The Labor enquirer., 1888-04-21
conduct, and conscientious adher-
ence to truth, considered.

y ~-s~ >~ssSSsSsssaOoS aokACI
ence to truth, considered.
What a medley of emotions ars
called forth as we gaze upon tn,
never-ending struggle between thu
three classes! Behold those i'm
mensely wealthy aristocrats fight,
ing with legal weapons for the
possession of certain right o.
way, a title to land, or a valuable
franchise! With what coolnes.
do they proceed to employ skilled
and professional rascals called
lawyers with instructions to wir
the suit at whatever cost, and al
lowing them to be the sole judge
of the means and methods to be
adoptedto secure the desired ends
What a common, every day occur.
renee it is to bribe the Judge, cor.
rupt the jury, and suborn perjury
See these bourgeoise tradesmen:
What a bitter commercial compe-
tition exists between them for the
control of the line of business
which they both represent! Con-
slider the lies, the adulterations,
false weights and misrepresenta-
tions that are the inevitable ac-
compartments of such a struggle
for supremacy!
Look at that group of mechan-
les who have been displaced by
cheaper men and improved ma
chinery! Out of work, the labor
market overstocked! Unable to
predict from one day to another
where or how they are to provide
food, clothing and shelter for
themselves and families! Their
limited means are soon exhausted
and, in the endeavor to better
their condition, they bid good bye
to family and friends to seek en-
ployment in some distant city.
Upon their arrival they are liable
to arrest, fine and Imprisonment
as "vagabonds." no matter how
industrious they may be or how
good their intentions. Can a
thinking, reasonable being con-
slider the poverty, want, misery,
suffering and self-denial that falls
to the lot of the deserving poor,
and doubt for moment that the
cause exists in the industrial
wrongs of our competitive systema
Another result of our present
system is the enactment of laws
to oppress labor and industrial
reform. Not only is the individual
prosecuted if he openly holds
opinions at variance with the es-
tablished modes of thought and
system Of government now in
vogue, but capitalism is constantly,
persistently and methodically
striving to disrupt the only bull
warks of safety the wage. worker
possesses-the labor organizations.
This once fully accomplished, the
condition of the wage slaves would
be deplorable indeed. At present
they are his only salvation, his
only means of defense. The wage
workers are now, in this age of
culture, progress and civilization,
slaves in fact though not in name.
The industrial bondage under
which they suffer is just as calling,
unjust, heartless, cruel and inhu-
man as was the institution of chat
tel slavery.
Under our system it is no crime
for spectators to combine to con-
troll the output of manufactured
articles, oil, coal, etc. The trans
portation companies can pool
issues, water stocks, exact exorbi-
tant fares and freight charges, and
no voice is raised against such in
famous practices. The means OF
conveying intelligence are monop-
olized by gigantic telegraph and
telephone companies almost
wholly unrestrained by legal en-
actments to control their insatiate
greed. Of course these abuses
are all right y inasmuch as they
are the acts of mon eyed men! But
let few dozen wofkingmen COM
bine to secure their just rights
only this and nothing more-and
then listen what an unearthly
howl these same capitalists lei
forth through their paid tools, the