The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-03-11
BOLD UTTERANCE Of
NEW YORK CLERGYMEn
DR.. Madison 6. Peters Serves
Timely Notice on Ameri-
can Plutocracy.
Tells Them That American
People Have a Problem as
Well as Russians.

DR.. Madison G. Peters is one of the
best known Protestant clergymen In
the country, and for a number Of years
his sermons have attracted more than
ordinary attention In New York and
other places where he has spoken. DR..
Peters preached in Philadelphia a few
days ago about the Russian revolution
and took strong position on the side
of the masses who are struggling to
oeverthrow tyranny. But during the
course of his remarks Rev Peters did
not fail to serve notice upon American
plutocracy that there is also a prob
lem here that must be solved. Said he:
I'VE are living in times Of popular
discomfort. The American people, too,
are sleeping on vulcano. Capitalists
may give their millions for churches,
colleges and charities, but money gifts
cannot certify to be the motives which
prompted them, especially when, right
or wrong, the people have come to
thing the money given by the rich
really belongs to the working men.
Men can no longer be won by char
ity. They demand justice. They are
tired of the old gospel of contentment
when preached by people who have all
the comforts this world can give, who
have more than they can use, of the
costliest food and finest raiment, while
at least 100000 in America today
would be glad to eat the crumbs which
fall from those tables and wear the
cast-off clothes.
"One per cent of our population
owns more wealth than the remaining
ninety-nine per cent. This extreme and
indefensible inequality is all that the
agitator need ask. The Morgan and
Standard Oil syndicates control not
less than $200,000,00O Of the $3.50, ,000,-
900 of banking capital invested in New
York city. De Tocqueville warned us
more than fifty years ago that the
greatest peril in America would arise
from plutocracy. Twenty-Five thou
sand men own one-half Of the wealth
of this country, and 100000 own quite
80 per cent.
this country annually goes as tribute
to $4,000 persons, and thus about one
half of our population of 80,000,OO are
working all the time for 5000. OF their.
fellow-men. One hundred ana twenty
1fve 111nlliis So ri
more money than ali the. other. 81, ,ooo,-
600 put together.
Twenty men in this country have
it in their power, by means of the
wealth they control, to arrive at an
understanding. and any day they
could, If they. SO chose, stop every
wheel Of commerce from revolving.
block every avenue of trade and strike
dumb every electric key.
These men control the circulation
of the currency; they may, at their
will, embarrass business, enrich whom
they will, control production, corner
the necessities of life and increase
prices so as to make good living for
the masses prohibitive, throttle compe-
tition, buy judicial decisions and make
our halls of legislation halls of spoli-@
ation.'
Those are pretty plain statements of
fact, but we fear that American cap
italism, intoxicated with power. will
not thank DR.. Peters for speaking the
truth. Nevertheless, while DR.. Peters
may become decidedly unp:. pular in
the eyese of the American financial ty-1
rants, the great mass of working peo-
pie will applaud his honest, straight
forward declarations and profit by
them. Labor is learning rapidly, and.
although the outlook at times is dis
couraging, the workers will yet save
this republic from going the way of an
cient Rome and Greece because Of the
inordinate greed for wealth and power
among the privileged classes. Capital
icyo will 10
lic-peacefully and at the ballot-box.