The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-05-02
MUST ORGANIZE
AND EDUCATE
THIS AGE HAS PRODUCED A MUL.
TiTUDE OF WORTHY ADVO.
GATES OF EDUCATION.
Labor Must Take Decided Stand
for Universal Education.


Labor Must Take Decided Stand
for Universal Education.
The present age has produced multi
tude of worthy advocates Of education,
but the man OF action has not yet ap-
peared to free the slaves Of Ignorance,
and loose the shackles Of the masses
now in darkness.
Free schools have diffused their abene-
diction through the land, and those who
would have received the blessing. But
what Of the class who refuse to bene-
flt by these. advantages?
For them the bliss Of ignorance lies in
the utter Inconsistencies of any need
for Improvement. What was good
enough for my father is good enough
for me, I have got along without edi-
cashun, and my boy and girl don't need
none!'
Poverty is no excure for the degra-
datlon of ignorance. Progress marks
the times advancement. The past
century was grand in achievement and
prolific in opportunity: then we may
safely anticipate wonderful prohabili-
ties for the future.
Naturally, the prosperous element Of
society in every nation requires SER
vices from those in humber walks Of
life, and we notice the supply from the
source always exceeds the demand. It
is from the surplus of such population
the idle. ignorant, beggarly element
that recruits in crime are furnished.
Content with ignorance not realizing
any deficiency, ''hewers of wood and
drawers Of water" aiming no higher
than to obtain the crude necessities Of
existence, they know nothing of the
refinements Of cultivation, consequently
untitled to enjoy them, because they
have no ambition for better things.
They crinue to m AIRY and give in
marriage. multiplying and replenishing
d pauperized mass of illeterate and gen.
orally incompetent, Indifferent laborers.
unonism is handicapped by this ele-
ment. Organization has done much for
labor. but has much to correct and
overcome from the obstacles before and
the drawbacks behind the movement.
In this day of "Trusts' self-preser-
walton requires thought and action, and
labor realizes the philosophy Of union
ism. 1t is also beginning to agitate the
subject and emphasize the necessity Of
education.
For the advancement of the best
interests Of those who most need a
changed order Of conditions, universal
education is necessary.
Organized labor is strong enough to
legislate to; that. end until every State
III tds
education books and schools ire for I'LL
Through prayer and perseverance La
Dor conquers all things" and deserves
the righteous reward Of the best life has
to offer Carnegie is quoted as saying:
The man who dies rich, dies dis
8raced. There are thousands of
worthy subjects to benefit by the sur
plus wealth Of every pfilanthrophist
who has disgraced himself by accumu-
lating fortune while suffering hu-z:zs 81 i:
ity lives in degradation and dies in pitt
full want on all sides. Many prosper by
the cause that brings adversely to
others, seeing their own brothers and
sisters destitute and depending on the
charity Of public institutions, that they
may gather riches for themselves.
There is small hope for any helpful
suggestions from this eager rush of
money getters. for the conditions were
changed to uplift and improve the
masses, all surplus wealth would ma
turally become more diffused, and the
few would have the chances lessened.
in proportion, for accommodating for
tunes.
Once let the 'poor but honers'' man
make up his mind that he is not
Smart enough; that if education is
good for the prosperous, it must be good
for the poor; let the toiling masses
determine to be educated, and this
country will soon experience a mighty
change for the better.
Let the philanthrophist and humani-
tarion go down among the ambitious
and striving ''middle-class," thence
downtown to the depths of poverty
and ignorance-and there may be found
through each grade material in abun-
dance on which to operate. Ignorance
should meet with compassion. rather
than contempt, for it is the fruit of cir
cumstances.
Where now the average illiterate re-
sents culture in another, he should be
taught to emulate rather than to dis
pise. He should be educated, not to
hate the beauty, refinement and culture
that has become a. necessity in another's
home. We should raise him to a desire
for mental development and to edu-
cate him to mental capacity of enjoy
ment and relish Of Improvement.
The anarchist is the natural product
of unnatural conditions.
Educate all the children in America,
and the twentieth century will show q
solution to the problem Of labor
troubles" that prove eminently salts
factory to all classes. One generation
of liberal education would do more to
eradicate anarchy, avert the conflicts