The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-07

oo thinss, the men who direct the
forces OF and industry, who APP
ply capital to production, who plan the
lines or trade, one recognizes that there is
feeling of antagonism, disrespect or dis
regard for the man who iabors If he has
In him the qualities of honesty, integrity
and thrift. No line of division is drawn on
the question of occupation; it is drawn upon
the question Of character.
Politicians and labor unions, each in their
own field and their own way, are chiefly
responsible for this assumed division of the
population into classes, so far as it really
exists. The politician takes off his hat in
the presence of the man who works, and
behind his back considers him, as he con-
siders all other men. a tool for his own ele-
Walton, an object to be cajoled when he
wants votes and to be rebufed when there
is an opportunity for gratitude. He pirates
loud and long in his speeches about the
dignity of labor, and by the Incidence of
his life and the selfshness of his ambition
tries to teach the world that a man may
live by politics and not by labor.
The other factor In this creation of class
is the labor union. Labor organizations in
this country have based their theories upon
trade unionism in England n Germany.
In these two countries entirely different
social conditions exist. There is a titled
aristocracy i'm both lands. In England.
particularly, from which trade unionism
takes the majority of its principles, this
aristocracy is hedged about in such a
manner that no success in acquiring for
tune. no mental superiority. no supremacy
of business sagacity can break down the
barrier.
Below this line of aristocracy stand the
middle classes and the poor. Among the
middle classes, those whose circumstances
are fortunate and who can acquire de-
grees of wealth which place them above
the daily necessity of labor with their hands
ape the aristocracy, and build about them
selves a wall which the toiler cannot sur
mount, while they repress the ambitions
of the toiler and make him an abject de-
pendent. Here is a second aristocracy,
based entirely upon the possession of prop
erty, but constantly drawing the line be-
tween capital and labor. possession and
want.
In this country nothing of this kind ex-
lists in reality. The assumption that it does
is false and misleading. There is no field
of occupation which is not open to any man
with ability. energy and ambition if he
essays to enter it. There is no attainment
which is not possible to the humblest la
borer If he strives for it in the right way.
There is no social distinction which makes
a common class of capitalists or a COM
mon class of laborers. except as men lake
the false fattery of the politicians and the
false divisions made by the labor unions
as their measure of condition.
When the politician has been eliminated,
or when at least the effects of his un-
faithful teachings have been DESTROYED.
and also the false assumptions of the labor
unions that toll and leisure create distinct
social classes, those who denominate them
selves laboring people will find that social
distinctions are really made upon those
uillCtcitcc VI Gilt auu al ndDlt, tfloSt
relations of personal character which draw
men together or keep them apart, and
those natural selections which find ex-
preston in the homely and often misap-
piled and misunderstood expression. Birds
of a feather flock together" This ex-
preston means, in short and in truth, that
| men and women of like social habits, like
aspirations, like desires, like practices. as
well as OF like occupations, will naturally
segregate and easily form cliques and draw
social lines. Between these distinctions
there is not necessarily any antagonisn
or jealousy. Neither. perhaps, esteems
| himself better than the other, but quietly
| recognizes the fact that the other does moi
sympathize with his tastes nor participate
in his ambitions, hence intimate associa.
ton is impractical.
Indeed. when it comes to the question Of
class distinction. those most bitter and in
tensely antagonistic exist among men VIII,
call themselves laboring people. They ar,
less tolerant of their fellows and draw tn,
lines of clique and of social ostracism much
4 more CfOSeiy tndn the lines between capita
and labor have ever been drawn. Persona
jealousy, pride of employment. vanity o.
small possession, difference i'm wage, env,
and distrust draw the lines between peopl,
and create forms OF aristocracy which ar,
more intense i'm their expression, more bit
ter in their hatred and create more self
satisfied classes than any aristocrac,
created by birtfD6r by power. In thi
country aristocracy of blood counts 70
nothing. Despite the false charges of tn
disconnected and dissatisfied the only arts
tocracy which has in itself a real exist
ence and which draws barriers that ar
sometimes insurmountable, are those O
character. ambition and determination
There is no need for a distinctively poo
class In this country. and poverty i'm IN
majority of cases Is the result of persona
improvidence and neglect OF the most com
monplace rules of economy, thrift and RICH
living.
For this condition society is not directl
nor indirectly responsible. and those VIII
assert that II Is do SO either vlciously O
ignorantly. Labor neither ~dignihes nor de
grades a man any more than capital dig