Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-11-27
Crime and Social Conditions.

VAh~ WH~ OOSs"s O~s'~AssV'Ss
concluded from first page]
tions are responsible for more crime than all
other causes combined
Let us now look at social conditions under
our present industrial system, the methods of
which are competition and private gain.
Under competition, man is forced to work
against man. This antagonism results in dis
cord, strife, envy, fraud, robbery, oppression,
poverty and crime. 1t deveopes an abnormal
spirit, sel6shness and greed, to protect ones
self from the uncertainties of present business
methods. 1t sn,oth-rs all feeling of harmony
and brotherhood. c,mpe,S YOU % smother
your better nature and step down into this in
dustrial cesspool of strife to maintain life.
This is society and social conditions under
individual antagonsms. Now let us look at
society and social conditions under the Class
antagonsms exstidg to-day between organized
labor and organized capital--beiween the wner
and misunderstanding in confusion and an
archy in production and distribution. The
recent coal strike in Pennsylvania illustrates
this class struggle between organized labor and
organized capiia,-between owner and nom
owner-resulting in confusion and anarchy in
production and distribution. Under this class
struggle. the coal barons raised the price OF
coal and sent suffering into the homes of mil
lions of the poorer classes.
What is the root cause of all social discOn
tent--this poverty-these individual and class
antagonsms-this confusion, social inharmonv
and crime? The root cause is private owner
ship of the land and machinery of production
and distribution. A few men have come to
own and absolutely control the entire resources
and means necessary to maintain life. This
gives as complete power over human life as any
military tyrant, feudal lord or Southern slave
holder ever possessed. They dictate the con-
ditions to the laborei and the price to the con-
sumer-and there you are, with two million
militia force at the disposal of the president, to
compel you to submit. Private ownership in
land divides the producers into three classes.
Statistics show that we have, in round num-
beers, six million farms and three million farm
owners and four million farm-wCrkers. The
farm.o owner exploits the farm-renter for one
third OF his production; the farm.renter exploits
the farm. worker for one-half of his product
and the beet trust exploits them all for what
there is in it above bare living, by fixing the
price OF cattle and hogs and selling it back at
the trusts own price.
So you see that ownership in land divides the
producers into four classes-the farm workers,
the farm-renters and the farm.owners with the
beef trust master Of the situation.
Private ownership in the machinery of pro-
duction results in the same class struggles.
This is what we call Christian civilization.
Let us, test it. If Christ were here, do you be-
lieye He would fence in thousands of acres of
land and demand rent from Gods poor for the
simple privilege of living? Would He loan
money and demand usury? Would He sell
houses and goods to pay demands for debts?
Would He beat down the laborer in his wages
and reduce him to rags and want?
If Christ would not do these things which we
are doing, what right have we to call ourselves
Christians or Christian nation?
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