The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-11-15


wanted work, but could not get It, He
wanted 1t, not for the mere sake of toll
Ing, but because he needed many things
to satisfy his necessities, and labor be-
eagerly looked for buyers. but found the
market glutted. He was altogether too
numerous to be successful. Had there
been only few OF him. he could easily
have selected almost any kind of a job
that suited him and commanded high
wages.
But his Importance as a political fac
tor was not limited by his own distressed
condition, which led him to cast his
own vote for ticket which he had been
humbugged into believing would insure
him work and prosperity. He uncon-
sciously exerted powerful influence on
the man who had job. So long as the
inside man could hold his position, he
was all right. That is to say, by toiling
early and late for the minimum of
wages, he could manage to exist in this
nominaliy free country" and procure
the meager comforts of the modern in
dustrial slave.
But the man with job was, by his
employers, given to understand that
the continuation Of business and the per-
manency of his situation depended upon
the success of the party whose banner
bore the words, patriotism, Protection
man was brought face to face with
most serious problem. BY holding on to
his job, he and those dependent upon
him could live and keep out of the aims
house If thrown out of his position,
what could he do or where could he go?
He knew the man out of a job was so
hard the toll and poor the pay, need be
vacant one hour OF course, his EN-
ployers also knew it. Could he afford,
under such conditions, to take any
chances? His manhood revolted at such
slavery. but he was helpless victim of
social system that kills honest pride
and paralyzes laudable ambition. So
he reluctantly decided to make virtue
Of necessity and yield to the pressure.
Thus, In an indirect but effectual man
ner, the man out Of job scored two
votes for McKinley-his own vote and
that of the man with job.
In the light Of such facts, it is by no
means surprising that the party of
Power Perjury and Pelf has once more
secured the reins of government.
In view of the unfavorable influence
exerted by the involuntarily idle man
upon the employed and upon our politi-
cal institutions, the question of how to
get rid Of him Is of paramount impor-
the world, or forced beyond the boun-
darles of the United States. There is
abundant room for him in this vast
country of limitless resources. He wants
a job; he needs one; he must have one,
or he will soon become dangerous ele-
ment in society. Yea, he is already a
menace to the public peace and the per-
petuity of popular government. With
perpetual job, he would help to furth-
er develop the resources of the country
and increase wealth production. But
he can never honestly earn a living nor
produce wealth in any form without ap-
plying his labor to natural resources
There are plenty of those all round
him. but they are monopolzed by a few
persons, who assume the right to ex-
clude others from the use of natures
bounties. A few who want no job, be-
cause they can thus live in luxury by the
efforts and earnings of others.
Our social system will never be any
thing but social pandemonium until
the man out of job is given chance
10 employ himself upon the unused nat
ural elements which nature has proyid-
ed for the unrestricted use of all men.