The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-08-31


country where there should be no cap
italists but an abundance Of water.
Howbeit, there were certain true pro-
phets Of God also, and these had CON-
passion on the people and would not
prophesy for the capitalists. but ratl1-
er spake constantly against them.
| Now, when the capitalists saw that
the people still murmured and would
not be STILL neither for the words of the
soothsayers nor of the false priests,
they came forth themselves unto them
and put the ends OF their fingers in the
water that overlooked in the tank and
the drops from the tips Of their fingers
abroad upon the people who thronged
the tank, and the name Of the drops
of Water was charity, and they were
| exec eding bitter.
| And when the capitalists saw yet
again that neither for the words of the
soothsayers, nor Of the holy men who
were false priests, nor yet for the drops
that were called charity, would the
people be still, but ragged the more and
crowded upon the tank as if they would
take it by force, then took thev counsel
together and sent men privily forth
among the people. And these men
sought out the mightiest among the
people and all who had skill in war,
and took them apart and spake crafty
with them. saying:
J Come now, why cast We not your lot
with the capitalists? If We will be
their men and serve them against the
people. that they break not in upon the
tank, then shall We have abundance of
water, that We perish not, We and your
Children
And the mighty men and they who
were skilled in war hardened unto this
speech and suffered themselves to be
persuaded, for their thirst constrained
them, and they went within unto the
! capitalists and became their men, and
| slaves and swords were put in their
hands and they became a defense unto
the capitalists and smote the people
when. they thronged upon the tank.
And after many days the water was
low in the tank, for the capitalists did
make fountains and fish ponds of the
water thereof, and did battle therein,
| IL
did waste the water for their pleasure.
And when the capitalists saw that the
tank was empty, they said, 1.-THE crisis
is ended; and they sent forth and
hired the people that they should bring
water to fill it again. And for the
! water that the people brought to the
tank they received for every bucket a.
penny, but for the water which the
capitalists drew forth from the tank to
give again to the people they received
two pennies, that they might have their
profit And after a time did the tank
again overflow even as before. =. i:
And now; when many times the peo-
pie had filled the tank until it over
flowed and had thirsted till the water
therein had been wasted by the capital
lists, it came to pass that there arose,
in the land certain men who were
called agitators, for that they did stir
up the people. And they spake to the
people, saying that they should ASSOC
ciate, and then would they have no
need to be servants Of the capitalists
and should thirst no more for water.
And in the eyes of the capitalists were
/
would fain have crucified them. but
burst not for fear Of the people.
| And the words of the agitators which
! they spake to the people were on this
| wise:
Eye foolish people, how long will We
| be deceived by lie and believe to your
| hurt that which is not? for behold all
! these things that have been said unto
you by the capitalists and by the sooth-
sayers are cunningly devised fables.
And likewise the holy men, who say
| that it is the will Of God that We should
always be poor and miserable and
athirst, behold! they do blaspheme God
| and are liars. whom he will bitterly
judge though he forgive all others.
How cometh it that We may not come
by the water in the tank? Is it not be-
! cause We have no money? And why
have We no money? Is it not because
ye receive but one penny for every
bucket that We bring to the tank, which
is the Market, but must render two
pennies for every bucket yc take out,
so that the capitalists may have their
profit? See We not how by this means
the tank must overflow, Icing filled
by that We lack and made to abound
out of your emptiness?: See We not also
that the harder We toll and the more
diligently We seek and bring the water,
the worse and not the better it shall
be for you by reason Of the profit, and
that forever"
After this manner spake the agitators
for many days unto the people, and
none needed them, but it. was so that
after g, time the people hearkened. And
they answered and said unto the agi-
tators:
Eye say truth. It is because of the
capitalists and of their profits that we
want, seeing that by reason Of them
and their profits we may by no means
come by the fruit of our labor so that
our labor is in vain. and the more we
toll to fill the tank the sooner doth it
overflow, and we may receive nothing
because there is too much, according
to- the words Of the soothsayers. But
behold. the capitalists are hard men
and their tender mercies are cruel. Tell
us If We know any way whereby we may