Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-01-28
MUSINGS o. MOSSBAGK.
Independent Comment Current Conditions
Calamity

his reform consisted of wearing Eng
fish pantaloons. If it should turn
out that the breeches were direct
from London, and that he turned
them up at the bottom, some of us
may revise our opinion of conserva-
tiSm.
A merry war is in progress in Taco
ma over the possession of the wreck
of the bark Andalena, though the
depth of water she lies in, cOnse-
qenutly her value, is largely probe
NAUTICAL. All thought of recovering
the bodies of the crew is apparently
lost sight of in the mad struggle for
profit. It's a glorious system and
the people just dote on it.
A movement has been inaugurated
by the people of Tacoma to erect a
tablet to the memory of the captain
and crew of the Inflated Andalena that
went down in that harbor This is
very nice of them. If instead of go
ing down at sea, however, the crew
had gone down town hungry these
same good, charitable people would
have put them on the chain gang.
Anyone disposed to turn up his nose
at incentive to gain" as a motive is
referred to the case of Frederick Mil
liken, of East st. Louis, who was
knocked senseless, robbed and drag
ged in front of a moving train. You
can't convince me that socialism will
offer airy inducements to a man to
get move on him equal to that of
the man who did that piece of work.
1t is painful fact, but it might as
well be acknowledged, that the great
majority like things just as they are,
and the worse they get the better
they seem to like it. They have PROV
en- this again and again. But thank
heaven, there is no law against the
few who don't like it registering their
kick. 1t may be that, for fear of not
kicking often enough, | kick too often
but don't want to miss a chance.
I confess to a weakness for the
much-abused "hash philosophy" l
find a disposition among the people
to neglect their mental, moral and
spiritual advancement when cold and
hungry. 1t is to be regretted, no
doubt, that roast beef will eclipse the
most beautiful truth in the eye of a
starving man. | therefor hold that
the propaganda for improved indus
trial conditions is the most elevating
influence of the times. | pretend to
no sympathy for those misguided
missionaries who would evolve a race
of ragged angels subsisting on the
crumbs of charity. Want, and the
fear of want, are crushing out the
highest aspirations OF mankind, and
until this arch-fOe of mankind is met
and conquered we will see no great
Improvement along spiritual lines.
Some of our very worthy, and
some not so WOr-
TEN DAYS, thy, legislators are
OR SO" worried very much
about the tramp
problem. whats it to yep gentle
men. You will not get down to the
root of the matter, nothing will in
duee YOU to do so; you publicly avow.
Then mind your own business; the
tramp can be depended upon to mind
his. Ifvou realize the fact that there
is oulv a L. S. Senatorial candidate or
two between YOU and the knight OF
the brake beam and cross tie, keep
your eve still closer on the "saek" If
YOU will; but don't monkey with the
privileges of the tramp under our pres
cnt system so long as you swear by
the system.
Don't hatter yourself gentlemen OF
the legislature that you can either al
leviate the condition of, or stamp out,
the tramp with your didn't know IT
was loaded" remedial legislation.
"You never touched him and YOU
never will. There axe counterfeit
tramps YOU may harass with restrict
i've laws or tickle with special priv
leges. but the genuine article is tar
above your reach. High upon the
battlements of the competitive system
he stands "four-square' to all the leg
islative winds that blow and laughs
your punv efforts to scorn, and | am
glad of it, and glory in his fndepen
dence.
He will not work, but why should
|. who have trouble enough to get q
lob without his competition, kick
He will steal, but he hasn't monp'
olv of that. The chain gang has nc
terrors. All laws "look alike TO him
| admise his nerve and am glad that
in the closing days of this mis-repre
sentative system there is one class
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