The representative., 1901-05-16
THE WATER TANK
PARABLE THAT ILLUSTRATES PRES.
ENT CONDITIONS.

The Workers, the Capitalists and the
Agftators All Drawn True to Life
by the Famous Author.
In Edward Bellamy's book, Equal
ity.'' the following parable appears
which is we'll worthy Of reproduction
1t will be noticed that Mr.. Bellamy
digs to the root OF the hard times"
cry. or the labor problem, with trench
and pen, showing how the laboring
class, which is also the consuming class,
is forced to suffer owing to the profit
system, and this is the kernel that has
given birth to Socialism. The parable
reads:
There was certain very dry land,
the people whereof were In sore need of
water. And they did nothing but seek
after water from morning until night,
and many perished because they could
not find it.
HOwbiet, there were certain men in
that land who were more crafty and
diligent than the rest, and these had
gathered stores of water where others
could find none, and the name of these
men were called capitalists. And it
came to pass that the people of the land
came unto the capitalists and prayed
hof oivy of %ho
water that they had gathered that they
might drink for their need was sore
But the capitalists answered them and
said:
"Go to, We silly people! Why should
we give We of the water which we have
gathered, for then we should become
even as We are, and perish with you?
But behold what we will do unto you.
Be ye our servants and ye shall have
water"
And the people said: 'Only give us
to drink and we will be your servants,
we and our children And it was so.
Now, the capitalists were men Of
understanding, and wise In their gener-
I alton. They ordered the people who
were their servants in bands with cap
tains and officers, and some they put at
the springs to dip, and others did they
make to carry the water, and others did
| they cause to seek new springs.
And all the water was brought together
in one place, and there did the capital
lists make great tank for TO hold it,
| and the tank was called the Market, for
| it was there that the people, even the
| servants of the capitalists, came to get
water. And the capitalists said unto
the people:
| For every bucket of water that We
bring to us that we may pour it into
! the tank, which is the Market, behold!
we will give ye penny, but for every
bucket that we shall draw forth to give
| unto you that ye may drink of 1t, ye and
| your wives and your children, ye shall
give us two pennies, and the difference
shall be our profit, seeing that If it were
| not for this profit we should not do this
| thing for you, but ye should all perish. "
| And it was good in the peoples eyes,
| for they were dull of understanding,
! and they diligently brought water to
the tank for many days, and for every
bucket which they did bring the capi-
/! talists gave them each man a penny;
! but for every bucket that the capitalists
| drew forth from the tank to give again
unto the people, behold! the people rem
dered to the capitalists two pennies.
And after many days the water tank,
! which was the Market, overflowed at
! the top, seeing that for every bucket
! the people poured in they received only
so much as would buy again half Of a
bucket. And because of the excess that
| was left of every bucket did the tank
overflow, for the people were many,
but the capitalists were few, and could
drink no more than others. Therefore
| did the tank overflow.
And when the capitalists saw that the
water was overdowed, they said to the
people:
'See ye not the tank, which is the
Market, doth overflow? Sit ye down,
therefore, and be patient. for ye shall
| bring us no more water till the tank
be empty
But when the people no more received
the pennies of the capitalists for the
water they brought, they could buy NO
more water from the capitalists, having
naught wherewfth to buy And when
the capitalists saw they had no more
profit because no man bought water OF
them, they were troubled. And they
sent forth men in the highways, the by
ways and hedges, crying: "If any
thirst let him come to the tank and buy
water of us for it doth overflow" For
they said among themselves, Behold,
the times are dull; we must advertise =
| But the people answered, saying;.
How can we buy unless We hire us, for
how else shall we have the wherewithaI
to buy? Hire us, therefore, as before,
and we will gladly buy water, for we
thirst, and ye will have no need to ad-
vertise." But the capitalists said to the
people: .sShall we hire you to bring
water when the tank, which Is the Mar
ket doth already overflow? Buy 70,
4 X