The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1903-03-14
THE LABOR COLUMN.

Az this is the first issue OF the
aIberian' in which The Labor
Column appears, ! shall devote
NV first article to an explanation
of the reasons for its appearance
Nearly every city daily and
weekly newspaper IS controlled by
the employing class, and the coun-
try newspapers as a rule-are de
pendent on them, for the news of
the outside world Thus, it is
easy to be seen, that the reading
public always gets a one sided
view of every question which in
wolves a clash between Labor and
Capital.
As an illustration: Let us sup
pose that a man has been arrested
and charged with a crime. This
man is deemed innocent by the
law until he is proven guilty. He
is tried by the court, and a jury of
twelve men decide upon a verdict.
Now, if this jury should only
listen to the evidence brought out
by the prosecuting attorney, and
would only pay attention to this
argument against the accused,
and refuse to hear any evidence
whatever i'll the prisoners defence,
do you not know that the verdict
of that jury would be, beyond a
doubt, "Guilty as charged"
The labOring man of today is
placed in the same position by
the press, as the prisoner who is
condemned by this jury. The
public hears only the testimony of
the capitalist class who employ
nearly all Of the labor; and the
newspapers OF the cities, being,
also, owned or controlled 10y this
same class, the editorials are al
most unit against the labOrer.
Therefore, | ask you, how is it
possible for the public-which is
the jury in this case-to render
a just verdict, when the laborer is
denied his right of giving testi-
nony in his own behalfg
Ny first reason, then, for pub
fishing 'The Labor Column is to
place before the public the labor
er's side of all disputes between
Labor and Capital, and then leave
it to the people to form just and
honest opinion as to what is the
truth.
| do not claim that the lahore r
10 always in the right. | know
from personal experience that they
sometimes act in q hasty and in
cautious manner, and | shall try
to be careful to state the facts, as
| know them, even if | have to
sometimes hurt those, whom |
would fain endorse.
The second reason for the publ.
caCion of these articles-and
might say, the most important one
lis to educate the masses on all
subjects that pertains to the "La-
Dor question: TO do this, | shall
be obliged to enter into the field
Of Political Economy; but | sha
try, to the utmost of my ability
to eliminate all matter Of !, sconfus,
ing nature, such e. $50 Is often found
in economic sorks and mako NV
cAP'a.,iations as plain and simple
/ as possible; avoiding all difficult
expressions, SO that l may be
easily understood by all who may
read. This, believe, is very i'm
portant, as | am aware that al
though some of our citizens may
be blessed with higher educa
ton, the majority of our laboring
class are not SO fortunate, and it
il by those especially, who are SO
unfortunate, that | wish to be
understood.
have no d onbt that there are
some who will not agree with me
IN many Of the ideas l shall al :.
vance, and to those l wish to say,
that ! am open to criticism and,
what is more, invite it, as /
firmly believe that much knOwl.
edge is gained by not only the
parties who dispute upon a sub
ject, but also all readers may be
benefited to great degree, as it
has a tendency of increasing the
interest Of the public; and it can