Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-12
LABOR AS A SLAVERY.
An Industrial Theorists Radical
Scheme for Its Relief.
WEALTH TO PAY LABOR FOR LAND.
The Government to be the Cashier and Fix
All Mems Wages.
FRESH INDUSTRIAL NEWS AND GOSSIP

The Rev. William Robertson delivered
another lecture on the industrial question
Mt Grand Arrly Hall, West Diamond street,
Allegheny, yesterday afternoon. His sub
iect was Industrial Freedom and Inde-
pendence the Demand of the Age" Alter
giving a resume of the history of slavery
from the earliest period down to the slavery
of the colored race in this century, he SAID;
"And to-day we are not yet out OF bond
age. The workingman is no better on than
the negro was before the war. OF course we
are notsuffering chattel slavery. Nevertheless
the oppression exercised over the laborlng
class is in its forms as appalling as was the
slavery of primitive history. Industrial
slavery is a system so cunnlngly devised
that it deceives, sometimes, even the very
elect, and so efectually that we still hear
them boast of being free men. So cunning
Iy are the meshes woven around the victims
that cannot ascribe its origin to human in
genuity, but think it is
THE DEVILS MASTERPIECE
of cunning, cruelty and injustice. The
prime element of industrial slavery is that
it robs the man of the right of equality.
The bountiful Lord made the earth for the
abode and sustenance Of the whole race.
The minority, however, enjoy all the privi-
leges. The moneyed class has been granted
the legal and exclusive right to nearly all
the means of production in the world.
Need we wonder that the prevailing and
appalling pauperism and crime increase
with such fearful rapidity. Strikes are
result of this industrial slavery. Many
workingmen are coming to realize that since
they have no legal right TO the means Of
production, their only selfprotection is
physical force.
''Now the question is, how can we secure
industrial freedom and Independence? First,
obtain acknowledgement from the world
that all men have equal rights, and Incl
dental to that is the equal right to the land,
q necessary means to the enjoyment OF that
other right to life. liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness.
TWO IDEAL REMEDIES.
'T have two plans by which the land
might be equally enjoyed by all men. One
is to divide it into lots of equal value and
give each citizen his equitable portion, and
the other is to allow one part OF the people
an exclusive right to the land and give the
landless an equivalent. OF course, 1 be-
but the wage Garner should have the right
to permanent employment at reasonable
wages. To secure such blessings 1 think
the Government ought to give employment
and fix wages. The minimum wages
should enable any wage Garner to live in
reasonable degree of comfort, and should be
increased as the wealth of the country
would justify.
"In the same way the Government might
easily regulate the hours of labor. To meet
the expese of beginning such a system of
employment, the Government might contract
a debt, as was done during the Civil War,
and thus be enabled to do justice to all
wage workers without throwing any addi-
tional burdens upon the already overbur-
dened taxpayers. By the time the debt be-
came due, the increase in wealth and
pop.dation would be such as 10 enable the
nafNn 30 pay it without being felt as
burden, and many persons who would saAer-
wise become paupers and criminals would
become industrious citizens -.f;