“On the Machine. 1919” in “Class Warrior”
On the Machine 1919
Report of a speech by Kingsley on the topic of “The Machine” at the weekly Sunday evening meeting of the Federated Labor Party’s Victoria Local, Crystal Theatre, Victoria, 4 May 1919.
A Socialist Address
Subject Engages Attention of Federated Labor Party; Address by E. T. Kingsley
Speaking from the platform of the Federated Labor Party at the old Crystal Theatre last night, E. T. Kingsley severely criticized the present order of things, claiming that society was run by what he termed “the machine.” He claimed that no matter who owned or operated the machine, the result was the same, the complete breakdown of civilization.
The “capitalistic classes” also came in for an attack at the hands of Mr. Kingsley. He claimed that while present day conditions tended to speed up production, the increase in “machine” methods would soon be the cause of everything tumbling down with a mighty crash. He drew a picture of the contented state of the farmers at the time when he was a boy, and the frenzied effort to secure a living which most farmers were now obliged to make with their machinery. He concluded:
“The hour is drawing nigh when calamity will be upon us, and all of you will be well advised to make all possible preparation to meet the situation. If you do not make a move, the horror which I dread so much will descend upon us without intelligent preparation. I see nothing but disorder, bloodshed, misery, suffering and starvation awaiting,” he declared.
—“Federated Labor Party,” Semi-Weekly Tribune (Victoria), 8 May 1919, 1. See also “Socialist Address,” Victoria Daily Times, 9 May 1919, 7.
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