The Labor enquirer., 1885-04-18

tured to them while / confess, Iswas
filed with shame at the blindness and
stupidity of my countrymen who allow
ed themselves to be robbed without q
protest. 4.
ResuninR, the orator went on This
sort of service places the poor slaves
completely at the mercy of their en-
ployers, or masters for they are really
masters and slaves, as you shall see. It
is not all who can obtain employment,
even at these terms. Many thousands
of people found roaming about the city,
and afterwards in my journey through
the country I found great numbers OF
men who were without homes, or food,
or friends. These miserable beings travel
over the country from place to place, at
first with the hope of finding employ
nent at the hands of the rich, but finally
become hopeless and desperate from
continued disappointment and the abuse
which is heaped upon them. They then
become the enemies of society; every
mans hand is against them, and they
wander aimlesslY about. begging from
their more fortunate brethren the means
whereby they may keep the spark of
| life within them. These poor unfortu-
mates are called ''tramps," and are hunted
from place to place as though they were
wild beasts" -. 49,
At this stage of the recital, the remem-
brance of my own suferings and desti-
tnte condition caused me to sob aloud,
at which I became alarmed, fearing that
might interrupt the proceedings; but
no one seemed to notice me, and the
speaker continued: &G g ~ b5l
when a man desires employment
he Is considered 'in the Market and his
servicesate bought just the same as any
other commodity that is for sale. Thus,
men are forced to degrade themselves
to a level with bales of clothing, toxes
of provisions, and other merchandise !;
and the man who will sell his services
Tor himself, for it amounts to the same
thing in the end the cheapest, is almost
sure to be chosen. OF course, men who;
have families are placed at fearful dis
advantage in this battle for bread; for
they must work as cheaplv, or even
cheaper than their more fortunate
brothers and in order to live at all they
must reduce the expenses of themselves
and families until condition of semi
starvation is reached. Thus this system,
which they call free competition, acts as
a two-edged sword, cutting both ways,
and inaicts injury and injustice upon
even the innocent wives and children of
the bread-winners. - ,
"But even here the injustice does not
end. With the small portion of his
earnings which is allowed the poor
laborer he must provide food, clothing,
shelter and other necessaries for his
family. He must give certain percent
age of his wages once month to the
landlord, for place to sleep. This land
lord is the person whom I have already
spoken of as the one who buys up the
land, and taking advantage of the bene-
fits which increase of population gives,
he taxes the users of bis land, and thus
becomes very wealthy. These land
lords, build houses, or get them
built more or less uncomfortable,
which they let out at an exorbitant rate
to others, and this tax upon the, indus
trious to support the lazy is called rent
Should the tenant, through feeling Of
natural pride and decency, decorate or
in any manner improve the buildings or
land which he occupies, he is almost
sure to be obliged to leave, on some
flimsy pretext or other, and the next
tenant is obliged to pay still higher
rent, on account of the improvements
which his predecessor has put upon the
rlace. Often the rent is raised while
the very tenant who added the increase
in value to the property is still occupy
Ing it, and if he will not pay the in
crease he is compelled to leave.
"Tken the laborer is robbed in another
way. He takes a portion of his hard
earned wages to place kept by man
who has food, clothing, and other neces-
saries for sale. Now, this man, having
no other means of livelihood than is
assured him in trade, is obliged to add
considerably to the price of everything
be sells above the price at which it is
purchased. Thus, if dealer in provi-
sions, for instance, buys sugar, and tea,
and bread, he is obliged to add some
times 10 per cent, sometimes 20 per cent,
and often finds it convenient to add
so per cent and more to the purchase
price. The more he can procure for his
goods, the more money he makes, and he
becomes rich so much the faster, and as
I believe l told you that the sole aim of
all these people seems to be to get rich,
there is direct reward paid to dishon
esty and trickery.
MANY schemes are resorted to in
trade to secure customers and to get
large profit out of the goods, for l should
have told you that this difference be-
tween the buying and selling price o. an
article is called profit Nearly all mis-.
represent the quality of their wares, and
YOU can never tell whether you are get
ting a good article or poor one until
YOU use it. Adulteration of food has be-
come so common that there is scarcely
any sold in a pure state, and very fire.
quently the substances which are mixed
with the food are of most harmful
character, and the health of the entire
community is endangered and effected
thereby. Everybody seems perfectly
aware of this thing, and yet few rebel
against it.
"Another method of increasing their
profits which they resort to is to give
short weights. I believe they have law
which provides for the punishment of
persons guilty Of this offense, but / did
not hear of single instance of its en-
foreement, though it is generally con.
ceded that every person who is in trade
resorts to this method of cheating the
public"
To be continued