Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-05-07
Takes a Broad Minded
Editorial for
Text
And Proceeds TO Discuss the
Wage System That He
Claims RObS the
TOiIerS

May 3rd, l find an article in you
editorial columns, entitled, "a Moderi
Slave" l have read the article an
| am constrained to believe that Il
my mind l experience the same fee
lings of revolt at this individual cas-,
of injustice and inhumanity, that i'm
pels you to give it to the public an'
also constrains you to say "All tn,
tigers do not live in the jungles.
There are humans that deliberately
suck the life blood of fellow crea
ture day after day and that without
conjunction" What queer creatures
we are Here is a single case of the
shameful explanation of a faithful
toiler, brought to our notice, and we
are filed with righteous indignation
and would rend to pieces these ghouls
who rob poor ignorant woman OF
the products of her life's toll. But
/ why DhOulu VIC U0 81 WOlhGu up
over the fate of Miss Hattie Woods,
when there are thousands of similar
cases upon every hand and have been
ever since the wage system super
ceded serfdom? Miss Woods only got
small portion of the products of her
toll, and such is indeed the case of
all wage earners. Ignorance of her
rights made her the willing slave of
her heartless exploiters and ignor-
ance of their just rights keeps the
kage slave a willing subject of the
exploiting capitalist II the wage
workers were intelligent enough, as
class, to understand that they are en-
titled to, and should have the full
products of this toll, they would by
their votes make short work of a
system which exploits them of rs
per cent of the products of their life's
activities. They would soon possess
themselves of the great machinery of
production, and distribution which
which they have bHilded and paid for,
in profits, interest, and rent, many
times over. They would operate
these great engines of industry as
they do today, but instead of turning
the greatest portion of their products
over to the exploiters, they would
keep all for themselves. But do not
attach so much blame to the Kauf-
mans and the whole army of exploit
ers, who are parasites roosting on
the back of the laborer and sucking
his blood, as | do to the ignorant
workers who by his vote perpetuates
a system which allows a class of men
to absorb the products of another
class. The workingman's ignorance,
as class, is what holds him to his
master and compels him to work
seven hours for him, in order that he
may have the privilege of working
two or three hours for himself. When
the workers once understand what is
their just rights, they will refuse to
furnish llyeried attendants, with
horses and costly carriages to take
poodle dogs "out airing" They will
refuse to furnish the wherewith for
costly monkey parties" They will
refuse to turn into the Golfers of Mr..
Rockefeller millions of dollars each
year, so that he can make princely
donations to churches and colleges.
They will retain the products OF their
own hands and compel the idle mil
lionaires along with the idle tramp to
go to work and take only so much
OF the products as he produces.
Yes, Mr.. Editor you are right it is
ignorance that makes the toilers sub
NIT willingly to be robbed Of the great
est portion OF his toll. When he once
becomes intelligent enough to under
stand that he is entitled TO the full
product OF his toll then he win begin
to live. will have a nice modern
home of his own, with carpets, rugs
and musical instruments. Every
home win be lighted and heated by
electricity every house win have a
telephone connection. He will have
pure city water TO his hearts con
tent He will have leisure for i'm
proving his mind, and win develop TO |
the FUN extent OF his capacity. Many |
bright mind remains undeyeloped ON |
account OF the struggle for bread and |
butter. He will attend the theater
and other places Of amusement Pub
lie libraries and public parks will
spring into existence, and he will no |
l...,.,. A., A.. ~. s