The labor world., 1899-10-28
A Finance Committee.
IN HRS, there's too many Of you
shoemakers."
~ "How do vOu make that out

f<N HRS, there's too many Of you
shoemakers.'
"How do you make that out,
Pat?"
Why, there's too many shoes; and
it's you that makes them. Look at
those boxes Of them; they can't be
sold'.'
II think" says Chris, cts you hat
makers there's too many Of. Look at
the stock of hats in every shop, go
ing out of fashion before they are
used,''
"well," says Pat, ''what are you
grum'bling about? You'e wearing a
shabby enough hat"
"It' no worse than your boots," says
Chris.
Pat scratched his head. mo" he
said, but there is overproduction of
boots. T heard that in Mr.. Rockefel-
ler's School of Social Economics
II think" says Chris, 'it's a lack of
circulating medium. I read that in
Coins Financial School,
'Stuff!" says Pat. "I'll trade you a
hat for pair Of boots; that is, when
I get some fur to make it out Of and
find time to make it. I have to work
twelve hours day now"
"Well I'd like to trade: but, you see,
I have to sell every pair Of those shoes
at the best price I can get for them.
to get some clothes for the children.
I made a grocer take out his bill in
shoes last week, because I hadn't any
money; but I can't spare any more.
The rent is due this week."
\ l.
landlord. I'll make him take hats. I
don't believe he'll do it though; for he
gets his rent in advance. Guess he'll
put me out first. Then how will I sell
hats, or trade them, either, with no
place to live at all at all?'
= Mine would put me-, out for sure,'
says Chris.
"sure, I thought you owned this
shanty?" says Pat.
$50 I . o""-1 the shanty myself The
landlord claims he owns it now.''
"Wby don't you move over to the
field opposite, and"
"Well, the owner there would charge
me all could make, just the same as
this one.'
"Well, if you get aim to take pair
Of shoes or so, what will he give you
for them?"
"Oh, if he takes the shoes, he won't
put me out"
"I'll take the shoes, and I won't put
you out, either" says Pat.
Don't talk nonsense. You don't own
the land. FIe does.''
'"How did he get it?'
''Bought it, same as you will have to
buy my Shoes"
"Well, no." says Chris, IT suppose
he bought it from some one that got it
from the Indians. Crows" they call
them. I heard tell they were Chinese
originally"
"Sure, the Indians didn't make it or
even fence it in. I don't believe the
Indians owned it, anyhow, any more
than the crows that flew over it,"
"Well, anyhow, he has it now, and
the lots opposite, too. The people here
wanted to dig the sand out Of them,
but he wouldn't let them at any price.
If he had the people would have been
doing we'll. It's hardly taxed at all,
either; and 1 have to pay lot on this
bit of a shed. D-n the landlord! He
does nothing but collect the rent. Here
he is, now. Mr.. Onus, amt got the
rent yet"
"Ain't got the rent? If you ain't got
the rent, Chris, you'll get the sack.
Why don't you get out and peddle your
shoes? I never saw so many people
around here with bad Shoes
"Well, you see, sir, it's their rent
day, too; and no one seems to have
any money for bread, let alone shoes" :"
"Well, now, I'll tell you what it is,
my man." says the land owner. iii
wait till Monday, and not a day long
er. I've heard all about you. You
spend your time thinking and stirring
up your neighbors instead of working
hard, as every man ought to. You're
a kind of anarchist
Say, Pat" says Chris, "do you
know what l think? There's an over
production Of land owners. Why don't
we vote to tax those fellows out Of
their boots?"-Bolton Hall, in Things
as They Are