The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-09-10
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LABOR a ! Dl CELEBRATION
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J Continued from page one.

opportunity to look: at this great ques-
tlon OF human rights from the broad
est standpoint. - .. -. ',
Here we are. where all about us
are some things which belong to man
In common. The sunshine, cooled by
the air, so stimulating and invigor-
ating. How different 1t is from the sti-
n1ng and depressing atmosphere of the
snop ana factory! Even the water
ripping and cloudy. is yet the prop
'.Everything. we proudly claim in
unison is ours. except the great foot
oeen able to determine how such dis
elimination could be made in the ow-
nership Of the properties of nature. I
could never understand by what au-
tnor1ty certain select creatures of God
could claim ownership of vast acres Of
the peoples heritage. / never could
see the logic of any argument in ia
vor OF the private ownership Of the
land and the natural resources Of the
world, that God in his infinite wisdom,
must have surely meant for all Of His
human creatures. But private owner
snip does exist. and because 1t does
tnere Is hunger and want and discon-
tent and unrest in the world.
Believe in Private Ownership.
Through long period Of time, and
py common consent. the people have
believed In private ownership for no
other reason than existed before their
time: The principle is so thoroughly
esta oi1shed that If some scientist
should discover certain properties in
the air Of Lake Superior. that If in
haled Into the lungs would give I'M
medlate cure ID Pulmonary disease. he
would be supported in an effort to
claim private right to it. and suffer-
ers would be Obliged to pay tribute 70
MIN for the privilege Of inhaling this
air, which, before It's value was known,
was the property Of all.
Beneath our feet is water as free as
the sunshine. Let some one discover in
q certain portion Of this bay a pool
OF water that would be Of some unu-
sual use to suffering mankind, and he
would be supported by the ordinary
man of today, in his contention for a
private right to it.
What Is true Of the air and the
water is also true Of the SOIL The same
principle is involved in each case.
There isn't an economic Ill in the land.
except those which are caused by the
evil OF the private ownership Of those
things that the Creator intended should
be the property Of all.
Private ownership has made us a
money worshipping people. 1t has
made us a selfish people.
Seifishness Not Natural.
Some think that it Is natural for
man to be selfish. We have a Thousand
demonstrations every day that this Is
not true. The man whose mind is not
concentrated on money making is not
a selfish man. Many men are doing
things every day for the benefit OF
mankind, without price and with no
hope for reward except the knowledge,
that they are helping to make this
better world to live in. It is not human
nature Of man to be selfish, now
IA mas man the same nature today that
ne had In the beginning. If he had
we would all be savagrs. The nature
OF man changes with his Environments
and habits.
know or men who are engaged as
Keepers OF penal institutions. Some of
them entered the work with the kind
est Of hearts. and in a few years they
became as gruffs and: Hard hearted as
the most hardened criminals. Disap-
po1ntments in men put in their care,
and associations with the most hard
ened men changed their whole DISPOSE
ton. l remember a school-mate, who
when a boy was credited with being
the most generous Of all the boys in the
neighborhood.
He entered into work when leav-
ing school that has since made him
man OF considerable means. OF late
his mind has been centered upon
money-getting. How to make money
is the question that occupies every
moment of his time: at his office: at
his home, and even while on pleasure.
Th1s has changed his whole character,
and he who was once a generous and
openhearted boy. Is now a close, selfish
and avaricious man.
Courage to Take Advanced Ground.
some men of strong characters are
capable Of preventing their money!
making vocations from changing their
dispositions, but the majority of men
try to At particular disposition to the
manner Of work in which they are en-
gagged. When ones works becomes a
selnsh cuI lily he will develop with it
selfish disposition. l know that when
We begin to talk about overthrowlnR
the present industrial system, which
Is Rounded on avarice and greed, and
remove what is enormously called the
innate self1shness Of man that the or
olnary man OF the world will rise I'D
ana eau 1t an impracticable theory 1t
mas always required courage to take
advance ground on any great question.
partlcuiariy when engaged in a strug-
gle to tighten the burden of the moor
by taking the rich from off their backs
I'VE who are engaged in this great
movement, known as the labor move
ment, this movement that Is in some
form thrust into every human rela-
ton. and which directly or indirectly
plays part in every controversy. are
considered by the conservative element
as the extremists Of the time.
1T makes little difference how much
we may try to deny it we are forced
to admit that our government, from the
standpoint Of the man who does not
work. Is radical movement; radical
because 1t is a protest against the ok
listing order Of things. But there is
some consolation when we remember
that. the radical of today may be the
conservative Of tomorrow. Kingsley
says that. everything new is impious
TILL we get accustomed to it.
There Is not political, religious or
social privilege that we enjoy today
that was not purchased for us by the
blood and tears and patient sufferinEs
OF the radicals. It is the radical who
has vindicated humanity in every
struggle. It. is the radical who has
stood In the vanSof every moral con-
hict and achieved all that Is noble in
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