The herald., 1897-07-27
As a Young Man Sees It

To the Editor of the Los Angeles
Herald: 1t may be presumption on my
part to offer the opinions of young man.
But there are some questions of the
day in which the youth of the land are
vitality interested. One of these questions
is this: What destiny does the futur E
hold for us? Individuals of any order of
the animal kingdom display activity for
the purpose of supplying themselves
with necessities. Civilization has pro-
vided for man another object-making
and gaining profits. No matter how
many resources may lie fallow, or how
many people suffer from want of prod
ucts of field or factory, if prices can be
kept up the aim of modern production
will be attained. Products are brought
forth for profit. Not for use, not for
charity, but for sale. Causes have been
at work during the last thirty years that
have produced very peculiar results.
The fair field and no favor of our fathers
has charged, for us, into condition
wherein machinery has rendered I'M
necessary the labor of millions of men
and women. Production by the aid of
machinery has affected so many lines
lures, has become misnomer. Machin-
ufactures is more correct term. But
production is carried on for profit. The
producer constitutes the market. All
classes of workers. are included in this
word producers. They are the consum-
ers. All of their resources are summe d
up in the word labor. Machinery has en-
tered the labor market Millions have
been deprived of the right to labor. The
result is from the producers point of
view, they do not exist. The market is
restricted. The capitalist, while pro-
ducing for the market, is busy Destroy
ing that market. A policy of suicide.
The decentralization of silver, the con-
stantly approaching value of gold, the
fact that our bonds are made payable in
coin, are causes that are helping to turn
the feeling Of security, of confidence,
known to the past into atheism, the dis
appointment of the present. The activ
ity of the fathers is placing under tribute
the industry of the sons. Economic
power is passing into the hands of few
people. When all the people possess the
economic power they believe in all the
people. A few, possessing economic pow
err do not believe in any of the people.
So we find that the earnings of these
few remain in safe deposit vaults, be-
cause the resources of the many do not
Justify the few in further investment.
Idle men and idle money exist side by
side. Both are waiting the word of COM
mand to go forth and lift the nation from
the slough Of despond, to place it upon
the hilltops of prosperity. But the or
der comes not. 1t will not be heard while
competitive machine production for
profit is the order of the day.
The outlook for the youth Of the land
is not bright. The toiler is beginning to
question the right of the employer to
exploit his labor He finds year by year
that his wages are being cut. The in
centive to work is being taken away
The rsult of years Of toll is no more def
mite than the result of lottery. This is
a period of transition. The retailer Is
doomed to extinction. The wage-worker
is drifting into position of absolute
slavery. Production is already social
lied. The only way, in the opinion of
an increasing army of young his to
socialize distribution. To restore the
rationale of our existence-productlo
for use, not profit.