Newspaper, reporters and editors, preachers, priests, and labor leaders, have remained woefully silent while long-haired, dirty-faced, bow- legged Socialists have marched day by day from Salvation Army headquarters on the street to the department in the police station especially reserved for them. But lo! all Is changed. The right of Socialists to a monopoly of the glorious privilege of martyrdom has been questioned. The Moncton police, in seditious disregard ot the wishes of Senators, Mayors, Editors, etc., listened while Comrades Gribble and Fillmore "ran their whole gamut of denunciations of society as at present constituted," but when a half drunken ex-Scott Act Inspector broke ln with patriotic utterances in regard to Edward the Seventh, Wilfrid Laurier, Senator pow-wow-wow, anid the Union- Jack, the police, recreants In their duty, marched the ' said 'gentle- man to the cooler. Mr. John Timothy Hawke of the Transcript," being familiar with the inside of a New Brunswick prison, extended sympathy and wordB of encouragement to the incarcerated martyr. Having also, for political reasons, a spite at the police, Our Christian friend of the Transcript took the proper method to "get back at them." The article ln the Transcript of Sept. 7th spouted venom in much the same manner as the crater of Vesuvius spouts lava. In fact we may expect the offending Socialist "orators" to immediately close their hash-traps, at the command of Moncton's prominent citizens. Any Socialist who was not in the railway centre on Labor Day will regret it to the day of his death. The speakers, with two notable exceptions, rose to their feet, exhibited their dress suits, stylish gloves and plug hats, apologized for rising, complimented the labor unions and the merchants on the magnificent parade, also complimented the audience on their good looks and intelligence, and sat down. The audience, as if in proof of their intelligence, applauded vigorously. Comrade Stuart and Mr. Landry, being members of the working class, were graciously allowed to speak, at which the eminently respectable gen tlemen in the stove-pipe hats vanish1 cd from the balcony. (The autoists, quite properly recognizing the dignity of labor, carried all the labor leaders except Stuart and Landry, with them.) Comrade Stuart delivered the dope in good style, injecting thoughts in large quantities into the hitherto unemployed brains of the workers. He told them that they must organize themselves into the Socialist Party of Canada, must march united to the ballot box and vote for themselves, must capture the reins of gevernment and take possession of the world. When he finished, the cheers of the multitude would have turned ex-Premier Robinson green with envy, had not that worthy improved his opportunity and disappeared. Landry then followed In the same strain, and when the official part of the proceedings had ended, Fillmore an<F Gribble arose and spoke for half an hour, amid resounding cheers. They closed by announcing meetings for the evening. jA meeting was opened about eight p. m. at the crossing! Stuart, Gribble, and Miss Mushkat continued their oratorical campaign, while Fillmore spouted blood and .thunder further down the street. The famous Mr. Bel- yea interrupted Gribble and explained to him how A. W. Puttee, Alphonse Vervtlle and Ralph Smith, the "Socialists" in the Dominion House of Commons had never done as much for the working men as "our own Mr. Em- merson" of the Liberal party. Gribble answered that the "putty" men were of the same political party as the ex- Mlnister of Railways, at which Bel- yea admitted his mistake,' took two or three more drinks, and turned up ten minutes later at the other meeting, with the same argument about Vervtlle, Puttee and Smith. This time he did not act peaceably enough for the police, and he was marched to the "quad." The next morning the charge of disturbing the peace was preferred j against him, and his trial is to be helc1! next Monday, the thirteenth. We venture to predict that the same "very prominent citizens" who called upon him to answer the seditious remarks of the Revolutionists will procure his release, and that the offending policeman will receive a reprimand from headquarters. Comrade Gribble, having raised as much hell as possible ln Moncton, left on Wednesday for Halifax to perform the same service there. Yours in the Revolution, CLARENCE V. HOAR. LABOR POWER DAY. Moose Jaw, Sask. Comrade Editor: the trades unions of this city had their annual parade on Labor Day and it was a great boost for the small business man, who had paid for the Labor Day Program with his ads., and from' the program itself, one could not make out that lt was a class parade, as it was more like a directory and the rigs of the small business man helped to make it a parade of labor power and nothing else. As the committee were looking for speakers for the day, I introduced to them Comrade O'Brien, but it was not a class conscous speaker they wanted, but a real live Liberal, and the M. P. for this district did the speaking. He gave them the taffy in good style. He said he did not know much about labor organizations, but he thought that labor had got nearly every demand that it-had asked for in this Province, and that women did not have to go out to work-and leave their homes and that conditions were good In this Province. It he had a real live interest in the workerB, he would never have given utterance to such words, but being a member of the capitalist class, he was not Interested in our condition. He had only to go to the city water spring to prove his statements false, where Com. O'Brien and myself paid a visit, where the horses and cattle were well-housed in a big roomy barn, free from mosquitoes and Insects that frequent thepralries; but the wage slaves, thirty-five In number, were dossing in an old tent with beds dumped on the ground, and in order to sleep and get their labor power ln shape for the morning, they had to light a smudge In the centre of the tent. Their condition was worse than I ever saw in the city of Glasgow's slums. To finish up his fifteen minute speech he told the slaves that they were to keep out the agitators. I think he really meant the Socialists. He happened to be passing the post office, and lo, he beheld the famous flag of his class was not flying to do honor to the workers. So he went after the caretaker to find out the reason of this outrage; the caretaker showed him his book and Labor Day was not mentioned as a day for flying this emblem, but he soon had it unfurled to the breeze and the wage slaves cheered and the band played; the band of the militia, which ls antagonistic to the labor unions under this system. At one end of the country the soldiers are keeping Mr. Union Man from getting too gay, and at this end of the country Mr. Union Man is walking to the tune of the same bunch. But It is as it should be, till the workers get manhood enough to own and control the things that are keeping them in slavery, the means of production and distribution. If Mr. Union Man took an object lesson from the parade and march to the ballot box as a class-conscious man, Mr. Liberal and the other parti- sites would sit up and take notice. A. STEWART. EXPLOITATION IN PRODUCTIONif basis" for ~any"argiimenT against '"me" AND CONSUMPTION. A.-Y.-P. The editor of the Western Clarion, several years ago, took issue with me when I' stated that, according to Marx, the working class is exploited ln production and ln consumption. So far as I remember, the question was not raised at any time, whether this position was borne out by the facts. It was merely claimed by my opponents, including the editor of the Western Clarion, that I was misrepresenting Marx. In those days, the second and third volumes of "Capital" had not been translated into English. But until these volumes were known to English speaking Socialists, any discussion of Marx's theory of value and of Its practical implications for the question of exploitation, especially the exploitation of the proletariat, must necessarily be futile. I could only refer my opponents to those volumes, but naturally such a reference could not be convincing to those who had not read the Marxian theories as a whole. Under these circumstances, I did not accept the Invitation of the editor of the Western Clarion to discuss this question In the columns of his paper. It is true I could have established the correctness ot my views even without those posthumous volumes of Marx. For in the first place, all his economic works, from the "Poverty of Philosophy" to the first volume of "Capital," contain ample evidence that this was actually Marx's own position. In the second place, even if it had not been Marx's position, I should have been compelled, ln view of the actual facts, to maintain this position. But in order to make the discussion conclusive and fair to my opponents, I preferred to let the matter rest, until they could have the same access to the second and third volume of Marx which I had, and have had for the last ten years But I was glad to note at that time that the editor assured me cordially that the latchstring was always out for me. And I resolved to avail myself of his hospitality as soon as he should be in a position to study the works of Marx as thoroughly as I had been able to do.' I hoped that the publication of my translation of the third volume of "Capital" would be the signal for all sincere Marx students to devote themselves to a thorough study of all three volumes and to a fundamental overhauling of all their past conceptions concerning the Marxian theories and their conclusions from them. In order to facilitate such a study, I took special pains to give a complete summary of the entire Marxian work on economics in the chronological order of the various writings of Marx since the publication of the "Poverty of Philosophy" in 1847. This article appeared in the International Socialist Review for June, 1909. The third volume has not been out in English more than about two months. But this short space of time has enabled the editor of he Wesern Clarion to complete the thorough study of the work and to take the field once more against me in an article published in the issue of August 28th, 1909, of his paper. I am now willtng to take up this issue with him and to raise the latch for a thorough debate of the question. Of course, this cannot be done In one short newspaper article. It will require a series of articles. And I am loath to start a scientific debate I on such a subject, before I am certain that the majority of the readers of the Western Clarion would welcome such a debate in a paper devoted principally to the propaganda of Socialism among the unconverted. If they are, then 1 shall be glad to do so. In ihe meantime, I can at least re- Last week I spent a few day's at the A.-Y.-P. It's a grand demonstration of what the workers can plan, make and j move some of the misconceptions, un- operate. But what interested me most; der which the editor is laboring, and were the Igorrotes. Compared with ^to clear the ground for a discussion of the Seattle plebians the odds are with the subject on Its merits. the Igorrotes. Their well nourished According to the editor, I have per- bodles, the "Joy of life" expression on . formed the work ot translating tho their faces, their dignity of bearing j posthumous volumes of "Capital" as and general physical make-up, are ln j the typo sets type, without sensing the strong contrast to the slovenly, dis-1 meaning of my subject. Nevertheless mal-like. spiritless appearance of the Seattle working plug. A few days before my visit, a pedlar of the stuff the farmers like told he holds to the opinion that I have "done well one of the few things worth doing." If I had really worked like an unthinking typo, I certainly gathering of Scandinavians at the, should not have done the work "well." fair, that they were the descendants j And I seriously question whether the of the Vikings. Ye Gods! How the; editor "has done well" to make such mighty hath fallen." They've degener- j an assertion on the strength of a fly- ated from Vikings to "hikers." |(ng trlp through a work to which I But to return to the Horrotes. They have devoted years of painstaking and gave a dance, some with scalp-baskets thorough study. hanging from their waists. (They were ■ t doubt the wisdom of his course all formerly head-hunters). This of course; the more, because he has never offered was looked upon with horror by the | anything but unproved assertions in i there may be a material distinction be- spectators, yet strutting through the j this Urie^ based upon a misconception : t ween "overriding" the law of value grounds were soldiers in tinsel and i ot Ma,.x's theory of value and a mis-' and "evading" it, and between fixing gold, many with that "brand of Cain". apprehension and misrepresentation I prices "at their will and fixing them (medals) on their manly breaBts, yet j of my own vlew i,n conrol.m|ty to their will," either and a very meagre foundation for any effective debate on' my part. Before the editor ventured forth to denounce me as a shallow and untrustworthy teacher of Marxian economics, who, nevertheless, is praised for having done his work well, he should at least have offered something tangible in the way of his own, worthy of serious attention. But leaving aside this shortcoming ot the editor, he could at least have stated my position correctly, Instead of misrepresenting me and making his misrepresentations a basis for personal assertions about me which he can never prove, and never has attempted to prove. • "In certain quarters," so the editor says, "it has always been insisted that monopolies could override the taw of value and fix prices at will 'and that the workers, after having been robbed as producers, were again robbed as consumers." And then he goes on without'further ado to insinuate that I am one of those who belong to those "certain quarters." I defy him to show a single statement of mine, in which I have claimed that "monopolies can override the law of value and fix prices at will." What I have claimed and do claim is that monopolies can evade' the law of value more or less. But I have always been careful to state that they cannot escape its effects ln the end See, for Instance, my "Marxian Economics" and the above named article Ih the International Socialist Review. And in making this statement, I have faithfully reproddced Marx's own position. In connecting with his misrepresentation the question of secondary exploitation, the editor' creates the impression that In my opinion the working class Is not robbed in the capacity ot a consumer, until monopolies have been established. Whether this is actually the editor's Idea, remains to be stated more clearly by himself. At any rate, it ls not my position. I hold, in agreement with Marx, that secondary exploitation takes place under all stages of capitalism, but that it increases under the influence of monopolies. The editor claims to have found only four sentences in the third volume of "Capital" which might, at a pinch, be quoted in our favor. But even these sentences, according to him, are very doubtful testimony for us. He is positive in his assertion that not the whole volume, nor even several chapters, uphold my view of the case, but only "four dubious sentences." These sentences are indeed dubious, but not in the sense, in which the editor thinks. They are dubious merely in the sense that any sentence would be dubious which clings to a wide-tooth rake whicli is dragged on a flying trip through a work which requires at least a year of thorough study for its understanding. These sentences are torn not only out of their context, but out of their organic connection as parts of Marx's theory of average profit, and are quite meaningless and unsatisfactory as scientific proofs for the editor's position. I am ready to prove (1) That not only whole chapters, but the entire life work of Marx in economics bears out my position; (2) that Marx himself took this position and that a careful study of even the first volume of "Capital" alone leads Inevitably to It; (3) that it accords with the actual facts of capitalist production and circulation. It is not a question, therefore, of debating whether the law of value becomes "inoperative through monopolies," as the editor thinks. At least it cannot bo a question for debate between him and myself because 1 have never held that position. The greater freedom of monopolies to fix prices more in keeping with their will does not signify by any means that the law of value becomes Inoperative. Such a logical jump merely Bhows the loose reasoning of the editor. Let him discuss facts, not his own unwarranted assumptions. A soon aa he shall do so, I am ready to contribute a series of articles on this subject to the Western Clarion. ERNEST UNTERMANN. Though It is not the same editor of the Clarion Just now, yet the latchstring hangs out as of yore, and the columns of the Clarion are open to Comrade Untermann to prove his three propositions, right away quick. We are fain to express our extreme regret at having misrepresented him. In palliation of our offense we can but advance the suggestion that, while i ahi i« Jtere and 9?otv By "LEEDS" v The last day for getting in your "application to be put on tbe voter*' Uat of Vancouver Is Oct 4th. If you are a British Subject and have resided in British Columbia for six months including one month in the city you are qualified. The capitalists have not yet deprived you of your vote and they never Will if you just wake up now, and, when the opportunity often, vote intelligently. Never before in history did slaves posesB such an easy and sure method or expressing their will politically, never before did a subject class bold in their hands such a key to freedom.. However the pencil cannot mark the ballot correctly unless it ls held in the hand of one who has studied and understands his class interests; More Socialists are made by the written word than by any Other mean's, so the obvious\duty of one and all is to continually push the circulation of the Clarion. » ♦ » Comrade Ed. Fulcher comes along this week with a bunch of four from Brandon, Man., and evidently intends to continue the good work as he orders a sub. hustlers book. .* * • Also a couple from Comrade A. Far- mHo, Toronto, Ont. * • • Three yearlles are scooped ln by Comrade T.J. Wallador, Hazelton, B. C. • • • Local Ottawa finds the necessary for its weekly bundle of ten per Comrade S. J. Oldham, and Comrade T. Roberts will also receive a bundle ot ten each week. « • • Comrade H. Cray, rustles two new readers for the Clarion treatment from Toronto, Ont. • • • The Socialist Library and Reading Room of the'Young Peoples Socialist League, Indianapolis, Ind. U. S. A., adds the Clarion to its list. * • • Comrade John Rivers, Sointula, B. C. helps along the revolution with a bunch of three new subs. • • « ..Local Brantford sends In a special order for 100 copies of the Clarion per Comrade A. W. Baker, who supplements the local's order with a list of five new readers. ♦ • • Last call for the voters' list, stand up and be counted. • * • Com. Lome Cunningham, Guelph, Ont., calls for his usual bundle of Clarions. , * • • And Comrade E. H. Phillips, Van Amla, B. C, renews his own sub. and sends along a new yearly with It. * • A couple that were "nailed" by Com. Miles of Whltemans' Creek, (no Japs there?) are to hand, per Taque. • • * The postal authorities Bhould be Informed of the fact that their employees In certain localities are rather careless in getting the Clarion to Its readers. There must be no discrimination against working class papers. • • • Another step towards that hundred was made by the following Comrades who send ,ln a reader each week: • * • W. II. Herrman, Qulnton, Sask.; Mlllan Grant, Stewarton, N. S.; W. C. Batt.ie, Alert Hay, 13. C; John Richards, Ladysmlth, B. C; Alex. Byon, Toronto, Ont.; W. M. Dutton, Nelson, B. C.j John Gallagher, North Pender Island, B. C; Albert Cherney, Chicago, 111.; J. W. Amer, Winnipeg, Man.; Moses Barltz, Manchester, England; Mrs. L. Forest, East Burnaby, B. C; Chas Bowie, Victoria, B. C.i and "The Fo'c'sle Barrister." • • • A local is about to be formed at Elk Lake, Ont., writes Comrade C. H. Low- thlan, and sends in a renewal. Fifty Jews were tortured to death In the most frightful manner by the Christians of Russia, on September 21. These Christians were not Socialists. * t t A new job ls reported to be waiting for Bowser, one that is out of the reach of the voteB of tho working class of Vancouver. T'was ever thus. The "earning" (exploiting) power of Harrlman's railways was not affected these men were looked up to and hon- A serious writer would at least refer more or less, yet the difference, how ]ln the slightest degree by his death, ored as little tin gods, while the Igor-1 to certain definite statements of his ; ever easily appreciable to the keen dis- rotes, who earned their medals j opponent and try to show objectively jcernmont of the college tralnd mental (scalps) in a fair contest. (For he; tnat h)s Op1)0,,ent is wrong. The edi- athlete, is rather too fine for a corn- fought with an equal armed foe. The tor r am sor,.v tn Bay, has done noth-jmon coal digger, soldiers of the Spanish wars had the )ng of the Wnd He nas contented No doubt Comrade Untermann will advantage of modern arms against old. himgelf wUh a few ,,,„,.„ or less In- explain these difficulties along with guns and often bows and arrows) were: gen|0Ug insinuations concerning my! the rest. We have a hunch, however, looked'upon with abhorrence. Which {smHy and my methods of working, that it will take him an even greater leads me to think that the outward ; ,vi,hout evp), nllvil... Buppne)j „|B rend-j ainoiiut of spnee than lie hints at, but mark of respectability "covereth atRrs wltll „ 8yBtemntlc presentation of multitude of sins." ,the Marxian theories its he undcr- GETTINWIZB. j stands them. This is a very poor :,<. the question is of no little Importance, we will have to try and find thi space. and Jim Hill says now that bis death WOUld not. make uny difference either, Hence we get tho following: A Capitalist Ib a member of Society who performs no useful function. • * • Tho Standard Oil and similar corporations possess great economic organizations. Workingtnen have no economic power and therefore cannot form an economic organization. POUR THE WESTERN CLARION. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, 1909. FROM A FOREIGNER'S POINT OF VIEW. If I am not mistaken, a little over a year ago a discussion was started In the Western Clarion about "Reform and Revolution." ln my opinion such a dlBCUBslon could have been of great advantage to the Socialist Parly of Canada. However, it came out to bo almost detrimental lo Its existence. Why? I have been following It most carefully from start to this date and It seems to mo lhat If ihe English- reared comrades would not mind that an unknown "foreigner" butts Into their discussion (there Is no discussion about that question among "foreigners," as It was settled among them years ago), and If they would like to listen without prejudice to his words, then at least some of the misunderstandings might be explained and the Impending troubles Inside of the S. P. of C. might be averted. I wish to speak frankly and hope the English comrades would not blame me If I would accidentally use some stronger expression. I am not a diplomat, nejther have I ever been In your highly educational Institutions, where I could acquire some of the English ways of polite rlb-breaklng and holl- sendlng. I am just an inferior brand of immigrant, mind you, not a selected one like you are. To start with, I wish to say that although I have read in this country already, volumes of foolish trash about Socialism, I am afraid I never saw any more curious collection than the essayB of some comrades on "Reform and Revolution," that were published in the Western Clarion. If it were a laughing matter, I would laugh to my heart's content at this strawman of theirs, called "The Reform Socialist." But as it ls not, I only pity their "scientific" ignorance, their glibly sound lng, lack of logic, their lack of tolerance and their misused energy. I am not, and never have been, a revisionist nor reformer. I am a revolutionist In tbe sense that 1 believe in the social revolution and try my best to accomplish it. I am strongly opposed to the idea that the Socialist Party of Canada should ever become a reform party in the real meaning of that word. I would even like to see the S. P. of C. more revolutionary than it is now. But I am not satisfied with the way the affairs of the S. P. of C. are run. Therefore I am one of those horrible, Immediate demanders. My contention is that the Socialist Party of Canada is behind tbe times. Nearly every Socialist Party of Europe was once in the same stage of development, in which the S. P. of C. is now, and there is no reason why Bhould not the S. P. of C. profit by the experiences of her sisters. Being in a favorable position to read in a few European languages, I have had enough chance to learn the platforms of various Socialist parties of Europe and to compare the revolutionism of S. P. of C. with reformisms of some European Socialists, and I am sorry to say that the comparison was not in favor of S. P. of C, the European reformers are more revolutionary than the Canadian revolutionists. The fact is, that the S. P. of C. is too conservative in some respects, too Utopian In others. I do not intend to write an exhaustive criticism of S. P. of C. first of all, because it would take too much of my valuable time; secondly, because I am not proficient in the English language and there is a marked tendency among the English comrades to regard the defects in the English grammar as a sign of stupidity; third, because my criticism would rather confirm the position of the opponents of the S. P. of C, and I do not wish to help them. Therefore, I shall just confine myself to the question at issue. As an American made Socialist 1 was a few years entirely satisfied with the standpoint of the S. P. of C. At the time of the Dominion elections suddenly my attention was called to a paragraph in the Platform of tbe S. P. of C, which I was asked to explain, and I could not do tt. Here It ls: "The Socialist Party, when in office, shall always and everywhere until the present system is abolished, make the answer to this question it guiding rule of conduct: Will this legislation advance the interests of the working class and aid the workers in their class struggle against capitalism? If it will, the Socialist Party Is for it; if It will not, the Socialist Party ls absolutely opposed to lt. Now, the question arises: Who ls to decide the question, whether some particular legislation is in the Interests of the working class or not? It GREAT BOOKS BY GREAT MEN Origin of Species, Darwin; Age of Reason, Paine; Riddle of the Universe, Haeckel. 25c, by mail —Merrie England; Britain for the British, Blatchford. 20c. each by mail, Send for Catalogue. The People's Book Store 142 Cordova St. W. secniB that the Party should do It. It docs nol. Tin' three Socialist members of B. ('. Parliament have occupied their HcatH for n number of years and the Party never expressed ltBclf iih In what they should do In (here. According to Hie Platform they were fully flitItli-il tn keep quiet or uvon to vote In the Interests ur the ('. 1'. It (helplim to comI'litriilf the capital, of coiii'Hi'l or to vole for shooting lite strikers IjtiHl to show llietn the difference Ol IlllcicHlH between the cap- IIiiIIhI anil Hie working claim, In make them cliixH conscious as quickly as possible I. And the H I', of ('. would lie rupoDllbll tor their nclloim "Well, It Ih nut ho bud," would kiiv nine icvnltitoiiary apologist of the platform, "Hie enquirer hIioiiIiI be asli- ed to look lulu the Constitution of tho Patty and the t'oiiHtllullon hmvb hat the Provincial Kxecnlve I'uuitiiH- tee hIiiiII draft the legislation." I tin rot know It the II. 0, Kxactitlve hns ever made use of Article HI, Section E, of the Constitution, al leant lite minutes of the t'oiiinilttoH do not ihow any trace of It, but I know full well that lt ls absolutely linpoBBlblu for the Socialist members of Parliament to rely on the advices of Provincial H.x- ccutlves. Why, It would be necessary to hold a continuous meeting for :> period of a few months just to give pointers to the Socialist members as to what they should say and how they should vote on the floor of Parliament. Notwithstanding that, who is to be responsible for the mistakes of that august body, composed of only seven Individuals? The whole Party? The rank and file? But the rank and file does not elect the Committee! It has not even the right to recall It! The Committee may by some chance represent entirely different Ideas than the membership of the party! According to the Constitution any gang of seven men, elevated by a little portion of party membership, has the right to impose their <pecullar ideas upon the whole S. P. of C. Is that right? Is there In the world any Socialist organization that is ruled by seven oligarchs? No Socialist Party in the world is ruled by any individuals; the individuals exercise always the will of the majority and to exercise the will of the majority is necessary to know it, and in order to know it the will of the majority should be expressed. The Party should express Itself what kind of legislation is In Its opinion, in the interest of the working class, and the Socialist members of Parliament should not ask for any other questions; the will of the majority would be their guiding rule of conduct, not their own opinions or opinions of any gang of individuals. That is the whole "immediate de mands" question. That is it, and that is how it is put In all Socialist Parties of Europe. And in the way of putting that question is the only difference between Canadian and European Socialists, not in the question of Reform vs. Revolution. The Europeans put the question in a straightforward manner, the Canadians reserve for themselves the right to do political tricks. I challenge any self-styled revolutionist of the S. P. of C. to point out the place where the Platform of the S. P. of C. is opposed to palliative measures and to the immediate demands. I challenge anybody to point out to me if there was one instance when the Socialist members of Parliament of B. C. were opposing any reforms such as 8-hour day and other palliative measures of European Socialists. No, they were always advocating them! The Parliament is an opportunistic and compromising institution, and any political party* whether it shrieks revolution or reform, if it takes part In parliamentary activity and is not In majority, becomes of necessity a reform body regardless of Its revolutionary aims. I would advise my revolutionary comrades to reconsider who ls more entitled to shield himself with the Platform of the S. P. of C. and to holler: Get out of the Party; this Is not a fit place for you. I woukl not say so, I would rather advise them to take pains to study a little more. A few Socialist pamphlets of doubtful scientific quality and a part of Marx's "Capital" are not sufficient to make in a year a Socialist, who may have the pretenses to be Infallible. One of the most conspicuous Canadian revolutionary Socialists Bald once n my presence to an audence of "foreign" workingmen, that their foremost fault ls In not knowing the English language, and as long as they do not acquire that precious knowledge, they are no good to the Socialist Party of Canada. I would not go Into the depths of wisdom of such revolutionary propaganda. I will Just reverse the above expression and will say: If you, dear English comrades do not know at least a bit of foreign literature on Scientific Socialism, If you do not know the International Socialist movement, if you do not know any recognized authority that can back up your so-called revolutionary position, (hen better shut up, stop inventing Bhootlng powder. It was Invented long ago; stop shouting about reform and revolution, stop teaching us the difference between this and our old country, because we probably know them better than you, although we j among i is, and we are growing Bl rung cannot explain ourselve . " smoothly |er every day. lt will be only a quel- as you do—or else • ou ar apt to j tion of time when we will bo uble lo make an ass out of . iiirRc . j .st asiget control of the movement. Tho all-wise Sammy Gompei did. Think would-be-genius leaderH are losing more, study more—then talk And I ground every day. Their aotloni are work a little more. 1 know one thing I causing discontent among the rank that whenever It came to deeds, the] and file. f;o the situation lookH more English revolution!; were always pi<<i lising than ever before. The Kin- conspicuous by their absence. (Wher<| nisb Socialist Locals on the const here wore the Winnipeg revolutionists nUare without exception on revolution Ihe time of the May Day demons'rn-1 ary lines, Hon?) J Ii lb due lo Ihe fact thai we here The windy recitations of liiit-dl. have boon more utile to be In touch gcBtod extracts from Marx's Writing! With t'ie English speaking movement, and revolutionary exclamatloi s otunil through the EnglUh ipttl "« not suffice to make the teachetl of Comrades we have been more ab, ti goolallltn, my dear comrade MYR. STECIII! UN Htmlv economic subjects. Which il,u Finnish Socialists who cannni under- inn I Ihe English language have not been able to study, because we have l.iul n > Finnish literature on tliosu 11'. I yet. "A KINN." LABOR DAY IN TORONTO. ANOTHER "FOREIGN £R." Ws Are Nat All Palli.ito." The recant action >■' vartout Finnish Locals an.: the " netit It hns itiiBed, places Plaui h .■'iflallsts as i whole In to a bad in,'.' '1 a few words from "a Klnn" ih i, i oxi nun- llon Is not out of place Without cmbellisliiit!?, I mut' Ol i- I'esH that the Finnish Soi ialist nu\ • tnent on this conllnen ls sndlj a - Dieted at present. It reminds a pc - son more of n b' rger s inform ni t j- ment than of revu tior try prole . in movement. It reseml'es very m ,eh the Independent. Labor <'arty of England. The revisionist i -"ment is In complete control of. tbe i. wement at present. But if we conn • the o • lgln and the position of tin So 'Hot movement among the linns o. .his continent, we will undoubtedly come to the conclusion that the above mentioned affliction was inevitable The Socialist movement among the Finns in this country is not a direct product of the economic conditions, of this country Tne origin ,.f Socialism in this country among the Finns, is due more to iue ,k.ia!ist:i who Immigrated fro'i Finland than to the direct economic uiditions. The active Socialists among th ^inns in th.s coin- try have Imni< rai *d fro j the nid country, and ha... rhore been affiliated with the Socl- -t n-ovemetr. They have received their conception of Socialism and their > lode "f tactics there. They are pursul lg the same tactics here, in the co iry where economic conditions are !> ogethei different than those in Finland Finland is a country of small industry. The capitalistic mode of production has not yet developed in that country to any great extent. Finland as yet to a great extent ls an ,• tural country, with the remnan"? of the Feudal system yet visible. Consequently such conditions compel Sn clalism to take a different course.with different aims and objects than in a country like this, where the capitalistic mode of production has reached its zenith. The social conditions are altoge*' different in Finland to those of this country. Until a few years ago the country has been under a conplete despotism. The rank and file of the people have not had any voice in I Verily "Gribbles Shack" has a lot to management of social affairs. They jf ,1!iWer for- have not had suffrage until a few years ! f"" tninS ' w0"1" like to say a°°ut ago, when the universal suffrage wai 'thp graduates from 134 Hogarth ave- granted and a form of mock parlia ment. Consequently people who nev- i .iiiitalism's Labor Day took on u new form In Toronto this year. If tin snme thing happens again next yenr, as It probnbly will, It will jar out good, kind rulers some. Instead of Labor Day being celebrated by untlilng more serious than nn exhibition of labor powor In every town It suddenly developed Into a revolutionary congress. A congress It was, too, In everything but name, members of the Party being gathered In Toronto from Montreal, Brantford, Guelph and Cobalt. It was quite an experience to meet tbe active members of Toronto English Local and hear their opinions on tiie progress of the movement. Toronto is fortunate In some re- Bpects, one of which Is the fact that there are some real Socialists there who have not been backward in imputing whatever knowledge they had to others. Another thing I would imagine, that in a large city like Toronto, the fact that practically every one is a stranger, makes it easier to get out and do propaganda work without being victimized. In the smaller towns this is quite a force to be reckoned with ln keeping workers from engaging actively In the movement. On the other hand there is a large number of the population whom It must be hard to interest in the movement. I mean hotel and restaurant help; also in a less degree employees in department stores and store clerks and salesmen and women generally. This element is nni to be met with In the smaller t * as ln the same proportion as I" r s like Toronto. one i.iinr that has helped to make the movement strong in Toronto is the Socialist Training School. Probably Clarion readers have never heard of the institution before, but it is there, nevertheless. In all my travels round among the Socialists I could trace the ';ood work of the "Speakers' Class' which Comrade Gribble is responsible lor. It was a treat to see the bunch of iounq; fellows there, all equipped with scientific knowledge along revolutionary lines, all eager to get in the fight. nue : What a pity it is that a dozen o. so of the younger memhSrs nf the er before in their lives had a voice ln I ' cal who have Sone through the ni. don't get out into the sma'.ler , . n. in Ontario. Surely they are not management of affairs, place more than a due confidence in the parliaments as a means of bettering conditions even under the capitalist system of production. They are not conscious of the inability of the parliaments. They have not had the same experiences as we have had in this country. But it is impossible to convince them until they have experienced it themselves. As a Finnish proverb says, "A Finn does not believe until he tries." So there is not very much hope of Finns adopting clearer tactics and freeing themselves of palliative mongering until experience convinces them. There are several other factors that tied to Toronto. They are, for the most part tingle Englishmen who have no ' lily connections in the city, Sotue of LhrTi, I learned, find a dlffl- cul" -nie' ieh in finding a purchaser fr liolr 1. jm-power in Toronto; so, ri v, I don't see what they have to li' oy striking for the bush towns. 0 hing is certain, it will be a bail dry for capitalism when this bunch g' ts scattered through the province 1 h- =e young men are more particularly soap-boxes, and lt was refreshing to hear the confidence they had In this m thod of propaganda other members that I spoke to had cause the Finns to take their.present'"•hvr views on this subject. Some course. For instance, the petty bour , wer« ln favor of periodicals, some geols element being In control of th , Tuniphlets, while one prominent com- United States Socialist Party, witl. rade jumped on books. "It Is the fel- tbelr milky program and code of tac tics, causes the Finns to be eager to mould our program and tactics according to those of the afore-mentloned party. And there still is another, the greatest of the factors, that is, the Finnish Socialists are not posted on economics only with a few exceptions. The would be genius editors of the Finnish Socialist press bave not discussed economic subjects in the columns of the paper. They have devoted the columns of the papers to a form of yellow journalism and other bottomless agitation and to their own ill developed theories and conceptions, which bas caused more confusion than anything else among the rank and file of the Finnish Socialists. It is not the bourgeois element that causes the Finns to seek reforms, because we have no bourgeois ln the Finnish movement, but it is due lo the lack of understanding of the economic problem, not being posted In economics and consequently not understanding the capitalist mode of production. Hut do not think that we are all palllators. We bave a strong live real revolutionary proletarian element lows who read books who do things in the movement," Bald he. "Your reader of periodicals only, generally takes no part in the propaganda. When a prominent speaker comes to town all your readers of periodicals turn out ln force; but go to business meeting or propaganda gathering and there you will find the men who read books." Propaganda meetings ln this comrade's opinion were valuable only In giving us a channel through which we could sell books. On Tuesday night a lecture was announced to Lo given by a prominent Chicago comrade. Needless to say, the irowd turuti out, but the prominent omrade failed to put in an appearance. Tnstead Comrade Simpson gave us an account of the situation Il the colliery district of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, and this account, together with the discussion which followed it, was of tar more importance than anything any "prominent" comrade could have to say. More especially did Com. Simpson point out the good work being done In that district by Comrade Gribble, bo much bo that a handsome collection was realized to help the work down East. W. DAVENPORT. PLATFORM Socialist Patty of Canada We, tbe Socialist Party ot Canada, in convention assembled, affirm our allegiance to, and support ot the principles and pro- gramma of tha revolutionary working class. Labor produces all wealth, and to the producers It should belong. Tbe present economic system Is based upon capitalist ownership of ths means of production, consequently all tbe products of labor btlong to the capitalist class. Tha capitalist is therefore master; the worker a slave. So long as tbe capitalist class remains ln possession of tha rains of government all the powers of tha State will be used to protect and defend tbelr 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 mlse-.y and degradation. The Interest of the working class lies ln the direction of setting Itrelf free from capitalist exploitation by the abolition of tbe wage system, under which Is cloaked the robbery of tbe working-class at the point of production. To accomplish this necessitates tha 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 In a struggle for possession of the power of government—tbe capitalist to hold, the worker to secure lt by political action. This Ib the class struggle. Therefore, we call upon all workers to organize under the banner of the Socialist Party of Canada with the object of conquering the public powers for the purpose of setting up and enforcing the economic programme of the working class, as follows: 1. The transformation, as rapidly as possible, of capitalist property In the means of wealth production (natural resources, factories, mills, railroads etc.,) Into the collective property of tha working class. 2. The democratic organization and management of Industry by the workers. S. The establishment, as speedily as possible, of production for use Instead of production for profit. The Socialist Party, when ln office, shall always and everywhere until tbe present system is abolished, make the answer to this question Its guiding rule of conduct: Will this legislation advance the Interests of the working class and aid the workers ln their class struggle against capitalism? If It will the Socialist Party Is for It; If it will not, the Socialist Party ls absolutely opposed to lt In accordance with this principle the Socialist Party pledges itself to conduct all the public affairs placed ln Its hands in such a manner as to promote the Interests of the working class alone. READ COTTON'S WEEKLY 60c per year Two for a dollar SPECIALLY PINE FOR PROPAGANDA WORK. Six months 25c. "jblished at Cowansville, P.Q. IF YOU HAVE UKRAINIAN neighbors, send for a bundle of "Robatchyf Narod" the organ of the Ukrainian comrades in Canada. 50 cents a year 135 Stephen St. Winnipeg, Man. LESTOR ROOMS 623 Alexander St. Furnished and unfurnished rooms Rates $1.50 per week up. Manigtren 5 50 60 YEARS' EXPERIENCE Traoi Marks Designs Copyrights Ac. Anyone sending a skel <h nnd description may . nlcklT ascertain our opinion free whether an Invention Is prnhnblr pntentable. Communlca- tlonsstrlcllrcnutldentlnl. HANDBOOK onl'atont* ■ont free. Oldest nuency lor securing patents. Patent* taken tnrouuh Munn & Co. receive ipeclal notice, without charge, In the Scientific American. A handsomely Hluitxated weekly. Lnrseit circulation of any icientlQo Journal. Terms, $3 a yoar; four montbi, IL Bold by all newsdealers. HUNN ft Co.»«»"—'• New York Branoh offlce. 626 V St, Washington. D. C. THE 8. P. OF C. BUTTON. Price, each _ 50c To Locals five for $2.00. Apply to your Provincial Secretary. Demand Cigars Bearing this Label Which Stand* for a Living Wage Vancouver Local 857. 556 Tfi HOUSEKEEPERS fl If you would like to spend less time in your kitchen and woodshed, and have much more time for outdoor life, recreation and pleasure, look into the question of doing your cooking with a Gas Range. Telephone your address to our office and we will send a man to measure your premises and give you an estimate oi cost of installing the gac pipes, Vancouver Gas Company, Limited.
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
Images provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy, or otherwise use these images must be obtained from the Digitization Centre: http://digitize.library.ubc.ca/
BC Historical Newspapers
Original Format: Royal British Columbia Museum. British Columbia Archives.
Western Clarion
Text