The times., 1898-11-13
.The Workers.

W Orkcrs.'
Perhaps no other feature of Scribner s
Magazine during the past year has at
tracted SO much attention as a remarka-
bic series of papers by Walter A. Wyck-
off, entitled THE Workers" To those
who read them In their serial form II
will be unnecessary TO explain that Mr..
wyckoff is assistant professor of politi-
cal economy in Princeton University, and
that he has been making an extended
study of the conditions of labor and cap
ital, not by observation, but by practical
experiment. He has travelled through the
West in the character of a laborer look
ing for work, and 1t is the story Of his
experiences which is now told In his book.
The character of the book alone
would make it interesting, but when the
papers first appeared many people were
skeptical regarding their actual value
They said: in a cursory examination Of
the condition of the poor, such as he
must necessarily content himself with
he can get only partial and distorted
view OF the facts. He will be unable to
sympathize truly with those from whom
he is separated by all the class distinc-
tions that we ever have in America, He
is an educated man, and he cannot un-
derstand the ignorant. He is a well-to-
do man, and he can know but little of
those who have starved all their lives.
in short he is a theorist, and must re-
main So. This view was held quite
generally by those who had themselves
peen poor and depended on manual labor
for a living
This view has not proved correct.
man may learn great deal about tie
poor II he subjects himself to the condi-
lions of grinding poverty for a year or
more Ihere was no theatrical flavor in
MT Wyckon's Investigations. During
his search for work he was not a college
graduate acting part for amusement;
ne was a laboring man looking for lob
ii he did not find the job he starved.
More than once he suffered severe priya
hon. In addition to this thoroughness of
experience he had sympathetic nature
a quick insight and determination TO
probe his subject to the bottom. The re-
suit of it all is an interesting, valuable
and unique book.
The headings of the eight chapters give
fairly good idea of the scope of the
book. They are: The Army of the I'm
employed. Living by Odd Jobs Find
ing Steady Work. A Hand Truckman
in Factory, Among the Revolution
aries. A Road Builder in the Worlds
Fair Grounds, From Chicago to Den
Yer, and From Denver to the Pacific.
The Illustrations by William R. Leigh,
are just what they should be. They are
perfectly in tone with the text but not
striking enough to make themselves the
most prominent feature of the book. They
supplement and enforce the authors
work
One might open the book at random and
be almost sure TO hit upon something of
particular interest. Mr.. Wyckoffs expe-
Tiences naturally included partner at
one time OF another. The rich man can
do without chum; the poor must stand
by one another For some time the au-
thor tramped in company with young
fellow named Clark, mechanic with a
trade and some experience. An episode
in this chapter is as good an example
as any of the way in which Mr.. Wyckoff
treats his subject, of the sort of work
ingman he studied and the sympathetic
understanding with which he looked at
the labor problem. A chance job had
yielded the college graduate quarter,
and he met his partner, the workingman,
at dusk on a doorstep and exchanged
experiences. lie says:
The street was nearly deserted and the lights
FhoIie dsTnally through its blackened length.
Clark began 10 tell me OF his afternoon No
chance of work had been revealed beyond the
vague suggestion Of one boss that he might need
an extra man in a week or two. Moreover Clark
had found the shops 50 far away that he had been
Obliged, both IN his going and return, to take
q Lincoln Avenue cable car, and SO was out
fruitless ten cents in fare. He said very little
beyond the bare statement OF his afternoons
perience. He was sitting with his elbows resting
on his knees, with his hands casped, and his fax
cn head bowed almost 10 his arms. ! knew that he
was struggling with thoughts and feelings which
he could not analyZe, nor in the least express
and waited in silence beside him.
The whole experience was new to him. He had
been out of work before, but he had had home
and in its shelter he could tide over the depres-
Eion which had cost him his job. Now his home
was gone, and he was adrift without support
But he was young and strong and accustomed TO
work, and all that he sought was a chance 10
win his way. And yet his very struggles for a
footing seemed to sink him into deeper difficulty
The conditions which he was forced TO face se.ni-
ed to conspire against the possibility OF his sue
cess
1t was the feeling inspired by this seeming
truth, dim, dull feeling vaguely realized, vet
awful, that bore hard upon MIN and that doomed
por.entous with remorseless fate. He was
struggling with it in agony of helpless dis
eouragemeDt, and presently he found uttersnee for
Il In concrete form.
going 10 give # to me sure" he said "He asked
where I'd worked before, and why I'd quit
and how long I'd been at the trade. And just
then felt something crawling on my neck. 1t
was crumb, - 1T The boss seen it, too
He got mad, - him! and he chewed a rag,
and he said If he had twenty jobs, he wouldn't
give one to lousy hobo like me- CLARK
growing increasingly vehement il his recital. He
rose to his feet and bent over me. while the
hot words came Kissing through his teeth
81 amt never been like this in my life before,
and, Great Cod Almighty! I'd be clean If
couldi" After moment he added, in hard,
clear tone:
We've got some money, pardner, let's go and
gel drink"
Another significant episode occurred at
the police station, in which the two
partners slept for a night. The police
man In charge of the door was putting
the would-be dodgers through a cate
chism as TO their nationalities, their
homes and occupations. and their mo-
tives in coming to Chicago. Mr.. Wyck-
off says:
Beside him stood two men, the elder man past
middle life, OF sober, dignifed appearance. and
with an air OF philosophical interest in what he
saw. The younger was callow youth, just grown
to manhood, and he may have been the others
SON. They were out Summing" evidently, and
the officer had been detailed as their guide Their
purpose may have been good one, but the boys
face, as l watched it, seemed to TO show
plainly the marks of unwholeSome curiosity.
And certainly they stood there in well-dressed,
vell-fed comfort, eyGng at leisure, though II
were exhibited for their diversion, this company
OF homeless ragged, needful men, there was to
my mind a deliberate insult in the attitude
sharper than the sting Of blow in the face.
thought at first that might Re alone in feeling
this, until heard a man behind me say, as the
cause OF the delay became apparent TO him:
who Is them Jays, and what business have