Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-30

civilized tTlDeS VI boSiild, SSfEla,
Herzegovina and Bulgaria. Soon
cheap river transportation on the Dam
ube will open the way to the Black sea,
then we may get ready for their inva-
sion.
God has suddenly turned the question
of Foreign missions in one of home
missions, and the question of home
missions into one of life and death of
this Republic. The arena has mar
rowed, God has united India, Africa,
China, Russia, all the world to the U.
s.. The people of all nations are in
vading our farms, offices, and fac
tories; 100000 came hither last year.
This means an unlimited supply of
workers are in the labor market. On
the other hand, modern methods of
manufacturing, commerce and finance
have placed within our reach an UNI
limited supply of money the two
meagre forces of all time are ours labor
and capital. We must consider
THE EVILS WHICH HAVE DEvEL-
OPED.
In connection with our rresent sys-
tenn. recent writer has summed
them up as follows material, political,
industrial and social. The danger from
material evils are most alarming. I'VE
read that hard times are due to over
supply. Too many houses, therefore
men are shelterless, too much coal.
Therefore men are shivering; too much
bread, therefore men are hungry; too
much clothing, therefore men are
naked; 1t does not take much thought
to see the folly of such political
economy"
Now look at the political dangers;
Zone body of men control all the coal
oil. that is the light; another the coal
that is the fuel; another the gold and
silver mines, that is the bases of the
currency; another transportation, and
stock exchanges, that is, the food
supply. With few men owning, and
controlling these important forces, you
see the great temptation to political
corruption, which is hte worst foe of
the people,
The Industrial evils, are even more
important; because they are the found
alton of the others. Society is divided
into two classes, the tool owners, and
the tool users. Practically all the tools
and implements of industry except in
agriculture, are owned by one class
while they are employed by another
class. 1t would seem to make little
difference whether you owned the man.
as in slavery: or the land, as under
feudalism; or the tool as under cap
italism, in each case you are the die
tator.
The moral evils of such system are
seen in the classes it tends to create:
the idle rich and the idle poor, from
these the victims of vice are recruited.
Beyond question the evil effects of
the present industrial system is felt
most keenly by the workers. Our
wealth is estimated at ninty billions of
dollars, of this twenty-five billions have
been saved the last ten years. In 1890
twenty two million seven hundred and
thirty five thousand persons were
engaged in gainful occupations, they
produced $13,661, 100000. 1t was divided
as follows: 6,1O0,000,00O, for the necessi-
ties of life, 240,0C0,0OO, for the govern
ment 3,5S4,OOO,0O0, for luXuries, 1000, 0O0,-
600. for liquor, 450,000.000 for tobacco.
The remaining 3,OOO,OOO,0OO, was divided
as follows 1-3 went to SO of the families,
the rest to $50. This means that the
vast majority of American families Just
succeed in living (Arena) that they are
perilously near the pauper class. Duns
review is authority for the statement
that wages have increased during the
past four years for unskiled workmen
159c, but the cost of living has increased
during the same period 379o, the cost of
living was higher March 1st, than at
any time during the past fourteen
years.
Study this from another point of
view. According to U. S. Commissioner
Carl D. Wright, in 1890 1000 1,139,-
672 of the working people We're out of
employment. In 1893 this number had
increased to 10 Now you must be
ready for the statement of the N. Y.
charity organization, found in their
fifteenth annual report. This report
shows the cause of need as BASED upon
their investigation made in $50 cities of
the U. S. and Canada $50 of need is due
to minor causes, 1870 to sickness, 1919 to
intemperance, so to shiftlessness, or a
rowing disposition, and 479o to lack of
employment.
The home of one hundred years ago
TOT the most part consisted Oh a cottage
with it's bit of green, this has been ex-
changed for the tennament, with it's
crowded quarters, and unsantary con-
ditions. Home is more than one room
or hundred rooms, home is the place
where parental care, parental author
ity. and parental love are supreme.
We look to the home as the place where
virtue, integrity. and Standardization
are taught. if the home fails in this
work, the result is almost irretrievable.
The industrial system of today all too
often destroys the home; the parents
are in the factory, or the shop, the
children are on the street.
Next consider the school. I presume
most students are ready to admit that
the destiny of the republic is to large
extent in the keeping of the educators;
to them have been committed human
liberties, and free institutions. Educa-
ton is fundamental to our republic, but
the factory and the store have need of
the little ones. To be sure Page 10 of
the Maine school laws say that every
child between Z and IA shall attend
public school or its equivalent during
the time the school is in session. The