Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-04-29
The Root
of All will
BY M. q. Weaver.

to have a gun, another a saw, anoth-
er had some fishing tackle, and one
had nothing but money, a useless ar
ticle on an island, while five had no.
thing at all.
Knowing the prevailing craze for
gold, the one with sinners, called Jack,
offered each of the men dollar apiece
to work for him that day. this they
eagerly accepted, being elated to
strike job the first day. Three were
put to erecting a tent of poles and
bark, two to construct table, bench
other to fish, one to hunt for fruits,
nuts and berries, and the remaining
one to prepare dinner OF the sundry
products Now the day being nearly
spent all were tired and hungry.
When the table was set Jack said to
the workers, "all these things have |
ordered and paid for, no one can dis
pute my exclusive right of possession;
now / propose to give you ali a
square meal for dollar each" This
hunger compelled them to accept.
After the meal, Jack said "Those who
have no money for lodging cannot
stay here to night" All silently depart
ed feeling badly cowed. When they
had located for the night. Sam said,
"Just think what blockheads we have
been to day building that tent and
doing everything. providing a lot of
good eatables and giving it nearly all
to that fat, lazy Jack just for the priv
ilege of handling those nine dollars
few ninutesW No." said another,
1--WE are not to blame, Jack, the gree
DIV plutocrat, just went and took it.
Eyes but with your own consent, re-
piled Sam "Well he furnished the
capital for the enterprise and it is not
more than right for us to Glow him
something for interest. "Pll tell you
where we missed it," retorced Sam,
eve worked too cheap, had we re-
ceived two dollars each it would have
been plenty for all necessities and
some over" "That's what | say.
The labor is ours and we have a right
to ask any price for it we like. Let
us organize and strike for two dol
lars"
All agreed to do SO. The next day,
Jack, having enough provisions .ett
for himself refused to comply with
the terms proposed, the nin2 men
were laying around idle and hungry.
LIST Voice "What IS the reason we
have such hard times 10 day, no WORK
no food and no shelter?'
2nd "Voice. Oveipl oGuctlol | sup
pose, there is no demand for any
thing
mo demand" cried sam, don't
we need anything"
2nd Voice Eyes, bat we have no
employment. so where IS the money
to come from to Pay fo- what we
need? Most oeople m lst do with lit
tie when the market is ove"stocked.
The troubic is, we worked too fast.
1t is all due to the labofsavilg machin-
cry we used. | am su-e that II we
would have caught the fish by hand,
cut the bark with cur teeth ora sharp
stone. caught the rabbits with sharp
sticks, etc, we would have plenty OF
work to day
"No." replied Sam, 'there is not too
much produce, but it is not justly de-
vided. One man Is overstoked ana
nine are destitute Does Jack alone
constitute the market, independent OF
our demand'"
Sam went to jack 1or ms OPINION
on the question.
II will tell yol how it is said Jack,
YOU see it matters not how great the
demand is, if YOU have no money, 1t
don't count a straw in the market.
Let me tell you that your present
trouble originated i'll extravaganza.
You wanted to live as good as the
rich. Men in your circumstances
must economic or suffer more.
The next morning Jack offered the
desired wages and all went to work
with light hearts and lighter stom-
aches. When by cooperative efforts
they had again prepared big DIM
ner, lack told them the market was
going up and that he was Obliged. to
have So. 80 apiece for dinner, but
none having enough, they wrangled
with each other for the money until
at last seven managed to pay; the
two weakest had to do without.
But, after dinner, Jack threw few
bones to the unfortunate two beggars,
remarking, that he felt it his duty to
be charitable to the poor. When the
nine had again departed to seek shell
ter in the woods, Sam called them to-
gether and addressed them, thusly:
1--WE have been fools long enough!
Let us be men and make a change.