The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-04-05
POVERTY TO DRINK
POVERTY AND IDLENESS CAUSE
DRINK.
Women and POverty-Poverty Is the
Kidnapping of Selfishnesa-TwO
Classes Open to the Termination
of Intemperance Are the Very
Neutrality Of Trading Classes.

A portion of Ira Stewards Poverty
given in the Federationist for April will
interest every stuGent OF the new
thought. Ira Stewards life work was
to bring about the universal eight
hour day. His analysis Of Poverty
shows how keen and logical mind he
possessed.
After dealing with poverty among the
classes which is often hidden by pride
he refers to poverty among women, and
poverty and Its relation to intemper-
ance in the following manner:
Poverty falls the most crushing on
woman. In all countries and in all
ages, among the middle and lower
classes, she has worked harder and for
less pay than men. A woman who has
no resources for a living except from
the labor Of her own hands is tolerably
sure in time to become either the poor
mans slave or the rich mans plaything
to marry for a home or to do worse.
ITO make prostitution unnecessary is
a part Of the problem Of social science;
but prostitution means getting a living.
The science that will solve this problem
will easily dispose Of war, intemper-
ance, financial commissions, and a
dozen other evils that now disturb the
peace Of the race.
Poverty is the handspring of selfish
ness, for it is the restitution Of the
mass of mankind that prevents them
from thinking and doing for others. As
Mill says, all their thoughts are re-
quired for themselves
1.-The two classes most peculiarly
~ <Aa +or fo% 49, ~%o
are the very poor and the very rich
young men.
Those who through their poverty
have little more than place in which
to sleep, eat and work, and those on
the other hand, whose surplus wealth
places them where they have nothing to
do, can not be observed too carefully;
for these are the circumstances that
explains the secret beginnings Of many
a mans vices.
"The steps of some young men turn
finally to the light, warm, welcome sa-
loon, not from force Of appetite, for
they have never yet drank enough to
create the craving for stimulating bev-
erages; nor because it is fashionable,
for their wages are not sufficient to lift
them up to that level; but because they
are without homes and are starving for
society.
''The sons of the wealthy have homes,
and all that money can bring for their
entertainment. But in many cases they
have nothing whatever to do. They
are corrupted by idleness; and it is
their extreme wealth that makes their
hours Of idleness possible. Who shall
describe the sense Of utter worthless
ness that comes over a man from a
simple waste Of time, and because of
precious faculties rusting from disuse!
HE lies down at night tired, though
never having known the refreshing
fatigue of honest work! All about him
useful, and happy in their usefulness,
the very children glad to leave their
sports If they can help
"The most terrible of all stagnations
Is idleness. It means moral and social
rottenness; and intemperance is. only a
single manifestation Of it. A state of
society which furnishes every year an
increasing number of young men who
have nothing whatever to do-no idea.
or hobby. even, to pursue-has created
a force for profligacy that is sure to
manifest itself in one or another form