The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-10
BILL ARP.
The Philosopher on Capital and Labor-Io"
Hot for Politics.
1From the Atlanta Constitution.

From the Atlanta COnSlltulloll.J
heard u young man say to his en-
piover: "Mr. Jones called again to get
his money but couldn't wait, and has
gone back to his work. He said he had
called three times and you were not
in.n
"Well, let him call again. | can't
stay here all the time just to accommo-
date him. T Iwonder if he expects me
to take his money to him:'
"Yes, my friend, that is just what
Mr. Jones has a right to expect. He
ought not to have been forced to call at
all. You hired him to do that work.
He did it and it was your duty to have
him hunted up and paid him. You are
rich and he is poor. He can't afford to
lose the time, but you cam"
This is the tyranny of capital over
labor, and this is the cause Of the con-
flict between them. Money is the king
aud labor is the subject. Just let a man
get rich and he gets tyrannical. There
are but few exceptions to this rule.
Woe unto the man who has to depend
upon the rich for his living! His man
hood is crushed, and he feels that he
is helpless.
Not long ago | saw a struggling
young man writhing under this tyran-
nv. He had worked hard in the broil-
ing sun for a month and had we'll
earned his money, and it took him
three weeks to get it. His employers
were rich and their money was in bank,
but one partner referred him to all
other, and the other was off on 4 trip,
and when he returned said he would
attend to it rs soon as he had time, and
after several failures the young man
was referred to the boss of the work for
4 certificate, and so his patience was
tried for days and weeks.
This is ali wrong. A man should be
just as anxious to pay the laborer as he
was to get his work. He should hunt
him up and pay him. The sewing wo-
man ought not to have to wait week
for her money. The wash woman
ought not to call but once. If you
haven't got it or are not at home, then
send it to her as soon as possible. Labor
is just as good as money. Honest labor
is full equivalent for money, and is
entitled to just as much consideration.
Indeed there is something about the
labor and toll of working people that is
sacred. 1t is a sin against heaven to
Withhold their just reward. I know men
who keep back the wages of the poor.
They pay but they pay late.
"Does he pay you for your work,
Uncle Sam?" ''Oh, yes, sir, he pay. He
pay when he get 'shamed to see me
standin' aroun'. I stands aroun' on de
street and about de post office and gets
in his way sometimes and den he pay.
His money mighty good money dey
say. 1t draws intrust' in his pocket"
The lawyer or the doctor can afford
to lose his fee. The merchant expects
to lose certain per cent. on bad debts.
The capitalist takes the risk of fortune
and fire and flood and strikes and pes
thence; but the toiler can't afford any
risks. Their food and clothing depends
upon prompt payment.
There is too much Indifference about
this thing. Even the state Of Georgia,
that is so jealous of her financiol honor,
does not pay her public servants as
promptly as she ought. She has no
toilers who work harder, or are more
deserving than her teachers, and they
do not draw their pay for months after
it is due. The school boards of some of
the public schools are equally indiffer-
ent, and some Of their teachers have to
stay at home during the long summer
vacation for lack of means to visit their
kindred. I know of some who have
not been paid for two months, and are
not likely to be. Schooling is cheap,
but teaching is cheaper.
If capital was more respectful to
labor there would be no strikes or
unions. Indeed, there would be no al
lance, for there would be no necessity
for such organizations. The average
workingman does not envy the rich
man because he is rich, but because his
riches make him proud and overbear-
ing. I heard lady say: "These black
berry peddlers are a nuisance. T just
sit in my window and scream, No
berries; don't want any, before they
come in at the gate"
Some of these poor, timid country
| girls have worked hard to gather those
berries, so as to make little money
and help the mother or get a calico
dress Or a cheap hat or pair of Sunday
shoes. Who knows how many hum
bic plans they have laid and how fond
were their expectations that somebody
would buy, and it is hard on their
hopes for a lady to scream out: NO
berries; don't want any berriesw
Iwould buy some of the berries if /
didn't want them, and didn't have ]
cent of money and had to pay in sugar
and coffee or children's secondhand
clothes. We know very we'll that there
is nobody suffering for the necessaries
of life in this blessed land, but the pool
and humble have some aspirations
some desires to better their condition
and their appearance. Some Of these
poor girls can't go to church or tt
scho oil for lack OF conely garments
Some have no father, some no mother
know one whose father works al