The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-11-28
NEW IDEAS
ABOUT OVER PRODUCTION AND
BUSINESS STAGNATI0N.
A Correspondent Gives Some In.
formation to the Workingmen
With O Suggestion


III tue lI1HI give space IN It's coli
umns for few apparently new ideas In
this locality, though old to many honest,
earnest patriots who set the real liberty
and prosperity OF the whole people above
what some really thinking men term
loyalty to the Government.
Those persons who look upon the
present social system as the high water
mark Of civilization are either enjoying
all the goods the gods can provide, or
are destitute Of sense and Justice. No
one who cares anything about how his
neighbor fares-provlded, even, that he
himself Is "getting along pretty well''--
can be blind to the gross injustice per-
petrated on every side. The recent
change OF political masters, because Of
the stagnation of business, is an evil
dence that even the unthinking
mass OF the ''better class" appre-
ciate that everything is not as
it should be. On every side, turn which
way we will, dissatisfaction Is expressed.
Stngnation, over production, congestion
are all terms used by the ignorant bust
ness man flor the ordinary business man
Is blind as mole and ignorant rs a
Comanohe) us reasons for the topping
over and the tumbling down OF business
houses. They don't see-they do not
want to know-the real reason. They,
perhaps, know that there are hordes OF
human beings In this county nearly
naked, the clothing of whom would set
all the cotton and wollen mills going to
their utmost capacity. They also, per-
haps, know that these hordes are under
fed, the satisfying Of whose hunger
would consume all the surplus grain,
and sugar and beef, These people are
standing idle. "But," cry these political
economists, "oyer production stops the
mills and cuts down wages"
The ridiculous situation that requires
men to freeze because there Is too much
coal, starve because there Is too much
bread, 90 naked because there Is too
much clothing, and lie ont doors because
there are too many houses In this coun-
try, Is too preposterous to need refuta-
ton to Intelligent people, especially
when we know that the natural inge-
nuity Of invention is constantly lncreas-
ing this over supply, this Cutting of
markets and forced idleness. Do the
people know that there are Mt this time
100000 men entirely out of employ
ment and seeking for work of any kind
whereby to gain food to keep themselves
from starving, and clothes to cover their
nakedness Well, whether they know
1t or not, 1t Is a fact. DO they
know that many of those who are
employed are working halftine
or less in many instances? Do
they know thar the average yearly pro-
duction in the United States is $500 per
year, and that labor (Which creates it
ally receives on an average, including
farmers, $3.50 per year DO they know
that they are being systematically
robbed Of more than two-thirds Of their
whole production by those who do not
produce anything Of real value, and who
are assisted in this nefarious business
by paid Legislatures, alleged represen-
tatives Of the people, and u bribed lick
spittle press? Do they know that for
every millionaire we have there are TO-
600 paupers? This is all true, and can
be proven by the most reliable statistics
obtainable.
Now, when such condition of affairs
obtains In a county like ours, what is
the duty OF the honest, unbought
press, the manly and able
editor, and every intelligent patri-
otto citizen who desires the perpetu-
alton Of the freedom our grand old
sires bought for us with their blood? 1t
occurs to me that II Is the editors duty,
as the sentinel on the watch tower of
our menaced liberties, to alarm the peo-
pie, enlighten them as as to the oonse-
quences Of their apathy In such times as
these, when with thousands of idle
factories and mills Of all kinds, and mil
lions Of bushels Of grain In the store
houses Of country men are out of EN-
ployment, and whole communities OF
working people are suffering the pangs
Of hunger, with absolute starvation but
short distance off. External vigilance
is the price Of libertyr' Editors, every
where, are you filing your offices hon
estly guardians Of the peoples veal
II you do not use your power of discern
ment and reason to warn those you pre-
tend to represent Of the impending
danger? Is 1t not your duty to point
the way to the remedy
One Of the vital reasons for this stag
nation, over production, congestion or
by whatever name you may call 1t. ia
that the hours of labor are twice that
necessary to produce sufficient for the
comfort Of all. .HfE
The honest, intelligent workers of the
country are organizing themselves into
an organization known as the knights
Of Labor, few Of whose objects are to
reduce the hours of labor, thereby giving
employment to the thousands now idle.
and enabling the workers to have more
leisure time for social enjoyment and
mental Improvements; to secure to the
toilers the wealths that they create
so that they and theirs
may enjoy the fruits OF their toll; to
educate the laborers to sense OF their
rights and to enlist them in the war we
are waging to obtain them. A branch of
this organization has been founded in
San Antonio, and 1t behooves every cit
izen who is loyal to his country and
loves liberty to connect himself with II
and to do all he can to further Its prin-
ciples and SOW the seeds OF real freedom
deep In the hearts of the people Of this
city. To advocate these principles ought
not TO injure a newspaper In any way.
Intelligent business men know that II
these hours Of labor are reduced 1t will
give employment to many who now are
idle, and, as n consequence, be more
money In the golfers of The business man.
The masses will certainly uphold you in
championing their rights, and your sub
scription lists viii grow. But II you
publish this you will hear from me again,
and do not desire TO tire you out the
first fine Tttrnpt,t,,s