Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-10-27
XXXVIIL IRONTON, MO. THURSDAY. OCTOBER 27, 1904

of settling the differences between
capital and labor by arbitration.
Now the question arises, ,-how can
a difference arise between two
identical objects? The facts in
the case are that the interests of
the capitalist and the interests of
the laborer are diametrically op-
posed to each other, as the thou
sands of strikes and lockouts. the
labor unions, the citizens alliance
organizations, the capitalistic spy
system lin which spies are trained
to enter and betray all labor
unions) bear witness, if any wit
nesses were needed. | say if they
were needed, but they are not, and
the above statement, whether
made by Hon. Henry G.. Davis OF
my friend Cochran, are equally
false and misleading. Do not the
interests of capital demand low
wages? and do not the interests of
labor demand high wages?
If labor appeals to capital for a
tithe more of the products of it's
toll, or modicum of better treat
ment, the reply will be that many
are waiting for the job at those
figures and conditions; and if it
combines and seeks to enforce it's
demands it's dependents are evicted
from capitals premises, and negro
or coolie lobor given the places.
Yet Jefferson said all men were
endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights, among
which are the right to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness.
Have all men these rights? Are
all good citizens of this great ma
ton in possession of these rights?
A million men now suffer on ac-
count of enforced idleness. He that
will not work, neither let him eat.
But how about those who desire
to work but cannot, because there
are none to employ? "Why stand
ye here all the day idle? Go into
my vineyard and work" Where
is Thy vineyard, Lord? Lo, mill
lion men seek it; three million
little children cry for bread be-
cause they find not Thy vineyard.
"The land is mine," sayeth the
Lord. Aye! but Thy stewards
forbid that we should enter Thy
domain. Baer, who hath control
over Thy coal fields, Rockefeller,
who hath the control over Thy
oil fields, railroads and other cor
porations, both foreign and do
have warned us not to
upon Thy domain.
Hunger presseth and we may not
reason clearly. But without work
we cannot eat, and without eating
we cannot live. Who hath alien
ated our right to live? No one.
Thou hast the right. Hathnot the
immortal Jefferson said that thou
vert endowed with that right by
thy Creator? And that it was in
Thou hast the right;
thou lackest but the opportunity.
And what is a paltry opportunity
so long as you have the inalienable
right? Go, sit thee down, and
wait until the stewards of thy
Master shall be pleased to pass
around the opportunities, then do
thou take one and work. "But I
am weak with hunger and my
children cry for bread. I fear to
wait lest [ perish"
"Come unto me, all we that labor
and I will give you rest" 'Tis
mockery! Away with Thy rest!
Put grievous burden on me that
my loved ones do not perish?
Willingly would make brick and
furnish my own straw, but | have
no straw, nor can | go into the
fields and get it, for would I not
be a trespasser and liable to ar
rest and imprisonment? Imprison-
ment! All! imprisonment! In
prison would | not get food? II
will go and trespass that | die not.
But hold! He that provideth not
for his household is worse than an
infidel and hath denied the faith |
Oh, but | will take them
with me and together we will tres
pass that we may. live.
These latter lines are from Jobs
Comforters to date.
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