Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-05-20

hrSt-claSS workers. What are we to do
with them? They are forced to work in
sweatshops for starvation wages; to
do any work they can find-be it
moral or immoral-or to go without
work altogether; and thus they are
forced into crime and vice to sustain
their earthly existence. Have we no
duty towards these? Have they no
just claims on society, to protection
III this cruel competition in industry,
but they are being crushed and trod-
den in the mire? How can a true
character be built up under such con-
ditions?
Competitive industry does not aim
to furnish work to anyone 1t does
not aim to secure a just exchange of
products for anyone. 1t cares for no
one but self. 1t is thoroughly heath
enish and does not recognize either
the fatherhood of God or the brother
hood Ofman. Its mOttois: LET those
find work who can, and obtain such
exchange of reward as they can, and
let the rest suffer, starve and die"
Cain killed his brother and the blood
of Abel cried out from the earth of
God against him. These insane,
these drunkards, these criminals, these
abandoned sisters of ours-made so
by an unequal struggle for an exis-
tence-are worse than murdered, and
in their physical end, mental agony
they are crying to God against us for
not changing that industrial condi-
tons which is making this earth 4
nell to them. Shall we, like Cain,
with satanic selhshncss, answer: "Am
l my brothers keeper" Shall we
permit the millions of common peO-
pie to be destroyed, body and soul,
in order that few may live in luxury
and ease? Shall we so recognize our
industries that there may be work at
all times for any one desiring it, to-
gether with just exchange Of pro-
ducts, or shall we continue the wood
ward scheme of the Associated Char
tiles at which every person in a civil
lied land ought to blush with shame?
If our government can build ships
of war, it could build ships Of com
merce; if it can run a gun factory, it
could run shoe factory, hat factory,
toy factory, or any other factory for
the benefit of mankind; if it can en-
ploy an army to destroy life. it could
employ one to produce foodto sustain
life; if it can build post Offices ard
school houses, it could build hotels
ETC.. etc; fit can distribute the mail it
could distribute all kinds Of rerchan-
disc, if it can print text books Tor or
Children il could also print brownie
books to anuSc the little ones.
Do you say it would cost too much
to have such things done under gov
ernment directions: Woald it, But
do not forget that If an individual
will furnish on article cheaper than
the government can do it, he can do
it only by furnishing an inferior arti-
Gle, 1--WE have an example in CANNED
MEAT for our soldicrS), or at the eX.
pense of the wOrlmen, who will have
to work longer no rs, or for less pay
than if the articles were made under
government directions. Chcapncs5
is not 4 sign uf prosperity; and if al
individual will deliver groceries. dry
goods, or any other article cheaper
than the government could do il, he
will make the W0rkmcn in the factory
or the clerks in the store sweat for it.
Md this must be SO unless We can
overcome that eternal law OF physics
which so governs all forces that W hat
is gained in power is lost in time or
speed, and what is gained in speed is
lost in power. What right, except
the right of a rOhbcr or pirate, has
one to tax another for his own per
sonal benefit in any shape or form
be it through rent, interest or pro6t2
The recent wheat deal of messer5. lie
tier and Armour IL an extreme case Of
unjust exchange. They forced up the
price of wheat, which they had not
produced, there by collected, for their
personal beniht, tax from the pub
tic on every moathtul of bread that
was eaten. without returning any
value for what they received. At one
stage OF the deal L tier is reported to
have cleared FIVE or six million dollars,
Had he stopped there, he would have
been & multi-millionairc, and as he
could not have returned a full value
in services for such a sum, he must
have robbed somebody. BY the deal
he said to the public: Your life or
yonr money! Pay my price for wheat
or die. -
A conservative statistician estimates
that the state of Texas alone, if its re-
sources were all organized to that end,
could support the present population
of the world. An eminent Austrian