Welch's Weekly from Wichita, Kansas • 1

trour VGMEN ITE RIALLY ITICALLY WE CAN CONTROL OUR OWN CONDITIONS BY COLLECTIVE ACTION WELCHS WEEKLY DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF THOSE WHO LABOR AND THEIR FRIENDS IN ANC Vol. 2 Jo. 7. Wichita. Kansas.

Friday, February 24, 1911 Price 50 Cents Per Year INDUSTRIAL NOTES I I Why the Working Class Must Struggle for Better Condi- tions in Hours and the Time they Serve their Masters for I a Part of the Product of their Toil. ja ACTION Working Class to Free Them- Industrial Pirates who Be- of the Fruits of their Toil, lt i'ollowinj Declaration I by the Candidates Attached jreat question befoie the people Urvted States and before the of W'Chita today is the trust PDLITICAr Is Only Hope of the sel-s from Exploitation by the I lie in Robbing Workingmen 1 1 If (, I least one free concert a week in the Forum in winter. Firemen and policemen and all other city employees shall always be ac-csrdei fair treatment and a public trial before they can be discharged. The city shall pay a fair wage not less than a union wage to its employees. The city should declare a public holiday on all election days which shall be compulsory and a penai.y should be exacted against all employers of wage labor who shall ignora the order.

THESE ARE OUR DEMANDS IN THIS ELECTION. It is not claimed that by winning an isolated victory in a city like Wichita we can have the collective ownership of all of the means of production and dlstr bution, but such a victory would be a ttep forward, a milestone on the way cf human progress. We are opposed, not alone to con-dittoes which exploit and oppress the wage working class, but to every kind of exploitation and oppression, whether dKected against a class, a party, a sex or a race. ALL THESE MEASURES BENEFIT not only the wage working class, but the whole people, and vhlle the working people are the banr-r bearers In this fight, In the last analysts everybody the merchant, t'e professional man and the small shopk eeper will profit thereby. Therefore.

we invite every decent and well meaning voter, without regard to occupation, race or creed, to join us In our undertaking for the emancipation of mankind. In closing we call the attention of the voters to the deceit and hypocrisy of te capitalist class In their bl-annuj clamor for a so called business administration. We favor an honest common sense administration at the hands of any men who are capable of rendering the same. Signed AL. H.

BLASE. For Mayor. C. A. HAMLIN.

I. LESEM. A. A. ROE.

J. W. TAYLOR. For Commissioners. OF they are discriminated agamat, through their very weakness they 1 1 ha'e lowered the wage scale of men.

By Mary E. Garbutt. i hey have submitted to being driven I have ail the rights I want. Dont like machines, with never the power talk to me about women voting. said of j.iotest.

The ballot in the hands of my next door neighbor. the working woman would be of some A few weeks after she poured into economic value. If it did no more my ear a tale of woe. He husband, good than to help develope collective without her consent, had sold their action, its importance cannot he overborne although it was community estimated. property and her earnings had helped With trade organization among to pay for it.

Is there nothing I can wage earning women und political eu-do about it? she asked anxiously, franchisemeut, many of the wretched 'Nothing, I replied, "the law of Call- conditions would he improved. Of fornia gives the husband absolute con- much greater value, hoivever "would tro! of all community property. "Hut be that sympathy and cooperation de-the law is unjust, cruel," she cried, eloped, eventually to become a pow Ves, there are many laws not only in erful force against the whole vicious this state but in all other states un- bjstem that exploits them. Just to women, ln some states, as so called arguments are of- soon as the marriage knot is tied, a fered against the enfranchisement of wife doesn't even own her own cloth- women. Analyzed, they are just as ing nor the wedding gifts.

'With al! strong arguments agaiubt the enfran-tny worldly goods I thee endow' is a chiseiuent of men. When Jlr. Barry satirical bit of sentiment concealing reported for the Ladies' Home Journal the real situation. that equal suffrage has done no good hat are ou going to do about it? and has cost the women their reline-i asked. "Do, what can I do? she nieuf he could Just as well have add-said.

Why. work for the ballot for ed, "and man suffrage has done no women and get these laws changed. good and judging from Ohio elections Front that time on, she was a militant has cobt nieu their integrity." suffragist. The trouble with this world of ours "If the vote were given to me IN- Is, it has been too long a man's world STKAD of Bridget, I would believe in All our institutions, our laws, suffrage; but if the vote is given to our government, even our religion are me AND Bridget, 1 don't see what it man made. would accomplish for her vote would The Hindu women of Bombay de-oflset mine," says thut college friend dare in the motto of their Sorosis, of mine, who believes In an education- "The world was made for wotneu, too." al qualification.

need a human world, men and There was an election in our town to close th saloons. There were two bailot boxeR One in which the men alone deiavsited their votes for the city officials to he elected. Another In women both active factors in Its fashioning. The world needs to be made more home like. Who can do it better than the women? The Socialist Party incorporates n.

trusts make their existence felt -y household of the land from to ce'lar, from drawing room IE TRUST QUESTION IS NOW A LOCAL ISSUE. The trust is not only a subject for national legislation it has become a state and local issue. The fight alt the best ministration any city in the through has become a fight of the Btat3 cf Kansa has ever had' people's interests against the special THE SOURCE OF CORRUPTION. Interests. This capitalist system not only re- Not only do the trusts play a great suits in untold misery and suffering, part in our state politics, but they are but also in crime, prostitution and likewise responsible for our local con- corruption.

ditions. We have in Wichita many It is to the corruptive power of cap-local monopolies controlling necessi- itahsm playing upon the venality, the I' of life, such as ice companies, the uncertainty of the future, and the eet car company, the gas company, business instinct of those who have telephone company, the water made politics a business, that we owe "mpany, the electric light company, the corruption of our government. thermore, our public utilities now Gr aft is business in politics. a part of the gigantic system of Ore so called reformer lends him- blic service trusts. The trust ques- seif as naturally and readily to the must therefore be met locally as interests of the capitalist class as the nationally.

other And both naturally become 1 IhjRVJST OWNERSHIP OF THE no matter what change may NATION. ln the Personnel of the of- fice holders The rule of our present i trusts it is a fact, that the mavor and commissioners has made development of business in suffer most. The trusts fear nothing but working class control of public matters, therefore. if the voters of Wichita want to give the trusts the first real hard knovk tney have ever had in Kansas lit ti voters put this city In the hands of the working people. And besides you will thus give Wichita I u'' instances has made monopoly Stable.

Monopoly is here whether it or not. So the only question it shall be public or private Idol uh3p0y And the prvate owner-of the monopoly has clearly llt 'In the evils of the present system. Ui'V trusts have proved that now a small number of capitalists Ij, it in their power to decide how meat and how much bread we and the enforcement of good service. City inspection to that end shall be established if we carry the city. OUR PROGRAM.

The city shall secure ownership and management of all public service enterprises as far and as fast as the state laws wiil allow. We will work for the repeal of all state laws which prevent cities or counties, or even the state itself from engaging In anv business or industry, or for an amenj ment to our present state constitu'ion, in case such is necessary to bring about this end. This having been accomplished, would favor: The establishment by the city, of a publically owned steam laundry, paying union wage scale, and operated at cost. A city coal yard operated at cost. A city coal yard at which coal could be had at the cost of mining and transportation.

A municipal lee plant to furnish Ice to citizens at cost, about ten cents per hundred pounds. A municipal paving plant, which would save the city thousands of dol lars annually, through the elimination of contractors' profits, and at the same time insure first class work Instead of shoddy, and an avoidance of constant quarreling over paving guaran tees and Ac. If elected, we pledge ourselves, on being petitioned by the required number of voters, to call a special election at which the voters may decide, once and for all, what shall be done owsrd acquiring the present water works system, or the building of a new one. Aid and encouragement to labor unions in protecting their members against sickness, accident and unemployment. Reduction of the hours of labor.

Abolition of the contract system on public works. Abolition of the police powers against peaceable strikes, and the forblddance of Importation into the city of dangerous characters, commonly known as strike break rs. City aid for foundling homes. Freedom of speech, press, and as-semly. We call attention to the fact that the hours of labor In many of Wichita's industries are too long.

Especial-ly is this true In some of our steam laundries, where women and girls often work twelve to sixteen hours per day. Equal rights for women so far as we can establish the same either through public sentiment or law. All city employees to be treated courteously, and no fireman or police man to be discharged without first having been given an impartial public hearing. Free medical service should be established. The City should provide a municipal hospital, free from every taint of charity, the same to be kept open on Sunday as well as during the other days of the week.

We demand that our city shall protect her youth suppress vice. At the same time we call attention to the fact that prostitution and vice is a part of the capitalist system and will entirely disappear only with capitalism. The city should provide a system of street closets and comfort stations, such as are found In modern European cities. No sewerage shall be thrown or discharged into any stream or canal, thereby avoiding epidemics of typhoid fever and many other diseases. The city should plant and take care of the trees lining the streets and employ expert service for that purpose.

The city should also establish and operate a municipal lodging house to mitigate the trarrip evil. We consider the free public schools the bulwarks of political liberty and good citizenship In America, and we will resist any and all attempts to cripple them or lower their standard. The school buildings should be available to residents of the district for any meetings relative to the public welfare or matters of a political or educational nature. The city shall cause the Forum to be opened for meetings and amusements of the working people at low rates. Also the city shall further extend the free concerts In the parks during the summer, and arrange for at of Principles are Endorsed Whose Names are Hereto rrore or less at this from the trust ownership of the lation and from the high prices.

But the workers Wich.ta one of the most venal cities in the country. The promised "good government In Wichita is looked upon, rot only by our own citizens, but by the country at large, as a joke. This c'ty has come to be known as harboring place for criminals. It possesses to-day, for the first time in its history, a national reputation for graft and official corruption. The famous stamp cases of last year, the take over the public service utllties.

we demand their utmost extension exposure of which resulted in Federal indictment of a former chief of police, coal and how much for oil; how together one of the foremot business men of the southwest, show the deptahs to which dishonest public i- re we are Perrnied to use; and we as others, wi k'nd of 3 coffi" 3re to be their greed for private gain. The l.e hey can do this by fixing widely known hidden room affair is pHce 0f short, the stm a stench in the nostrils of the sts decide how well or how III, how public. We charge that our presen, or how short a time we shall live. ariminlstratl0n ha8, from the stand point of good government, been a a farce. Three different chiefs of police have failed in their clean up." Joints and prostitutes are as numerous and as bold in their business as ver.

Therefore we must Insist that the ntrol of the industries of this coun-J; shall be taken away from a small mber of Irresponsible and greedy fn whose aim is to exploit us to last limit of our endurance, Oil I fr i U) tom jjhe nation should own the trusts, cause It is clear that as long as the sts are In private hands the trusts I own the nation. ocally we demand that the evils the trust be combatted with all the sans at our command, as we show rther on. in-which both men and women voted for to its platform the political and indus-or against the closing ordinance. The trial emancipation of woman. It takes Bridgets voted that day to close the the position that the members of the saloons.

They were Just as anxious party should be ready, when there is a to protect their Pats from the Baloon campaign in any state for the en-evils, as my college friend to protect franchlsement of all women to work her boys. along with the organizations in the When the ballot boxes were opened field, and in every way possible to and the votes counted, it was found further their cause. We cannot do that the men had elected the anti ies8 than this if we are true to our officials, while the women rallying principles. at the polls had won a sweeping rna- of course Socialists realize that the jonty for the closing ordinance. political freedom of women will not You may count on Bridget voting for emancipate them fully, it will ouly be her home interests, whether she knows a step toward that larger freedom of how to demonstrate a problem ln economic independence which men huclid or not.

anj women alike are seeking through But woman's place Is In the home the Socialist state. The ballot is sim-where God meant her to be, and where ply a means to an end. Socialist worn-man has put her, with a perfect en welcome the opportunity their en-hnowledge, say the Henry Thurston franchlsement would give them to help Pecks of society, of his own neces- achieve industrial democracy. Our slties and in the second place of her hearts burn within us for the power own nature, her endowments and her to register our votes at the ballot box limitations. 1 at place she is bourn on election day for Socialism.

Such to stay, because for him, and it may a vote is the strongest protest we can be added, because for her as well, it make against the merciless power of is wholly best that she should do the capitalist system. so. Hut woman, in spite of this dictum Whos Friends? of the divine oracle, refuses to stay "put. Economic necessity has pushed I notice by the city commissioners 6,000,000 women of this country out of report of their proceedings that the the home into the business world. The wise chumps, that are supposed to spinning wheel, the handloom, the look after the citys interests, but kneading bowl, all the insignia of whose first concern seems to be to womans work in the home, if they take care of their friends, paid 150 exist at all, are found stored away in dollars to have a committee tell them the attic, an occasional reminder of that the walls of the Bitting building the days of our foremothers.

Robbed were not safe after the Are had burnt of her old domain of industry, she has out the interior. Had they asked me been compelled to leave the home and I would have told them for $1.50 thu9 go out Unto the factory and mill, the saving to the city $148.50. But then a shop and store, where industry has small item like that dont count been socialized and the utilization of g. t. RAY.

steam and electricity. The very fact that so large a body In the Mexican border states where of women are forced out of the home the citizens are best acquainted with and have become bread winners under the facts of the conflict between a new enviroment, and under the re- troups of the Mexican government lation of employees and employers and the revolutionists monster meet-makeB it Imperative that the working ings are being held by Socialists, trade women secure the ballot They need unionists and citizens of all classes, ex-to have something to say about the pressing sympathy for the Mexican conditions under which they work, the revolutionists and protesting against length of hours, the wages paid. United States troups being sent to When women performed their work the border, also demanding belliger-In the home, they could regulate all ency rights for the Mexican revolntlon-these matters. Now they art helpleaa. lata.

A GREAT CITY PARK. By Carl D. Thompson, Socialist City Clerk. One of the greatest municipal projects that has ever been undertaken In Milwaukee was launched at the last meeting of the city council. C.

It Whitnall, who Is the present ilty treasurer, hag been working for years through the Metropolitan Park Commission on elaborate plans for park purposes for the city. Aid. Berger, taking up the work with him, brought the matter to a final and successful Issue by securing options on over five hundred acres of land, lying on both sides of the Milwaukee River in the northern part of the city. The transaction involves an expenditure or over a million dollars. But the tract is obtained with the payment of a comparatively small sum, the balance payable on land contracts.

The land purchased is one of the most beautiful sections of the territory adjoining the city, and constitutes an Ideal parking district. This achievement is regarded by all as one of the biggest, most comprehensive and beautiful things that has ever been done for the city of Milwaukee. It not only secured to the city all the advantages that will come by control of the beautiful river, flowing into and through the city, but also the advantage of maintaining beautiful parks on both sides of the river far into the suburbs. And ln addition the city will be a great gainer through the ownership and control of the land adjoining. WOMAN8 DAY.

The woman members of the Socialist party are going to render a program February 26th at the Socialist Hall, 123 S. Main. This Is the National Womans Day set aside for the women by the Socialists. All who believe in the women getting a square deal come out and tfelp us celebrate womens day. FAILURE OF REGULATION.

The utter inefficiency of the present administration is nowhere more apparent than with reference to the problem of public utilities. This has amply been shown by the miserable failure of their boasted "regulation. Our present officials are now, or have been, in a dispute, legal or other jThere is nothing to be hoped for by wise, with about every public service icting mere reformers or so called corporation in the city. No perma-men to office. They do not nent good can come from this, for the 'ffer in any essential point.

Both reason that these institutions are pri-e In favor ef upholding the present vately owned and their owners will stem. The trusts grew up nation- run them as they please. The investi-ly and locally with their help. All gation of the telephone plant, at a cost them are trust owned. of several hundred dollars, has not HE GAME OF INS AND OUTS.

lessened the burden of the people. On fcSSMI the high sounding clamor of the contrary it will in the end, prob-ese men is sheer hypocrisy and a ably increase their load. An official i for votes. These reformers and visit to the gas fields has given us form organizations, willingly or no more gas than before, and with all Cancwillingly, serve as feeders for the the official clamor concerning the wat-has beist owned national parties of Aid- er plant the pressure on the mains years fh and Bailey. These reformers has Increased not an ounce, by thrive never accomplished anything of The street car service is just as and ue anywhere.

All they accomplish vicious, the cars just as filthy and pend el that they keep some good and hon overcrowded, the rates just as exor-ral yt but gullible men within the lines bitant and the general operation just Wichij the capitalist parties. Elections for as reckless as ever, road, iem are simply the old game of Ins jhe people will never find relief ployed id Outs for the politicians. The Ins from the tyranny of private mono-generat t0 6tay in office and the Outs p0y these public utilities until they dreda t0 9et the themselves own and operate them. becausVE THE TRUSTS THEIR FIRST And until the city is in a position to HARD KNOCK. being Mr.

Vc Every Interest ef the people suffer.