"high-grading" stopped investments would be on the increase and the Goldfield boomers (or bummers) would be in clover. But the big fight that was made by the miners disarranged the calculations of the get-rich-quick crowd, despite the fact that daily bulletins were sent out for weeks announcing that the strike is settled, the miners have returned to work, all mines are working full-handed, etc., etc. Therefore, it was necessary to do something else, especially as Roosevelt did not care about pulling chestnuts out of the fire for a besotted Democratic governor and cause his man Taft to be placed in an embarrassing position when people begin to ask questions this fall. So a state constabulary was put through and now the barkers, gold-brick swindlers and thimble-riggers are once more sending out bulletins through their corrupted press associations announcing in one breath that there will be "resumption of work in those Goldfield mines that are still idle and the employment of full complements of men by those working small forces," and in the next breath the "con" game assurance that the constabulary scheme "will probably add considerably to the strength of the market." You can almost hear those gold-brick artists shouting: "Step right up this way, ladies and gentlemen, and view the most wonderful, the most magnificent and marvelous valuables in the world. We don't want them; we want you to have them; take them for a mere bagatelle." And the yaps from Hayseed Corners will come along and-invest again? Perhaps and perhaps not-probably not if they have been bit before, and, the Lord knows, pretty nearly all of them back home have been up against a brace game of one kind or another during recent years. The truth of the matter is that the Goldfield swindlers have but few skilled miners at work. They did import several carloads of strikebreakers, but not many knew anything about mining. It is more than likely that when the weather breaks up many of the Goldfield miners will do prospecting on their own hook and then the "con" men will be worse off than at present. It is only fair to say in this connection that some of the daily papers have refused to print the doped bulletins sent out from Goldfield. On the contrary, they went after the swindlers without gloves and showed them up as the greatest aggregation of fakirs and crooks that had ever been gathered together anywhere under the blue canopy of heaven. From fake prize fights to salted mines the Goldfield grafters have been doing nothing but working "bunk" games on the American people until the very name of Goldfield has become a stench in the nostrils of the reading public. A wise speculator once said: "If you are considering the matter of investing money in mining stocks think the matter over carefully-and then don't invest." Which advice might be amended to read: "And if you were thinking of investing in Goldfield securities build a bond-fire in the stove with your money."

It may not be news to Review readers to learn that trouble is threatening along the lakes when navigation opens. Fully a year ago it was stated in this department that the employers contemplated making war upon the unions, and it appears that they are now ready to do battle, for they have come out in the open. Not only have the lumber carriers announced that the lumber handlers will be compelled to accept a reduction in wages, but the United States Steel Corporation, that uncompromising foe of organized labor, is clearing its docks in the lower lake regions and preparing for action. On the other hand, the longshoremen, who have one of the strongest unions in the country, do not intend to lie down. They are busily strengthening their lines and making ready to meet the issue. It is not

publicly known, but it is nevertheless a fact, that President D. J. Keefe had intended to follow the example of John Mitchell and retire from office this year, but since the issue has been raised by the. employers it is doubtful whether the membership will permit Keefe to step down and out. Keefe is one of the oldest executive officials on the industrial field and has had exceptionally good success in handling some very intricate propositions during the dozen years that he has guided the destinies of the longshoremen, and they will be loth to part with him. Committees from the employers and unionists will meet next month for the purpose of considering the situation. It is practically certain that the men will not listen to a reduction and sign an agreement, and it is also probable that the vessel owners will demand a cut in wages. If a deadlock ensues you can look for guerilla warfare all over the lakes. The longshoremen have a card up their sleeve that they can play that it would hardly be proper to make public at this time, but which would cause the capitalistic interests no end of trouble and the loss of a good many dollars before they triumph in the battle to reduce wages. Meanwhile where are the seamen going to get off? Or will they remain on board? Watch the moves.

Things are not running smoothly, in the National Association of Manufacturers. It has leaked out that quite a number of influential manufacturers have deserted Van Cleave, Parry, Post & Co., as they do not admire their style of pitching. Some of the disgruntled element charge that Van Cleave has been meddling with the tariff question contrary to their interests, while others do not quite like the notoriety that they are receiving in being connected with a unionsmashing organization. The desertions are said to have caused Mr. Van Cleave considerable worry, and that big little gentlemen is trying to explain in his organs all about what's the matter with Hannah.

When this month's Review is on the press representatives of the building trades, prodded by the attacks of the open shop masters, will be assembling in Washington for the purpose of establishing an international alliance subordinate to the A. F. of L. and to include all crafts. There is hardly a doubt but some plan will be worked out at this meeting to secure more harmony in the building trades and wipe out some of the old sores that resulted in one craft scabbing on another upon more than one occasion. Upward of a million mechanics, and laborers will be in the new alliance.

As perhaps most of the Review readers have learned, W. D. Haywood has resigned as secretary of the Western Federation of Miners. At present he is on a speaking tour in the eastern part of the country. It is almost useless to add that Haywood is being greeted by audiences that pack every meeting place, and from all accounts in exchanges the people are deeply interested in the narratives relating to the Western miners. It is also almost needless to say that the daily capitalist press studiously refrains from mentioning the Haywood meetings. Wonder why's the wherefore!

NEWS AND VIEWS

By

Sweet Reasonableness. My friend the editor calls for a starter for the Forum,-two hundred words, subject "Sweet Reasonableness," a term which Matthew Arnold applied to the method of the socialist 'Jesus. The tooth and claw manner of attack used by the animals of the jungle is one way; sweet reasonableness, or the Missouri "Show me" way is another. I like best the latter way. It gets farther and lasts longer. Good natured, courteous reasoning enlightens, convinces and persuades. Most people distrust great big gallops of dogmatic assertions. Most people dislike hot denunciation. They believe some things are wrong but not everything. They are for mending but not destroying, not knowing what would happen next. their daily and life-time experience they know that people average much alike in generosity, fairness, selfishness, crookedness, regardless of religion, politics or class. They think they know something, as well as the cocksure and vindictive writer or speaker. But show them by reasoning and by familiar facts and illustrations how affairs can be improved on, and they listen, and by degrees come your way. There is a fraction of the people who are down and out, and ready for revolution. But the great majority know they are not slaves but free, they live comfortably, have what they regard a fair share of happiness, and can be drawn into a new system only by sweet reasonableness.

N. O. NELSON.

A Reader's Ideal for the Review. Here's a line to express my appreciation of "The Element of Faith in Marxian Socialism,,' by Thomas C. Hall (in the January Review). We need many more articles in the same strain. Our. sectarian dogmatism has already rendered our tactic less effective than it should be and could be. We do not begin to use the opportunities for propaganda staring us in the face. Our democracy does not flourish with a quarter the vigor of our sectarianism. We are already too doctrinaire. I also quote unauthoritatively-a remark by Comrade Ghent that "the scope of the Review is too narrow". How he would explicate this dictum I cannot say. But I endorse it in this respect: personally, as a new member and consequently as a student of all that the party ought to stand for. I neeed some good articles on tactics; some articles on organization, both theoretical and practical, more particularly articles describing the work of efficient locals and workers in the form of original essays or studies, not so much on the text of Marx as on the text of current events and conditions. In general I am persuaded that we should increase our efficiency if we all wrote half as much and twice as clearly, distinctly, forcibly, or instructively as we now

do. Inefficient words are a delusion-worse than a mere "sentimentalism"; thanks be to Labriola for this word and its content. Wishing increased service to the Review under its new editors, I am, fraternally, T. J. LLOYD.

A Letter from Bradford, England. I was very much surprised on reading Robert Hunter's account of the British Labor Party. As outlined by him it will seem very plausible to those who do not know the whole of the facts. The Socialists of this country are in perfect sympathy with the withdrawal of the S. D. F. from the above organization. Those who understand what Socialism means and seeks to accomplish are heartily sick of the Labor Party. It is bound to no programme and has no principles. Social Democrats in all parts of the country are carrying on an active propaganda in their trades unions and trying to mould the Labor Party into a Socialist Party. The Social Democratic Federation left because their remaining in the ranks meant the subjection of their principles, their votes and actions to being controlled by a number of men, who, to say the least of it are not Socialists. I would like your readers to picture to themselves if they can, our comrades Hyndman and Quelch working in harmony with a man like Shackleton who thinks his seat of more importance than declaring for the raising of the school age to 16. If the articles on other countries are no more reliable than the one on England, I am afraid I must have my doubts about them. Your writer does not mention the fact that the I. L. P. Socialists object to a Parliamentary programme as formulated by the Trades Union Congress but are content with passing pious resolutions which are not binding on the Group who misrepresent the workers in Parliament. It is quite true that this may be as advanced as the rank and file, but this should not prevent them from trying to lead them to some higher ideal. A Socialist looks upon all public bodies merely as a platform for the advocasy of his principles. The British Labormen are imbued with the idea that they are born administrators, and want to show the ruling classes how to administer capitalism. I along with other Social Democrats look upon all public bodies as platforms for the advancement of our principles. Our object is to break up all capitalist institutions and establish a state of Socialism. G.MALTON.

Revising the Party Constitution. It should not be forgotten that one task of the coming National Convention of the Socialist Party is to revise the party constitution. To save the time of the convention and ensure careful consideration for every change proposed, a committee has been elected, consisting of W. R. Gaylord, 226 9th st., Milwaukee, Wis., James Oneal, 15 Spruce st., New York City, and Charles H. Kerr, 264 Kinzie st., Chicago, whose duty it is to consider all proposed changes in the constitution and recommend to the convention such changes as it deems advisable. The only change thus far proposed which has seemed important to the majority of the committee is a plan for improving the method for electing the members of the National Executive Committee. This is discussed on another page of the Review. It is probable that a final session of the committee will be held just before the opening of the National Convention, and all party members having changes to propose should present them to some member of the committee before that time.

Milwaukee Socialists on the Liquor Question.-The liquor question was discussed at a recent meeting of the Milwaukee City Council. The Social-Democratic aldermen introduced the following

resolutions: "Whereas, Milwaukee is known for the orderly character of its population-statistics showing that the number of arrests for crimes and misdemeanors of all descriptions are very much smaller in Milwaukee than in any other large city in the United States, and Whereas, especially the masses of the people and our working class are famous all over the United States for their intelligence, enlightenment and orderly habits, although their personal liberty is less restricted here than in any other city, and Whereas, Any existing abuses and excesses could easily be corrected and avoided under the present laws and ordinances if we had a decent mayor and an efficient chief of police: Therefore be it resolved, That there seems to be no special reason nor general demand for any further restriction of personal liberty in this city, and consequently the common council ought not to legislate any further on this question unless so ordered by a vote of the people, and further Resolved, That before any further measures in that direction are enacted, the following question shall be put to a refereudum of the voters of Milwaukee at the next municipal election: Shall the common council enact any further restrictions on the beer and liquor traffic in the city of Milwaukee or not? Yes or No."

Britain Hoists Socialist Flag.-This is the Chicago Tribune's own head-line over the following dispatch published in its issue of January 26: In all the political movements of England possibly no such a sudden and remarkable swing of the pendulum of public opinion has ever been witnessed as that recorded this week, when in a conference at Hull representatives of millions of British workingmen, forming the labor party, hoisted the flag of socialism. The party put itself on record as accepting the socialistic doctrine that production, distribution, and exchange should be controlled by a democratic state in the interest of the entire community, and as favoring the establishment of social and economic equality between the sexes. The English public is still so dazed over the suddenness of the avowal that only a few newspapers seem to grasp the real significance of the new situation. Persons who professed astonishment and fear when the lonesome figure of John Burns-since raised to a seat in the cabinet-entered parliament as a representative of a labor constituency many years ago have now a real reason to fear for the traditional conservative trend of British legislative institutions. Among other things, the latest move of the labor party really means that the cry of socialism will not only be raised with a strong voice in the house of commons but that the present labor members of parliament, who have so suddenly changed their political complexion, will be backed in pushing the socialistic propaganda by the strong organization and wealthy treasury of the labor party, though it is true that since the Hull meeting some nonsocialist members of the party have condemned its action and threatened to break away. Nevertheless, it now seems plain that, unless other political parties succeed in breaking up the socialist party, nothing short of a Dolitical revolution can be expected. There are indications that the present liberal government will attempt to obtain the early support of the socialists in the pending fight against the house of lords, and that if this aid is forthcoming the next session of parliament, beginning on Wednesday, is likely to be the most exciting in years.