Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-05-21
THE STORY OF AN AID.
1t Should Make ALI Good Citizens
Pause and Consider.


that was placed in the St. Louis Post
Dispatch. 1t is story that partly gives
an answer to the question. What has
become of the hundreds of thousands
OF men who have been turned out of
employment by the use made of newly
invented machines? 1t is story that
should make every true man determine
that the conditions which can produce
such q phenomenon as this shall not
continue
In the St. Louis paper in question
was recently placed the following ad-
vertisement:
Might Waterman Wanted Must be
fairly well educated. neat of appear
ance. ablebOdied. and if necessary be
ready to furnish bond. None but those
who can show absolute proofs of their
| honesty and sobriety in all senses of
the word need apply. Hours. to 6,
Monday to Friday off Saturday nights.
| p. m. Sunday to a. m. Monday. Sal
airy. SO per week State whether mar
ried or single and enclose references.
which will be returned if not used. Adj
dress, in own handwriting. H $50 Post
Dispatch"
Within 24 hours of the insertion of
this advertisement 125 answers were
received
Think of It's men. with the quail
fications needed to fill this position,
were waiting for this chance to make
bare living. Seven hundred and
twenty-five men hunting one poor Job,
Seven hundred and twenty-five eager to
sit up all night and risk their lives for
Sl5 week.
The qualifications were such that the
uneducated laborer was excluded from
the competition. Most of the answers
received were from men who could
write well, who could punctuate. spell
and construct grammatical sentence.
Every man who replied was ready to
prove his sobriety and honesty without
question.
| 1t was no army of "bums' or men
| born tired" that answered this lad.
1t was an army of men who are good.
| decent citizens. who would be compe-
tent to hold their own in any well regu-
lated society, but who are reduced to
mad scramble for bread under the pres
ent vile system.
How many of these men voted for
mckinley and prosperity? How
| many of +harn would do 81, o,r,;,y
1t has been stated more than once
that $4,000 men could be found to swim
the Mississippi for the chance to earn
$40 week. Who says that this is an
eXaggeration in the light of this lad. ."
and its outcome?
The stack of answers to this adver-
tisement weighs about ten pounds. The
promise to return references entailed
an expense of about IS to the advertiser
Many of the letters were pitiful appeals
for work. They contained heartrend-
writers and their families.
As trusts grow and increase COMPETE
ton among the workers will increase.
This ''ad.' proves it. Nothing of the
kind could have occurred 10 or Il years
ago. AS industrial combination among
employers becomes closer and COMPETE
ton is eliminated from business and
production, only the most skilled. the
most industrious, the most highly edu-
Gated. and the most servile. will be able
to hold employment continuously.
In another five years it will be a
thousand applications for one job. In
ten years 5000 will apply for every
piece of work.
The system of production and distri-
button by masters and men has failed.
The appeal for horizontal combina-
ton" has not been needed. COmmun-
ism of capital exists side by side with
the most heartless competition among
workers The outlook Is ominous. The
trust must give way to the people as an
employer, or the nation is doomed.
! III. NJ. Williams in May Arena.