The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1897-06-19

slums, from charity's degrading bond
age and give them the opportunity of
applying their labor to the natural re-
sources is the initial and commanding
duty of the present hour.
When carping critics say our scheme
is not feasible, let the answer be,
work for the unemployed.' These
words must burn and glow on the
list banner thrown to the breeze in
the new crusade. Work for the I'M
employer must be the battle cry and
it must be taken up and echoed and re-
echoed until it reverberates in tones Of
thunder throughout the land. Here, and
now, l declare myself enlisted in the
cause of work for the unemployed
Nature provides the means and in the
words Of ''Old Hickory "by the eter-
nal," we will provide the places. No
criticism will defect us from our course
Nothing less than work for the un-
employed" will answer the demand.
An organization of 100000 workers
whose hearts are with us is the first
thing in order. We must at once press
the work of organizing until every viii
lage, hamlet, town and city of every
state and territory in the Union is
voiced and demand and command
work for the unemployed"
In the new organization there will be
no division lines. All whose hearts are
attuned to the symphonies of humanity
will be welcomed, totally regardless
or sex. 1t will be an organization of
equals pledged to the sublime work Of
giving effect to the Declaration of In
dependence on American soil.
Each will contribute according to his
ability to the support of the new move
ment, and the monthly installments will
soon be sufficient to start the pioneers
westward, and by that time the state
will have been selected. Under the SUI
perVisiOn of able and experienced per-
sons the foundation of the new order
will be laid, lands will be secured, ma
chinery and tools will be provided, the
soil will be cultivated and industrial
enterprises will be established, and
thus will begin the work which will
not end until the cooperative COM
mOnWealth has become a realized fact
Gradually we will develop along CO.
operative lines, withdrawing, wher-
ever and whenever possible, all patron
age and support, commercial and poll
teal, from the decaying old competi-
tive system, until innocuous desue-
tude" opens it's vaults to receive it,
The theme is inspiring and invites
to elaboration, but time forbids de-
tail. The convention will mature plans
and the day of adjournment will mark
the first days campaign. Not one day
nor hour is to be lost Action, here and
now, is the supreme demand and this
convention will respond in a spirit to
dispel all doubt as to ultimate success
The fruits of cooperative industry
are benedictions. Plenty banishes pow
erty. Free men, the possessors Of free
homes, are not scourged to their tasks
by hungry pangs. Work is no longer q
curse to be deplored, and life, emanci-
pated from despair, is worth the living.
Wifehood becomes thing of beauty
motherhood a joy forever, and home a
type Of heaven. . 5.#
7 felicitate you upon this suspicious
beginning of great ana rhilanthropic
work. If wisdom prevails in our cOun-
ellis we are destined to see thriving CO.
operative colonies planted in this coun-
try which. growing, as success crowns
earnest endeavor, will ripen at last into
national cooperative commonwealth
in which men shall be brothers and
shall enjoy emancipation and all the
fruitions of Independence.