The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-10-15
PHILANTHROPY IS H.:
CLOAK TO HIDE THEFTs
Writer Compares Religious
Hypocrite With the Rogue
Who Plumbers Public.
Gets Inspiration from Thomas
A. Lawson's Article on :.
"FrenZiad Finance"

powers of observance which enabled |
and to. point out hypocricy no matter |
in what garb 1t appeared, once said: !
when engaged in performing dis
creditable action there is nothing more |
advantageous than to loudly utter vir-
tuous sentiments"
If he lived now still endowed with |
the same powers of perception, still en-
dowed with the same marvellous ability
and fearlessness to tell the truth, he
would find no reason to change his
mind or modify the sentiment above
quoted. Pretense is still here. Pre-
tenders wearing all kinds Of cloaks to
hide their pretenses and assuming all
kinds Of virtues they do not possess,
are still with us. Hypocrisy now, as
in the past, is the tribute which ras-
cality pays to worth and goodness
and without which the efforts Of the
rogue would be unsuccessful. The
more mean, vile and reprehensible his
acts, the louder are the rogue's protes-
tations Of virtue.
We are all more or less familiar with
the type Of hypocrite who uses the
is. We are also aware that this type
has been successful now only to a linn
tied degree. This is owing to the pub
llcity given his acts through the per-
feeling press and cheap newspapers,
and cold-blooded, unsentimental busi-
ness demands a better guarantee of
honesty from an applicant for a posi-
ton Of trust than certificate stating
that he is the superintendent of
Sunday school. The hypocrite's cloak
Of piety is valueless from a business
standpoint unless it is accompanied by
a bond from reliable surety company.
The religious rogue who has nothing
but his piety to hide his roguery will
disappear as education advances. His
success was only possible when and
where Ignorance bred credulity.
Closely allied to DE pious hypocrite
is the rogue who plumbers the public
on a large scale. The millionaire
rogue uses the cloak of philanthropy
TO hide his thefts through the methods
of high finance. He gives part Of his
plumber with q blare of trumpets to
some charitable, educational or relig-
ious institution, and in the adulation
of the beneficiaries and the public ac-
claim gained thereby he gains a great
er opportunity for greater plumber.
He lends his name to false and fraud
ulent schemes, and the public, blinded
by the glare hts philanthropy has
thrown a round his Il name, Invests its
1|saVings III what It believes to Be a safe
Investment, and is as a consequence
sw1ndled. While giving expression to
! the noblest of sentiments he promotes,
| he organizes, he finances, he deals in
Watered stock, he unloads worthless
securities upon the people, and makes
his swindle a success which would be
impossible did he not wear the cloak
of philanthropy to hide his hypocrisy.
This type of hypocrite Is being ex-
posed by the confessions, revelations.
or exposures-call it whatever you may
of Mr.. Thomas w. Lawson, of Bos-
ton, in his magazine articles entitled
"F'renzied Finance" What the result
OF these exposures will be remains to
be seen. One thing is certain; if these
hypocritical philanthropists are brought
to justice mere fine for their mis-
deeds will be no punishment. Censure
would be equally valueless. These mil
nona1re bunco-steerers differ only in
degree from the common thief The
methods OF these suave and unctuous-
Vlsaged confidence men are not NOR
ally dlstlpguSsha hle from the methods
OF the proverbtal thief so low down
that ne stole pennies from the eyeIids
OF corpse. The only way to check
this type of hypocrite effectually is to
clothe him in prison stripes and feed
him on prison fare within the walls
OF some well-conducted penitentiary
Ihis would not reform the hypocrite
or bring restitution to the plundered
out 1t would deter other rogues and
make this form of swindling less fash
ionable.
We are all very familiar with the
hypocrite of the Industrial world. He
who bands himself with others of sim
liar type to protect free American
Work1ngmen from the intolerable thral.
dom Of trade unionism; he who con.
tlnuously proclaims his desire to assist
labor In improving it's condition while
at the same time he denies the RICH
OF the worker to protect himself ant
his fellows through cooperation. Citi.
zens' alliances and associations Of EN-
plOyers are the outcome Of this form O.
hypocrisy. Vigilance on the part O
the trade unions and the inherent ten
dency of all forms of hypocrisy to over
reach itself will rid the industrial worl,
| of this incubus.
There is another form Of hypocris,
which is strongly in evidence at pres
ent and which is more dangerous thai
all the other forms combined, for with
= out 1t all the other forms would be i'm
, possible. This is the politician hypo
, , critic. Between now and the eight 0
next month his protestations of Low
for the workingmen will be continu
Gus and loud. According to his state
ment nothing is dearer to him than tn
interest of the workingman, and moth
: ing will give him greater pleasure an
9 honor and Joy than to look after thes
e interests In political way. He Wi
y say that his interests are identical wit
r the interests Of the workingmen, 70
t he has been a wOrkin oman himself an