The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-09-15

Two Points in Two Stories
Editor independent:
Referring to Tom Lawson's exposure
of the methods of high finance" as
practiced by our 'shrewd financiers,"
you say that the real value Of the ex-
position lies in the fact that Mr.. Law
son reveals the game ITSELF" That's
true, but the revelation of the proc
esses of the game shows clearly that
the 80 millions made" by a half dozen
men in one days hard labor" actually
came from the profits of legitimate
business and from the savings of la
labor and that those profits and those
savings were thereby reduced to the
amount of 80 millions of dollars.
The point liable to be lost sight of
here is that the loss Of this and other
greater amounts by the capitalists Of
our actual industrial enterprises. and
their thrifty workmen and working
women, has had two disastrous eff
fects: The first Is that the ability Of
these employing capitalists to advance
the wages of their workmen and wom-
en- has been thereby greatly impaired,
have, in consequence of these unex-
pected losses taking the place Of ex-
pected profits, felt forced to reduce
wages, and other expenses, In a frantic
effort to recoup themselves.
The second effect has been the sud-
den reduction Of trade, felt by our mer-
chants in consequence of the disap-
pearance OF the garnered savings of
thousands of widows, retired business
and active workingmen and women
who before they were thus held up
felt easy in circumstances.
The point in brief is that the present
reduction in the wages of the workers
and in the trade and profits of the mer-
chants is largely due to the sponging
up OF the surplus and savings of the
people by these quick million making
financial devices
The other story in which the masses
OF the working people at present take
so much interest is this story OF the
"open shop" It's as mysterious until
explained-as are these Processes of
high finance but 1t is of the same kind
and was conceived in the same way.
That is this cry for the "open shop
as means Of giving greater freedom
to labor-is pretense and an hypoc-
risy: and Is really intended to rob la
Dor Of the little freedom and independ-
ence it has.
The point liable to be lost sight Of,
but which clearly exposes the real
purpose of the demand is that the or
ora uizad morEmou ,lnou u,ho,r fho ,,la N
is intended to be forced are asked to
sign, or distinctly assent to an agree
ment that the organized employer shall
not only have an undisputed right to
employ as many non-uniOn workers
as he pleases. but that the organized
workmen will work beside or with
them without question
The ''nigger in the fence comes
plainly to view, too, in the fact that
even where union men have hereto
fore made no objection where nom
union men have worked beside them
they too are now asked to sign or
agree 10 this new stipulation.
II was done right here in GIovers-
vile, in Congressman Littaur's glove
and leather mills and the strife over
that one point. under that identical
condition. is all that kept these glove
shops closed so long
The intention Is plain. These or
ganized employers have laid this cum
ming scheme TO smash the organiza-
tions OF labor by getting the members
themselves, under this plausible pre-
tense. and under the pressure of an
innocent but deceived public opinion.
to agree or consent 70 an iron-clad
stipulation which will enable every
railroad 10 instruct three engineers for
every engine and every machine shop
to Instruct seven machinists for every
machine and to lay the six OF while
they are trying to instruct the seventh