The Labor enquirer., 1884-05-31
Who STEALS?
Is II the Starving Boy, Who.
Snatches a Loaf of Bread,
or Is i
The Internal Scoundrel Who Desc
lated and Devastated the
Boys Home!

Editor Labor Enquirer.
DENVER, May 26.-Policel policei
sounds through the clear, crisp win
ter's morning air, in whining and
half-cowardly expressed shrieks. A
rush, burly hand upon the half-naked
shoulder of half-staryed boy, who
holds loaf of bread in his left hand,
while running, eating, escaping. crying,
whimpering and devouring, all at the
same time. 4. -. ~
A crowd. "Well, so young and already
thief" came from one. aHeisa a nice
chicken from another. Mister, he
took the loaf from the counter, sir, / was
behind the same, and he ranr-I can
swear to it, 1 can, from the huffy clerk
of the bakers shop. "Well, Pll take him
along,n from the policeman, who slowly
begins to walk away with his prisoner
boy, in selfcomplacent satisfaction, and
all is over. The crowd disperses; the
bakers clerk, the gnawed loaf in his
hand as corpus delictu," followed the
police as the principal prosecuting wit
ness, and the human tide flowed, ebbed
and surged as usual. 4 -
Petit larceny, minor, extenuating cir
cumstances, hunger, starvation, worthless
"kid," bad example, poor parents, etc.,
etc. "Send to the house of correction
for year," was the sentence to the poor,
halfnaked, starving waif of humanity,
and the.policejudge/ probably thought
he had done wonders; yes, wonders
preserved society been lenient; but ex-
ecuted the law, well-took an extra
hot toddy at the next corner before 60
ing home for his stolen dinner! Who
stole it; the boy? No; by the Eternal,
no! He only tried to take what by Gods
rights belonged to him--food, when food
was denied him by the high thieves of
upper-tendom.'
Nobody is a thief when he has plenty.
Nobody wishes to take what does not be-
long to him practically, if he does not
need it. But misery, want and hunger
know no laws and defy all laws, which
are made only for the protection of the
rich and the more complete subjugatlon
of the poor. Who steals? That poor
boy only followed the instincts of self
preservation when he took the loaf of
bread he sorely needed to still his hun
ger. And any judge who will prosecute
such a case is nothing but beast in hu-
man form, or a myrmidon of the rich
classes, under whose pay and command
he sits upon his bench.
Let us see who steals de facto in this
world, without ever dreaming OF being
prosecuted or arrested, tried and pun
ished for it. Who steals politically ? All
citizens of the United States are theoret-
icalIy possessed of equal political power
and are upon level before the law or
should be at least. We all have one bal
lot to deposit none of us should have
nay, have not-two. Notwithstanding
all this fine theory and sentimental idea,
| 100000 of laborers have not one repre-
sentative in the national legislature Of
this land. Congress shows thirty-nine
representatives for 100000 merchants
and distributors twenty -four representa-,
tives for 100000 professionals; sixteen
representatives for 100000 mechanics
1877 representative for IS, 600 lawyers, and
NO representative for 100000 laborers
Who steals? Has the laborer no rights
which should be represented in congress
Has he no grievances which should be
altered by national legislation For the
laborer there is no legislation, no law, nc
right, no justice; only duties and obedi'
ence. Only duties and obedience? de
is systematically, legally, legislatlvely
robbed robbed robbed and again
robbed!
Who steals? Nevada, Delaware, Colo
rado and Florida have 663,652 inhabi-
tants and eight senators in congress.
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illi-
nois have IL, $40, ,s95 inhabitants and only
and also eight senators in congress.
Who steals? The ballots are stolen
from the masses of the voters; that's
where the stealing is done. That is po,
litical stealing.
Police policel Hal ha! hal If ii
were loaf of bread in the hands of q
poor, starved boy, you would see the
"cops" run like mad to catch him. But
twenty-five senators being stolen is no
matter Of larceny. Oh, no; that is all
right. But it is all wrong, say, and il
will come home to roost ere long, believe
me. 1t will come, and come bloody, too
Who else steals2 Twelve hours work
and 10 per cent reduction of the present
wages -$1.75 or 81 per day for twelve
hours hard labor; Is per cent off leaves
$1.4sa or sl.7o.
/ Who steals There are the spinners
of Fail River, who are on strike since
/ February. For nearly four months they
haye been on strike against the several
4 operations of blood-lettlng that have been
made within few years, and have
brought,about the inhuman reduction Of
As per cent in their wagesl Think Of it
Ilaborers, 45 per cent? Who steals2 Open
your blurred eyes, ye millions of men
and jump up with snarl and show youl