davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1900-12-30
Better Times for
the Workingman
BY EDWIN MARKHAM.

The following questions were sent to
Mr. Edwin Markham, at his home in
Brooklyn. The lines quoted in two or
three of the questions are from Mr.. Mark
hams collected poems. entitled THE
Man With the Hoe and Other Poems"
1.-on what questions should all branches of
labor unite for the good Of the countryg
On the reduction of hours of labor per
day; on compulsory arbitration; on the
study, from humane motives. of the CO.
operative ideal in Industry.
2.-In what way. or toward what end, should
labor utilize its gigantic strength2
They should resolutely will to come
into harmony and unity OF aim and aspi-
ration; they should make appeal through
the ballot box for an enlargement of the
rights OF man. They should strive TO so
organize the world as to keep open the
gates of opportunity.
s.-what opportunities should the new century
bring to the workingmanf
Security in his work, and sufficient leis-
ure from his work to give him tine to
cultivate his moral and esthetic nature.
4-what effect, in your opinion, will great
combinations OF wealth have upon the woTktngman
Of the future. viii concentration Of wealth,
trusts, etc, prove a benefit or z drawback to
the workingman's progressY
Great combinations of wealth will tend
to make great counter combinations
among the working classes. Trusts will
be a decided drawback TO the working
mans progress unless some means shall
be found to make them serve the good of
the whole people, as now they serve the
good of a very few.
5-To what degree should the workingnan be
made partner of wealth?
II understand your question, he should
be made full partner. In other words,
he should receive as nearly as possible
the full value of the things he makes or
does.
G.-In one OF your poems, The Man Under the
Stone" you compare a workingman 10 man
going through life pushing great stone always
up hill. What is the workingman's real burden
what is the real stone in his uphill life?
That great stone is his unequal struggle
for bread today, still further weighted
with the fear of penury tomorrow and the
dread of destitute old age. All this, OF
course, springs out of the narrow margin
of scant wage and precarious employ
ment.
What kind OF help, aside from higher wages,
does the laboring man need?
He needs the contented mind that comes
from security in his work and Joy in his
work This necessarily carries the idea
that he must have more leisure and more
culture.
s-what would most help to tighten the toll
er's burden?
Cooperation, in the place of competi-
tion in the industrial world. Co-opera-
tion is the logic Of Christianity.
9.-How can the Government best help the
workingman?
AS a first step, by assuming control Of
railroads, telegraphs, ETC., and so moving
wisely on toward government ownership
of all Industries which in private hands
have become menace to the public good
and the public safety.
l0-what should be done with the idle mil
lions, with the great army Of men who want
work and yet can fnd nothing to do?
AS first steps, they might well be en-
The times., 1900-12-30

Indispensable steam engine and boiler,
which give back to us on the average of
about a tenth of the energy that we feed
into it. The effect on our industries and
comforts of getting from coal ten times as
much OF that convenient and useful pow
er, electrical energy, as we do now, need
not be detailed here. If both of these
problems be solved it would be possible
to have at least twenty times ten, that is,
two hundred times as much light from
pound OF coal as at present. Besides the
resulting luxury, comfort, and economy of
such cheap light. there would also be
wholesome effect on the diminution OF
rime. which so often requires darkness
for its perpetration.
Great as the beneficial effects on our in
dustries and comforts would be by these
discoveries or inventions, they would not
be as revolutionary as those produced by
manufacturing the precious metals out OF
something else. The sea is known to con-
tain fabulously large amount of gold in
solution. and the probabilities are that 1t
will stay there, but If any method of ex-
traction should be found that will cost
less than the value OF gold obtained it
would probably be an electrical one. An
other possibility of the dim future is that
we may be able to find out what the ele-
ments of electricity really are.
Power will be centralized more and more
In large generating stations and be dis
tributed electrically over long distances
to replace the hundreds of thousand small
Do,
tofore unused. such as water falls, culm
heaps at coal mines, gases from blast
furnaces, etc, will be utilized and dis
tributed electrically. Factories requiring
large amounts of power will be moved
to these central stations. New railroads
will be operated electrically. and the exist
ing steam roads will gradually, but very
slowly. be converted, partially at least,
into electrical roads; short trains, or even
individual cars, at frequent intervals will
replace long steam trains at long inter
walls. Higher speeds will be possible and
practicable. Mines from which it for
merly did not pay to get the metal will be
worked blythe aid of electric powe- or
processes. The electrical furnace will be
used more and more, either for making
products which could not be made before
or fer doing something cheaper than with
gas furnaces. Electro-ehemical methods
viii continue to replace the older chem
ical methods of producing many COM
pour s and metals used in industries.
Wireless telegraphy VIII come into more
extended use, though probably only in
such cases in which it is not practicable
to make use of any kind of wire.
The times., 1900-12-30
Woman to Become
the Peer of Man
BY LILLE pEvEREux BLAKE.

Despite the fact that women have
through the Christian centuries been con-
demned to positions Of inferioriiy. when
happy conditions or strange accidents
have given TO fine specimens of their sex
the opportunity to show their ability. they
have proved their superiority In innumer-
able instances. The armies OF Israel were
led to victory by Deborah. when Barak
lacked the energy to continue the con-
test The armies OF France were led by
Joan Of Arc. when the French generals
had met only defeat. Elizabeth of Eng
land. Maria Theresa OF Austria. Catherine
the Great OF Russia, are familiar exam
pies OF queens who we're greater than the
kings who preceded or followed them.
Woman's capacity is beyond dispute.
and. IL this be granted. there can be no
doubt Of her ability to bear the burdens
and responsibilities of government. And
no woman will ever be elevated to high
official position unless she has shown
herself at least the peer of those who now
hold such places.
The times., 1900-12-30
Give to Woman Her
RightfuI Position
BY ELIZABETH cADY STANTON.

BY ELIZABETH CADY STANTON.
Ever and anon public thought is aroused
on the question of vice in cities. Though
an aroused public sentiment can repress
the evils for time in one locality, they
reappesr at once with renewed energy in
many others. Occasionally church officials
make their protests. but no one seems to
understand the hidden cause of all these
terrible ..utrages.
The authorities of the Episcopal Church
are just now fully aroused TO action. The
first step to be taken IS to teach woman a
greater self-respect and the rising gener-
ation a more profound reverence for her.
So long as We assign to her an inferior
position in the scale of being; one unfit to
stand in the Holy of Holes" in cathe-
drals: to take seat as a delegate in
synod, general assembly. or conference; TO
be ordained to preach the Gospel or ad-
minister the sacraments-so dong will the
degradation and dependence of woman con-
tinuel
All our efforts TO suppress vice are hope
less until woman is recognized in the
canon law and all Church discipline, as
equal in goodness, grace, and dignity with
Bishops, Archbishops-yea, with all who
arc called the head Of the Church.
Our SONS in the law schools do not rise
from their studies of the inyidious statutes
and opinions Of iurists in regard 10 women
with higher respect for them. Our sons
in theological seninaries do not rise from
their studies Of the Bible, and the popular
commentaries on the passages of Scrip
ture concerning woman's creation and po-
sition in the scale Of being with an added
respect for the mothers who went TO the
very gates OF death to give them life and
immortality.
Just as long as the Church and the State
continue to make woman an outcast she
VIII be the sport OF the multitude. II the
same respect the masses are educated to
feel for cathedrals, affairs, symbols, and
sacraments was extended to the mothers
Of the race. as it should be, all these prob
lens would be settled.
The times., 1900-12-30
What the New Century Should Do for Humanity.

ployed by cities and States, at living
wages, upon public works. II enough
work of that kind is not forthcoming, let
the public powers establish shipyards and
other industries sufficient in number to
employ the willing hands. OF course, II
we had a more effective organization Of
industry, working time for the now idle
could be found by cutting down the ex-
cessive hours at present forced upon the
ovarworked. Keep cutting down the
hours OF the days work until everyone
has work. a.
I1.-Are strikes, which are really battles be-
tween workman and employer, helpful or harm
ful TO the toiler?
AS rule, they are harmful to the
toiler. But at times they seem to be
cruel necessities.
12.-Would the toiler benefit il, instead OF
striking he submitted bis grievances to the Gen
eral Government a labor department, regu-
lated by law and having Minister of Labor in
the Presidents Cabinet2 Would not this be a
better way for the workihsrnan, for the settle
ment of differences between employer and en-
ployed2
Yes; labor should be represented in
the Cabinet by an intelligent laborer not
by a parlor farmer, nor by retired
capitalist The method you suggest of
settling strikes would be decided i'm
provement upon the present haphazard
plan. IS
1s.-'Tbeir blind feet drift in the darkness and
no one is leadng'' What kind of leaders do
the toilers need2
They need leaders with the white
purity of a St. Francis and the iron
resolution of a CromwelI-leaders whose
watchword shall be God and the Peo-
ple!" Such men were Joseph Mazzini
and John Ruskin.
l4-How can the Church best help the "brother
to the ox2' How reach him, lift him up2
BY studying the anxious problems of
economies and finding way of applying
the Golden Rule to industry.
to the ox9'' How should she be reached, up
lifted-her burden lightened?
Yes; we have Sister to the OK" Men
and women rise and fall together. In
general, the same means that will lift
and Tighten mans burden will alleviate
woman's also.
16.-Do churches and church workers neglect
the working people9 Do they pay enough atten-
tion TO factory centres and great industrial
towns?
No. Churches do not give enough at
tention to these matters. Indeed, the
burning question IN each Church today
should be the social problem. The saw
ing of mems souls is very closely con-
nected with the amelioration of their
social and Industrial conditions. The
Church needs new baptism of the Holy
Spirit, which is the same as saying So
cial spirit.
The times., 1900-12-30
Hopes for the End
of the Saloon Power
BY WILLIAM wARpwELL.

am not anticipating reforms in the
liquor traffic in the new century, and am
not interested in It's control In this CEN
scry or the next. l am striving only to
outlaw and destroy It However difficult
and remote this may seem, it is at least
possible. but the traffic has come to have
such power over political parties, over
legislation and public opinion, that control
in any large sense is in my Judgment, alb
solutely and definitely impossible.
Does anyone doubt this?
Let him test 1t by making an effort this
winter to reform In the interest of de-
cency and allfthat pertains to public NOR
ais, the vilest combinr .ion of saloon and
house of ill-fame ever legalized or toler-
ated in this (New York; State, the Raines
law hotel. Call public meeting for
this purpose; a few reformers and "fa-
natics" will attend, but moi single busi-
ness man or representative citizen will he
present. The meeting viii pass resolu-
tions to be presented TO the Legislature, a
committee of which Will grant him hear
ing and proceed promptly, and with scant
courtesy TO turn him down. and rightly,
as he can bring no evidence of public
sentiment in favor OF such reform. Test
it by seeking to close one saloon or to
curtail its influence and power, and he
viii find the whole traffic solidly united
to defeat him, and the traffic will succeed.
After a few experiences Of this kind he
will, l am sure, become convinced that to
destroy is more feasible and possible than
to control and will not waste time and
energy in useless efforts.
And why should not the liquor traffic be
destroyed? Why should the saloon he
permitted to exist? Is II not absolutely a
vidual, wrecking homes and spreading
misery wherever its influence extends?
Prof. Landois. one Of the most eminent
German psychologists, whose works are
translated into all languages and now
used in every school of medicine, in his
latest edition of 1889, says:
Alcohol acts in small quantities as
stimulant, IN larger quantities as over
stimulant, thereby paralyzing the nervous
system. Through the former, it is cap
able of exciting the energies of the body
through short illness, but IN every IN
stance it causes loss through later re-
Taxation of all the muscles"
The highest authority in this country,
the United States Supreme Court, con-
demns this traffic as shown in the follow
jing quotations from its decisions: Nor
CARVE ignore the fact established by stat
istics accessible to everyone, that the dis
order, pauperism, and crime prevalent In
the country are in large measure directly
traceable to this evil" Again. its use as
beverage is hurtful to society and to
every member of it, and is therefore
business in which no one may lawfully
engage in any way"
We enter upon the new century with re-
newed hope and with an unwavering faith
in the triumph of right, and therefore the
ultimate destruction of this curse in our
own and other lands.
The times., 1900-12-30
Would Hasten the
Brotherhood of Man
BY WILLIAM J. BRYAN.

There are many reforms which / hope
to see realized during the new century.
/ suggest a question which ought to re-
ceive more attention during the coming
century than II has during the last few
years, namely: How can the coming OF
the brotherhood of man be fastened by
those who acknowledge the fatherhood of
God? Love of God can best be shown by
the exhibition of 4 brotherly love broad
enough to include all of Gods creatures.
The Bible denounces as a liar the man
who says that he loves God and yet hates
his brother.
/ can conceive Of no greater reform
than that which would apply the Eleventh
Commandment: Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself," to all phases of
human experience. 1t would put an end
TO injustice, whether practieed on a small
scale by individuals or on large scale
through the operation of bad laws.
The times., 1900-12-30
Arbitration Remains
The Hope of Labor
BY W. SrAINsBY,


Chief Ct the Bureau Of Labor OF New jersey
You ask for my views on the reforms
which the new century should bring into
the world of labor, especially as to the
establishment OF labor courts. the aboli-
tion of strikes, and the addition to the
Presidents Cabinet of a Secretary of
Labor The general discomfort now pre-
vailing throughout the world among those
who may be designated the working
classes, would seem to indicate the neces-
sity Of such reforms in the relations of
employer and employe as will make each
better acquainted with the aspirations,
responsibilities, and difficulties of the
other.
l believe in arbitration as a means OF
settling labor disputes after the princi-
pals have failed to adjust their difficulties
themselves Indeed, it IS only in that way
that any just settlement may be effected.
When dispute becomes SO intense as to
verge on strike, the principals are CT all
persons the least competent TO get at the
merits of it, and determine which side is
right; it is only an impartial third Tarty
who can do that. The public interests re-
quire that all such disputes should be
arbitrated, and The siIe refusing TO sub
NIT it's case for settlement in that way
ought to receive the severest censure that
public opinion can inilict.
Many OF our States have enacted laws
establishing boards of arbitration in the
interest of the public, but the results of
their works seem much below what was
expected from them. The failure is gen.
orally attributed to the fact that their
power is simply advisory; offers of me-
diation by them are frequently rejected by
The times., 1900-12-30
The Paramount Hope
of the COlored Race
BY BOOKER T. WASHINGTON.

My hope and belief is that the negro in
this country will make himself SO valuable
in all the industries at his door that he
will become an indispensable voter-that
he will learn to do things so well that he
will make common labor uncommon. My
further hope is that in every straightfor-
ward, honorable way that he will seek to
cement friendship between himself and the
white people in Lis community. that hs
will appreciate more and more that the
interests Of the two races are of equal i'm
portance.
On the ether hand, pray that the white
people in every part OF this country will
bear in mind that they cannot oppress CT
take opportunities from them-the negro.
without the white race becoming degraded.
Every race that 0ppresses another race In
jures itself and in the end must pay the
price for its sin. In connection with thor
cugh education. Industrial development,
and friendship between the races. there
must go that high moral and religious con-
duct which will make black skin res
speeted.
The times., 1900-12-30
Electricity as the
Servant of Man
BIZ CARL HERRING.

1t is often dangerous to prophesy, and
therefore had some hesitancy about re-
plying to your request TO send few words
about the probable future developments
in the science OF electricity: but as no
time limit is fxed for the prophecies to
De fulfilled, the risk may not be great.
Few people realize that to produce the
light in the ordinary incandescent electric
lamps only very small part OF the ener-
gy in the electric current is actually
used, at most one-twentleth and probably
muen less, ell the rest being wasted us
heat There is, therefore, the possibility
OF getting at least twenty and probably
more times ms much light from the cleo
trio current than is obtained at present
in such lamps. When this is accomplished
1t Will probably either be by electrical
means or at least be discovered through
the cid of electrical researches. Another
preblem which will revolutionlze present
methods is to hnd some better way Of
converting the energy OF coal and other
fuels into electric currents without the
aid OF the very wasteful but at present
The times., 1900-12-30
Future
Judged by the Present
BY KATE TASNATF WOODS.

Woman's future in business depends not
only upon her tact, but her environment
At the present time women are competing
with men against heavy odds. Men milli-
ners, dressmakers. and shopkeepers do
not as a rule make her business life easy.
In the professions she has already accom-
plished much, and is destined to do far
more. In the pulpit, she Is Justly
honored; in law, she is trusted and en-
couraged; while in medicine. despite
some opposition in the past, she is doing
grand work, which cannot be measured
by dry statistics. Her executive faculties
are steadily developing as occasion de-
organizations has commanded the admira-
tion OF statesmen and political leaders.
AS rule, the progressive West offers
better opportunities to women than our
more conservative East. More women ere
employed in banks, one lady baving tho
reputation in Illinois several years since
of being "a superior bank president" In
the State of Washington a woman was
first employed as clerk OF the Senate"
AS librarians women are fast forging to
the front, and are doing excellent work.
In literature her efforts have been most
successful in wedding out the "goody
good trash formerly offered to the
young. and her genuine dislike of cant
and hypocrisy will do still more IN the
future; 1t will aid in overcoming the SEN
sational tendency now so disastrous to
legitimate literary work. All this means
better wives, wiser fathers, more inteili-
gent mothers, happier spinsters. and a
better world, through the general uplift-
ing Of our social and spiritual forces
The times., 1900-12-30
Will Kings Disappear Be-
fore the Century Ends?
BY COL. ETHAN ALLEN.

VIII kings disappear?" OF course they
will as they are the product of darker
ages. and surely mus. become unneces-
sary in the dawn of the twentieth cen
tury. The world progresses in all It's re-
lations, both inanimate and animate. The
age OF ice is followed by the age of
bloom; the saurian passes away and more
useful life succeeds him; and man, who
began as a "cavedweller,'' now walks the
floors Of a palatial home. which is
adorned becomingly for this Lord of all"
whose mental equipment at last weighs
and estimates the stars. Shall develop
ment stride onward to greater results
everywhere and halt at politics? Politi-
cally man has fought his way from the
lowest round Of the ladder of social con-
troll to the highest, and today, that nigh
est is republican rule, or the reign of law
as commanded by the people. This means
that kings must pass away. following
other defunct forms OF government.
The steps OF the marching millions of
the earth up to Washington are p5lii-
cally well defined. Beginning with the
'paternal head" of his tribe, whose sway
was when the world was young, we ad-
yanced 10 the patriarch" whose word
was law to many peoples. Following the
changing experiments or Egypt and OF
Greece we reach the absolutism Of impe-
rial Rome. The Caesars. broken by their
own tyranny. the "feudal lord" as their
successor was the legalized pirate of the
Middle Ages. Then came monarchy. at
first absolute, but afterward 5oftened ty
assert his power against the insolence of
kings. Then followed the last and grand
est achievement for political progress.
the American Revolution and the inaugu-
ration of the great Republic. which. by
The times., 1900-12-30

dom, in making appropriate provision for
the support Of those who are to guide
young souls in the most critical years of
life. Give us teachers properly trained
with high ideals, and they will, under
careful supervision, introduce the reforms
most needed.
A system of instruction based on ra-
tional principles will discard some OF the
lumber which is now used. Many things
are taught. which are waste of time and
strength But we shall not get good teach
ers until Successful teachers are con-
tinued in Office during good behavior and
efficiency. "
The times., 1900-12-30

N n ORE important, perhaps, than
mn the summing up of the accom-
plishments of the nineteenth
century is a careful considera-
ton of the foremost tasks of man
kind in the twentieth century. Look
ing forward 100 years, we find that there
is work for everybody, in social reform
movements, in further scientific develop
ment. In educational progress, in munich
pal improvement, in the publication OF
politics, in betteripg the condition Of
labor In the following symposium, rec
ognized authorities in their respective
fields of work, by request of The Chris
tion Herald" have written their opinions
Of What the New Century Should Do
for Humanity" If the prophecies and
hopes here defined are to be realized,
they afford a most cheering outlook for
the future of the race.
The times., 1900-12-30
The E arth Freed of
Its Foulest Stain
BY ANDREW CARNEGIE.

Andrew Carnegie was asked:
What is the most important task OF
mankind in the twentieth century? II
you could come back to earth in the year
1000, what one change would you most
like to see in human affairs?" He an
swered:
"The earth freed from its foulest stain,
the killing OF men by men under the name
of war.
The profession of arms. now considered
by many the most honorable, then held
to be of all human occupations the most
dishonorable"