Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-10-13
A SUGGESTIVE STORY
WHICH CONTAINS A WHOLE LOT
OF COMMON SENSE.
How the People Are Fooled Into Support Of
Policies Which Make Few Rich and Many
Poor-Woman's Sphere illustrated by Prac.
tical Exemplication.

How the People Arc Fooled Into Support of
Policies Which Make Few Rich and Many
Poor-Womans Sphere illustrated by Prac.
tical Exemplication.
When Mr.. Workem came home on
the evening of Labor day he was tired
and happy. Throwing his uniform to
one side, and pinning his badges on
the wall, Workem dropped into a
chair with a sigh OF satisfaction and
exclaimed
THAT was the biggest celebration
labor ever had in this mans town.
Mrs. Workem said nothing until
she had picked up the discarded uni
form and hung it up in the closet.
Then she took a chair and replied !:
"Yes, it was about the longest pa
rade l ever saw on Labor day."
about the longesl?" shouted
Workem. 1--WE had all other parades
skinned by not less than twelve
blocks. We had two thousand more
men in line today than we ever had
before"
81 guess so," replied Mrs. Workem,
who had q far.away expression in
her eyes.
"Ain't supper about ready, maj"
asked Workem, "Tm as hungry as a
bear"
"Supper will be ready in a few
minutes. pa. I'm just waiting for
the potatoes to boil"
Mrs. Workem went into the little
kitchen and after briskly moving
about for a few minutes announced
that the evening meal was ready.
Workem FASTENED in, not forgetting
to give the baby kiss as he passed
his high chair. During the ensuing
fifteen minutes Workem said very
little, being very busy with knife and
fork. Mrs. Workem ate her meal in
silence. Finally Workem showed his
chair back, reached into his upper
vest pocket and pulled out cigar
When the cigar was going to his sat
isfaction. he leaned back in his chair
and said:
"Ah. but we made a magnificent
showing this day. Labor showed its
strength to day in way that will
make the bosses sit up and take notice.
We own this world, tell you. The
sight OF this grand army OF toll march
ing proudly shoulder to shoulder is one
that will"
"Rats" exclaimed Mrs. Workem.
What's that, mar" shouted the
astonished Workem.
"Look here, husband" said Mrs.
Workem, steelly glitter showing in
her eyes and the lines about her mouth
setting deeper. "Look here! I've been
thinking all day to-day. had to stay
at home and take care of the baby
while you paraded, and had plenty
OF time to think. I've been thinking
on this problem of organization. Pm q
good union woman, my dear, and your
working card is as dear to me as it is
to you. I'll suffer anything with you,
too, to stand by the unions principles.
But I'm afraid your unionism is merely
q veneer"
"Why, ma! how can you say that?
Why, I'd die for my union if necessary.
I've gone ragged and hungry rather
than 60 back on the boys, and I'd do it
again. Why, my unionism is good as
any mans can"
"All right, my husband. I'll admit
it for the argument, and then make
fmy indictment. Didn't you carry a
banner to-day saying something about
the peril of Chinese labor?"
"Yes, ma; did. The importation
of Chinese cheap labor to compete
with American work"
40, stop, husband. I've heard that
till my ears ache. And all the time
you are bowling against Chinese cheap
labor you have been voting the ticket
put up by men who have been import
ing cheap labor from the slums of Eu-
rope by the hundreds of thousands.
You've been foolish enough to let the
Baers and Morgans keep you bowling 6
about Cinnamon 90 loud you couldn',
hear tho tread of the hundreds oil
thousands of criminals and paupers
being imported by contract to work in
the mills and m ines OF the east"
"Why, look here, ma; 1 wouldn',
get"
"And last campaign you spilled
grease all over your best coat carrying
q torch in parade and holding it SC
everybody could see the words on q
banner your marching comrade car.
ried. 1t said, Protection to American
Woskingmen,' didn't it?"
eyes, ma; and L"
"Well, the men who paid for that
banner and who contributed the ex.
expenses OF that and other parades
have raised the price of their meat
and flour and sugar and clothing 9
half dozen times since then. Now
tell me where we come in? Has your
wages been increased? The landlord
has raised the rent. The coal dealer
has added q dollar on the ton. We
got three pounds less sugar for q dol.
liar. We pay ~ much for a round