The Rebel (Hallettsville, Tex.), Vol. [1], No. 40, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 6, 1912 Page: 4 of 4
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page of the Houston Chronicle:
DOWNFALL OP U. S. IS DESIBED.
1
'Industrial Workers of the World" hare
Allegiance Only to the Bed Flag-
Bj A«oei t«d Pre*!
"S*n Diego,' CfcL Marek Tk«t awurlj 80 of the lodturtri*!
Worker* of the World arretted here lure admitted they we trying to
overthrow the United State* government it a aUtement contained in a
report which the California aathori tiee will and to the immigration bu
nan at Waahington.
41 An examination of eaek of the 80 prisoners, nearly.* of whom
1 are foreigner*, haa jut born finiahed by the eity anthoritiee.
"The report etatee that with ecareely an exception the men declar-
ed that they reeognited no form of government and no flag except the
' red one.
. "To the qneetion, 'What la the rod flag lymbolical of4' the an-
swer wae'Blood.'"
It passed the telegraph editor, who presumably did not know its
otter and deliberate falsity, and fonnd its way into the paper, there
to poison the minds of uninformed readers against one ^ the several
movements intended to raise the standard of living among the work-
ers of the world.
Any Socialist knows that the Industrial Workers of the World do
not desire the "'downfall" of the United States government. Any So-
cialist knows the I. W. W. wants to take that government out of the
Ihfwda of the parasites and the thieves who have always controlled and
now control it Socialists know that the I. W. W., so far from detir-
ing to destroy the United Statu government,wants to make it a govern
ment "of the people, by the people and for thepeople."
■■ Probably if the I. W. W. could have its way, the form of the gov-
ernmait would be changed in many ways. There would, I presume, be
no senatorial house of lords. The federal courts would be stripped of
their present (usurped) power to nullify acts of the people's law
makers. Bepresentation in congress would not be from geographical
districts but from the several industries of the country-—as agricul-
ture, manufactures, transportation, eta The president and all ether
public servants would be made subject to recall for misconduct. In
these and other ways the I. W. W., if it could have its way, would re-
model the government of the United States, but it would not be abol-
ished. Nobody but a madman or a deliberate liar, seeking to discredit
the workers' efforts to betted their condition, ever asserted anything
of the kiiid.
The red flag of the I. W. W. is the red flag of Socialism, It is a
symbol, like all other flags. . *
Unlike aU other flags, it never did and it never will rally men to
shoot down their fellow men. It does not stond for war and destruc-
tion, the red flag of Socialismistands for peace and human brotherhood
end justice.
Head this paragraph again:
"To the question, 'What is the red flag symbolical of?' the an-
swer was, 'Blood.'"
And so it is, but not in the way the Associated Press would have
the readers of its lying .news service understand. The Associated
Prs&s tries to make people believe the red flag stands for bloodshed. It
fact it stands for the red blood of all humanity1, a symbol of the broth-
erhood of men in all lands, a pledge of justice and of peace and plenty
• The San Diego agent of the Associated Press betrays his provin-
cial spirit and tries to rouse prejudice against the I. W. W. by stating,
probably falsely: "An examination of each of the 50 prisoners near-
ly all of whom ore foreigners* has just been finished by the city au-
thorities." t -I-
"Nearly all foreigners." That is, nearly all were men not born
in the United States. All, we presume, were born, like ourselves, in
the image of their Maker, God Almighty. All,. presumably,'have two
legs, two arms, one head and the usual complement of human organs.
All, doubtless, work for ja living when they can get a chance to work,
and all must eat, as we do, to sustain life. Probably all, like ourselves,
had mothers and fathers, and many, like ourselves, have wives and.
children, whom they love and would care for just as we try to do.
. The lying Associated Press does not go so far as to deny they are hu-
man beings, capable of speech and thought. It just damns them with
the word "foreigner." .
Socialism—and the I. W. W. is orie branch of organized Socialism
—does not recognize any man as a foreigner. Socialism recognizes all
men as brothers. It recognizes the common fatherhood of an all-wise
Creator and the blood brotherhood of all the Father's children. It
sees in the immigrant from another land a man and a brother whosf
needs are the same as our own, and who has the same inalienable right
to live on the earth that we have.
Big Business, whose ^prostitute the Associated Press has become,
-does not recognize nor admit human brotherhood. It regards the great
majority, of the humble, poor, obscure men and women who do thf
.world's work, and produce the world's wealth, as outcasts, a liltle
higher than the dumb animals, but not fit for self-government nor for
*ny government but that of their masters who own the earth and the
tools of industry.
That is the distinction between the I. W. W. and the lying Asso-
- ciatcd Press which thus deliberately slanders it.
The 50 members of the I. W. W. who have been thrown into jail
at San Diego have been placed back of the bars for exercising their
constitutional American right of free speech and free thought. They
are like the poor timber workers whom John H. Kirby and his Lumber
Trust pals threw out to starve jp Southeast Texas and Louisiana, last
- year, because some of them voted the Socialist ticket and actually
dared to try to organize a labor union.
The Kirbys on the Pacific coast are as merciless, blind and stu-
pidly brutal a lot of money despots aa ever disgraced this continent.
They are trying by wrongful use of governments and courts wbf-V
they control to rob working men of their liberty find their right of
free speech. They hope in this way to suppress rising disoonfcnt
among the workers against exploitation by the profit grabber*.
They have not wit enough to know that every time they outrage ar
atom's rights they arouse a doeen other oitiaons to challenge their
Wtrol of governments. Tbey art too dulljto know that by mtch math
over'
workers m 0«
of free speech,
hand and protest i
by the lying Air
slanders an hon-
of thni kind on^hat paper. Surf
witting* to go to jail in defense of the right,
it to be fifty Rebels wilUng toJake pencil W
the printing of cruel lies about the matter.
;SmS
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"Ccmanehe, Oklahoma March H, 1911—Dear Rebel: Tarn the
enetoaed sheet over to Pend'ragen. The writer of thie paper, U. G Wil-
hereon, ia a prominent minister of the Chnreh of Chriat at Comanche,
whose elders consist of a loan- agent and real eetate shark who'
charges a* high ae 40 per cent iatereet on loans; a credit merchant
"•'•.-Whcee profit and interest rate ia 100 par cent, and the other—well#
> he ia a farnitare dealer and yon ean gneee easily about him. The gen-
tlemen Christians are doing their damnedest to keep from hornet pro-
ductive labor. Jae^lUld thia jnky dope to Pendragon and watch the
fur fly from the parson and editor of this sheet and the subs to The
Rebel roll in from the interested. An Oklahoma Bed Bebel, ./
"Arthur Willmon."
The enclosed paper i a page from vtbe Weekly American, pub-
lished in Comanche, Oklahoma. Its editor is P. W. Tucker. The
marked editorial in the American is the editor's comment on an argu-
ment between G. G. Hamilton, a Socialist lecturer, and Rev. Mr. Wil-
kerson, The American editor writes;
"Of all our rdading of Bocialiam'not a word of commendation for
anybody or anything have we seen other than the MeNamera's and
their stripe and their few favored leaders, who are pillaging and plun-
dering the prosperity of tbe country for their own political aggrand-
izement.
"On the other hand every ancceaafal man, business, corporation or
inatitation haa been hold up to ridienle before tho public in *n attempt
to pollnte public senti^eut and install in office the gang that ia pirat-
ing over the coon try making the spreading Of dissension their Princi-
pe avocation.
"Capital haa no tytterer or more relentleaa foe than Socialism,
and unfortunately, where the latter thriven #*#1 former moves oat and
leaves commercial patay and a bitter and anproaperoda people. The
aooner tbe people qnit subscribing to campaign funds of the self-
atyled 'save the country' speaker* the better off tbey an<f business
will be. No one denies that reform ia not needed, bat to admit that
■u«h punk as thia outfit proposes as feasible ia equivalent to eaying
that the McNamaraV dia a groat service far the country when they
wrecked so many buildings and cauaed so many deaths. ' t
"The trouble it when Socialism step* ia capital will atep oat, and
there will be noting to reform. Thia thing happened in Mexieo, and
now they are down there, no longer fighting for principle, bat fight-
ing for the man who offer* the most money—-using their gun as a
means of earning their bread and butter, with no thought of who they
will eventually inatall in office."
It is hard to get the light into a mind like that The American
editor evidently believes what he writes is true. He is the victim of an
ossified brain. He has lost, if he ever had it, any sense of the broth-
erhood of all men. He regards life here on earth as doomed to be for-
ever a wolf contest for bread, a roof and a chance to breed. He can't
\ - • ■ ' I v.-
understand the diving power that urges mankind ever forward to
higher levels of civilization. He doesn't understand the cry of the
oppressed for justice, for an equal chance with other men and women
to live a full, comfortable, civilized life. He sees men divided into two
groups—one, a big group, doomed forever to be slaves for the other
group, the small group of men that own the earth and the machinery
of production. 'v
As for the minister of the gospel who opposes Socialism," why, he
too must be excysed on the ground of ignorance. Maybe he is only
cowardly. A good many* men who would endorse Socialism, who know
it is comjn'g and coming to elevate humanity, fear to make public their
conviction, lest it cause them loss of money, or of social standing
among the ignorant rich.
And as for the deacops of the Church of Christ of Comanche, Ok-
lahoma, they are as much the product of environment as any of the
rest of us. They are therefore not to be blamed for being what they
are. Had they been better born, with more courage and better devel-
oped brains, they would not be the men they are but would be lead-
ing in the fight for human liberty. I have no quarrel with them. I
have no inclination to condemn them. Their practices, as indicted by
Comrade Willmon, inflict pain upon other human beings, and are
therefore wrongful practices. In time to be, the need for mien to in-
dulge such practices, and the opportunity, will be removed. When
men are no longer required to be mean-spirited, to be harsh and cruel
and usurious toward their fellow men, in order to thrive, .n^en will
no longer be so. These qualities will die out of the world. Not all at
once, but gradually.
There is a vein of unscqjoscious humor in the American's editor-
ial—as when its says: '' When Socialism steps in capital will step out*
and there will be nothing to reform." k
Nothing is more certain than that when Socialism steps in capital
will step out. Men will cease to worship mere wealth, as if it were a
god or a minor divinity. Capital, as we know it, is common wealth.
Socialism will make this common wealth common property. Capital
as the American editor knows it, is common wealth privately owned.
That indeed will "step out" when Socialism enters, but it will step out
of private into common ownership, where all common wealth—the
earth and the tools of indu8try, properly belong. '
Defend Your Free Press.
Capitalism, controlling the federal government at Washington,
and fearing Socialism above all other things, is trying desperately to
break down the Socialist propaganda papers. Its heavy, lawless hands
have fallen on many small Socialist papers in different states. Its
main attack is on the Appeal 5
; Once, with a packed jury and a venal court, the government con-
victed Editor Fred Warren on a ridiculous, faked-up charge of violat-
ing the postal regulations, and sentenced him to prison and to j>ay a
heavy fine. Taft, panic-stricken at the storm he saw this outrage
would provoke, remitted Warren's prison term and cut the fine to
$100. Warren sent the pardon back to Taft and refused to pay the
fine. The government took its medicine and let the case drop.
Later, the same corrupt court forced a reluctant grand jury to in-
dict Warren, Way land and fehifer of the Appeal for gn "ob-
scene publication" through the mails. The obscene publication was a
truthful report of honors inflicted upon hdplasi prisoners in the
Leavenworth federal prison by grafting official brntes. The govern
fthns^reviiSE
meet was forced to
troth of the.Appeal's charge*,
m
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4k;
i
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mm
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brake ont of
:a
*tTopeka,
Hb warden „
the Nebraska Sti
published cha
Which the
■MIBPWWMMWB eases the nn
public service. It helped to protect helpless pns
abuse by official brutes. It showed the people
"' ■ " ^eoniet th* evils, ft was
wnri<*(
ed and wo%
be. The "offense" was the some in both cases, but fhe governs
controlled by the great capitalists, doesn't care anything about th* J
fense; all it wants isto crusha great Socialist paper, *
I don't believe the Appeal editor* will ever go to prison, i doQJ
believe the supreme court of the United States will dare stand up •
the white hot light of national publicity, and confirm any advert*
verdict lhat may be forced through the lower and leas exposed fedjl
al courts. 1:
The Appeal editprs have money enough to fight their case to tin]
supreme court. In that they are fortunate. Many an editor 0{ J
little, penniless socialist paper has had to submit tojudicial despoti^j
case up to where the whole people could see and pass judgment up^|
.... Without a free press no people on earth can preserve their UbertA
It is their open-court, in Which they can estpose wrongs and rally puU
lie wrath for justice. Without a free press to turn the light upon Iej.1
islatures, congresses and courts, these agencies of government would]
become more hopelessly corrupted and despotic than they are now.
Today, in this country, moist of the newspapers, especially the|
daily newspapers, are tied up to capitalism. They have ceased to dJ
pend on sales of papers for a living, and have become dependent on adl
vertising. Advertising can be got only of private capitalists. Tkerd
fore the daily newspapers, almost withput exception, are absolutely dj
pendent on the patronage of capitalism for their existence.
They have incorporated and capitalized their power to sell adraJ
tising space. This, their biggest asset under present circumstanced
will become valueless under socialism. It is capitalized wattr.J
When socialism takes overthe industries which now supply the ai
Vertising, that water will run out of newspaper capitalizations and
leave most of them bankrupt They won't be able to earn dividei
on their stock,^nor interest on their bonds. They won't be able
pay the tall salaries some of them pay to men now. in charge. They
won't be able to take any more for their work than the average of
other men engaged in useful productive labor.
It is because the owners of the big papers see this coming under
Socialism that they try by Suppressing Socialist news and misrepresent-
ing socialist philosophy, to delay its coming into power. It is, hot-1
ever, because the workers of the big newspapers also see these changer
coming that most of them are socialists, or going that way fast. That
is why the Socialist weeklies and monthlies, independent of advert^
ing, are the only really free newspapers in the United States.
I make bold to say that more genuine NEWS about Texas afjain>
has been published on this page of the Rebel, during the past fete
months, than has appeared imtll the daUy papeff of Texas p u t
gether^ My friends on the big dailies know the news-the big, rifalj
inside news—but they can't-print it, because it would offend advertis-
ers and cut the dividends which advertising yields for the owners of\
those papers. .. ''
Nor must we ever have party ownership of the press. Party own-
ership would mean control of the papers by little groups of officials,
who would thus be able to dictate what kind of news should be given
to the people.
The newspapers must be made to stand or fall on the test of sir
vice. They must live by merit alone. The people must have //if*!
where they can control them. This can be done only by keeping then
in private ownership.
■| As long as Tom Hickey or Fred Warren or Bill Smith or Tom
Jonee prints a paper that readers believe tells the truth and keep*
the faith, that paper will have their subscriptions in sufficient number
to keep it alive. When readers lose faith in any paper, they will
quit buying it, and it will die, as it will deserve to.
We must have the recall on our press, but otherwise leave it ab-
solutely free to print the truth, without dictation from advertiser!,
political committees, or anybody else.
Under socialism, there will he very"little advertising, other thai
formal public announcements. Nobody will have any need to ad
vertise for profit, because no private citizen will have anything of so-
cial value to sell. Men and women will probably advertise exchange*
of personal possessions, of a non-social character, and the city, state'
and national governments, may use the newspapers to a limited ex-
tent to inform «ntizeus regarding employment, goods and the like. But
the great blight of advertising control of .the press will vanish along
with other evils of capitalism. Publishers will have to reduce the si |
o* their great blanket sheets, and charge a price at which the subscrip-
tions alone will support the paper.
This is a glimpse of the future of newspaper
Iseeit. I may be wrong. But I believe a free
anybody but the daily or weekly test of public p
essential to human liberty, under any form of go
It may be possible to work, out a system of pi
for)each t<W or city, that can be kept free from]
am unable, at this time, to figure out how any
be made.
Meantime, Socialists have no higher duty th
dilation of their paperst and defend them again
by the capitalist government.
i, under Socialism,
i, uncontrolled by J
mage, is absolutely]
ent.whatever.
•lie newspapers, oncj
ilfish control, but Ij
tch arrangement will!
in to extend the cir-j
it tyrannous at tad
SifiSSifiifiWSSSKKSS
S THE SUOAB TRUST AC- K
# QUITTAL. * £
Si ■ ju
* A jury in New York dis- W
S agreed last week in, the trial Hi
Si of the Sugar Trust That Si
beautiful augar baron, Presi-«
K dent Smith, of the Mormon Si
K church, a fragmentary hns- Si
Kl J>«nd of a number of wives K
■ u*iS
alaMWB, ,
MM
Dan p.
City, Okl;
up a stal
Okla., am
routing
slooljing
Party «.
up the
ballots
Vfl
^ J- —
•cwni
■ider writes from
; "Am just-windii
routing at . Elk Cifl
will begin on a
ondo#r. "'Socialism
in, Oklahoma^
seekers have f
ces (or of^ce and
luraged. I believe wh
ii scare h«SuM 3
newspapers of
i
2&M0.
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Hickey, T. A. The Rebel (Hallettsville, Tex.), Vol. [1], No. 40, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 6, 1912, newspaper, April 6, 1912; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth395070/m1/4/: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.