The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-02-20
" The Man Out of Employment


The COLUMBIAN invites answers to
Clarence A. Miller's question
What shall be done with the un-
employed ?" This is not political
question, neither one that enters the
sphere of craftsmanship. Neither is
it properly, labor question, The
fact, of the existance of armies of un.
employed, is a menace to society and
good government. There is no solu-
tion to this question except by the un.
employed themselves. 1t is said that
necessity is the mother of invention1'
and hence the unemployed must adapt
themselves TO the circumstances and
invent mode of production for self
preservation and self respect. Evi.
IDENTIFY there are as many people en-
p!oyed as there is room for employ
ment-and hence the unemployed are
surplus of labor in the worlds in.
dustrial labor markets, under existing
conditions. The question therefore
arises What duties do the employ
ed owe to the unemployed1 Must
they share the fruits of their labor
with those who do not labor2 This
is not in accordance with holy writ.
But the question again arises What
duties do the unemployed owe to
themselves, to society and to mankind
generally There never was a time,
nor ever will be. When people
could not adapt themselves to condi-
tons and circumstances surrounding
them. Every man is free moral
agent and has the capacity of becom-
ing his own employer
independence should arouse ambi.
tion in every heart sufficient to resent
the idea of dependent, There is no
necessity tor dependents in our day OF
progression and cheap living. The
vast areas of unoccupied and unculti.
waited soil in its virgin state, do they
not offer lnducement to every unem.
ployed person In the world d? Do they
not invite it2 There never were
more favorable opportunities welcom-
ing that class Of people.
Think of the early fathers coloniz-
ing the western hemisphere under the
most unfavoiable circumstances.
Think OF the savage tribes to be over
/ come, the forest to be cleared away
that the soil might produce bread,
meat and raiment to protect themsel-
YES against hunger, want and cold.
Think how they adapted themselves
to the circumstances and founded the
greatest nation on the globe. What
Is to hinder the unemployed from 60
ing, and dong likewise ? If they
cannot lind employment on the farm,
or shop, or factory, why not cultivate
the soil like millions of others do and
make their own living honestly That
they should become dependents, or a
charge, or object of charity to the EN-
ployed is neither reasonable, just nor
righteous. If there is not employment
for all, then colonize and till the soil
which will respond to their labor a
hundred fold. Thus they will add to
national wealth, instead of detracting
from it. In theory, the idea is alb.
surd that an able bodied man cannot
support himself and family in pro-
ductive world. In practise it is a
sham and fraud. Every able bodied
person can in some form employ him.
self sufficiently to make an honest
living. The drones in the hive of
industry will find it cold day when
they expect, or demand share of the
fruits OF the labor of the employed.
Honor and self respect should actu
ate every self reliant man to renewed
energy and purpose, in determining
for himself that independence which
is not only an inbred principle, but
an inalienable and heavenborn gift.
To violate this principle, and assume
the role of dependent, is nothing short
of criminal inactivity, which leads to
Incidence, vice and degradation OF
character, whether singly or collective.
| ly, organized or otherwise, becomes
defiant to the laws of humanity, ol
society and of civil government.
J. C. WENNER.
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