Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-05-04
MAY WE NOT LEARN?
WILL THE REIGN OF BANDlTlSM
TEACH US NOTHlNG?


colin, pastor of the First Congregation
al church of Franklin avenue, Cleve-
land, gave a powerful address on the
present social conditions. In part he
said:
"The present coal robbery of this
country is one of the most cruel out
RACES ever perpetrated upon the human
race. 1t may, however, become one of
the greatest blessings. 1t may be such
an eye opener and education as we
have never had before. 1t may enable
our people to see clearly the danger that
threatens their liberties and arouse
their determination to break the bonds
that are tightening upon them. If so,
then all the suffering which has been
imposed upon them shall become an
unspeakable blessing. But if when the
weather grows warm and soothing
they shall forget and fall into their old
ruts of thinking and voting then all
their suffering shall have been in vain,
for every great oppression of people
either dishesrtens and makes them
more willing slaves or arouses them to
confront the tyrant
1T would seem that the lessons of
the reign of this banditism and robbery
have been so awful that no victim of
1t could ever forget or the dullest intel
lect fail to see its significance. For
years we have been hearing from all
quarters that private combinations of
capital could produce cheaper and
transport things more rapidly for us
than the city or the state. The people
believed this and therefore have been
trusting to these concerns to handle
their great public utilities, such as coal,
gas, oil and the like for them. Now
what do we see? Why, we see that if
these vast combines can produce and
transport more cheaply than the state
they have not done it and will not do it
for the good of the people, but for an
enormous profit for themselves and at
terrible cost to the people.
I'VE have been hearing for years that
If the state were to take charge of
these great public utilities, such as the
railroad, mines, etc, it would corrupt
the state and intrench plundering
class in power that could never be dis
lodged. Now, what does such a claim
as this mean? 1t means that the peo-
pie who make it have an ak to grind.
1t means that they are unpatriOtic;
that they distrust the ability of the
government to care for its citizens
without these all wise outside organiza-
tions. 1t means that they assume the
role of prophets and prophesy evil of
the state and measure the corn of the
government in their own fraudulent
measure. Now, the question Is, VIII
they continue to make these outrageous
claims any longer in the face of exist
ing conditions. and will the people lis
ten to their stories any longer?
Can any change that we may make
bring things to worse pass than they
are at this hour? Can there be greater
corruption than now exists? Wages
advancing a little and the necessities
of life-food, rent and fuel-climbing
skyward, leaving the people on an av-
erage 33 per cent worse off than they
were before and the city and state
called upon to bear the burden of pov-
erty and crime brought about by this
very scheme which clamors for perpet-
uation, is about as bad as we can well
imagine.
ut has been figured out by high and
competent Christian scholars that in
New York city alone there are 100000
fallen women and that so per cent of
these are earning livelihood by their
shame because of the impossibility un-
der our present economic regulations to
earn enough to support themselves by
other ways. Following the same meth
ods of computation, it would appear
that there are about $4,000 such fallen
ones in our own city, about 1900 of
whom are forced to such life because
they find it impossible to earn a living
in any other manner under the present
conditions and methods of society.
"Now, is it possible that there are yet
men who will in the face of these facts
and 10000 others equally sad stand up
and plead for the continuation of pres
ent conditions and the methods which
have produced them?
"Is it settled that two-thirds of the
citizens of this great community must
forever live on the verge of serfdom
and in the fear of want? Is there de-
cree registered anywhere that few
should dwell in luxury and the many
wear their lives out in penury?
"The dream of the better day is in
our own air. The old yoke gals the
neck of toll, the people are restless, all
are looking for juster methods. Terri
BILE crime, crookedness and shame trou-
BILE the thoughtful. The unsafety of
life causes the opulent to reflect, the
thought of a change stirs the heart of
the Millions the people catch glimpse
of the way to claim their own, and the
trusts, concentrative considerations, as
well as all the pain and shame, poverty
and crime which our existing regime
has produced, are all working together
more than anything else to bring this
to pass.
mo one dreams that public owner
ship or control of public utilities or any
method of cooperation will change