The Labor enquirer., 1883-06-23
DYNAMITE is quoted to-day at 464c.
THE GRAN &.

In all movements there are some per-
sons who are distinguished from the
mass of the followers because of their
more pronounced views. In religious,
social or political matters there are al
ways some who think faster, talk palmer
and reach deeper than the others. The
titles applied to this class are varied, and
seldom appropriate or just. The most
frequent appellation of the present time
is that of Crank" a word which, in it's
present application, eluded the research
of the dictionary makers of ten years
ago. This word is applied at this time
to the advanced thinkers and outspoken
men in all public subjects, but as it ap-
pears to be more lavishly used in at
tempts to ridicule men in the ranks of
labor reformers, it is to that particular
point your attention is directed.
The labor crank" to-day is the man
or woman who is not satisfied with the
threadbare declaration that "the laborer
is worthy of his hire" but fails to re-
ceive it. The odious subject Of this
sketch takes the above thought as his
foundation and studies the subject. He
produces proof in substa ntiation of the
theory that man is entitled to the
fruits of his labor. He without diff
culty) shows that he does not receive it.
He gives irrefutable evidence of the
causes which defeat the objects of this
divine law. He lays down the practic-
able plan by which the end can be at
tanned. And for this he is christened
Crank"
Now, reader, let us get down into the
merits of this case, arraign this great
lunatic before the bar of our reason and
common sense and see how he will en-
deavor to sustain his position. There is
no need to waste time upon the PROPOSE
ton that laborer should have what he
earns; we certainly all agree upon that
point Then the first thing to be con-
sidered is, does he get it? Is every man
permitted to enjoy the fruits according
to amount of labor (mental or manual)
,by him performed? Does the man who
tolls in the mines, on construction, in
the fields, the factories, the business
marts or the counting room from ten to
fifteen hours each day, enjoy in proper
ton with the labor performed and the
wealth produced what is possessed and
reveled in by the banker, the railroad
king, the politician and all classes of
government-made money kings? You
will certainly have to answer "No."
But the cry goes up that this is envy
and covetousness every man has the
right and the opportunity to become
wealthy and powerful. If this were
true the system that allows any few men
to control the wealth of the country and
the bread of a majority of its people is
wrong, no matter if hodcarrier traded
places with a millionaire every minute
i'm the dav. But the statement is untrue,
IA p1Opol "a euO WCdlGl1 VI GuC
world is entailed and goes from father to
son, and even in this country the cases
where the dying father fails to bequeath
his earthly possessions entire to his OWL
children is exceedingly rare. Let no
.one get the idea that I object to the right
of father to bequeath his possessions
to his progeny. The point is only men
toned to show the falsity and alb,
surdity of the assertion that all men
have an equal chance in the accumula
tion of wealth. The man who says the
child of day laborer has an equa
show with the son of. Vanderbilt OF
Gould, either in question of dollars
and dleents or education, is a fool or says
what he knows to be lie.
But, let us go on investigating the
! il