Imperial Valley press and the Imperial press., 1906-05-26
Brought to Light by the Earthquake

It was an awful calamity the recent earthquake at San Francisco, and the subsequent fire. Human suffering was very acute and much wealth was de- stroyed. It was one of those disasters which human society canuot be held responsible for. We can and should however use the lessons which it teach- es to avoid as much as possible the evil results in similar disasters which may yet come to society.
 The excitement caused by the sudden ness like clap of thunder from clear sky has somewhat abated. And now that we can calmly and dispassionately view the situation, when reason and cool judgment hold sway, let us see what lessons this dire misfortune teaches.
 Working on the opposite side of bench from the writer a carpenter who had often been cornered in argument feeling sure that he had the best side this time said, "well that earthquake is one thing you cant blame on the pres- ent system," When he was assured that no one would try to lay the blame against the system or against anything over which humanity had control, but that there was no reason why the peo- pie who were living there at the time should suffer the loss of property but should be borne as a social loss by so- ciety itself and that the relief work as we'll as rebuilding should fall upon all alike he lapsed into silence and told the foreman he did not want to work in that room any longer, and well he might for had he remained he would have had some of his pet notions about the glories of "the system" exploded.
 This man is one of those staunch Re- publicans who would like to see every Socialist agitator deported and all the rich men killed off. When asked what good he supposed that would do as long as the system which breeds both was retained his only answer is, "well it would make it better for awhile any, way"
 San Francisco was destroyed and with it the lives and property of many peo- pie, much of which was due to the pres ent method of building cities, the guid- ing principle being "profit for the indi- vidual" without regard to the common good. The place will be rebuilt, labor will do the job and when done a few capitalists will own the city.
 Hartman who is but hard working man has offered to loan the people of the city $3OO,OOO, ,OOO to rebuild it with. Now what do you suppose the president of the Southern Pacific works at to en- able him to make loan of such an enormous sum as quoted above.
 Is not this one fact brought to light by the shake up the coast, enough to shake some of the wool from off your eyes? If this don't wake you up what do you want to do the job, an earthquake to upset half continent upon you?
 Another thing clearly shown in this case is that the hearts of the people are good The knowledge that many peo- pie suffered loss and thousands were hungry called forth their sympathies to the extent of many millions of dollars. Who would dare to say in the face of this ready response to the cry of the suffering that the people everywhere would not respond with firm command to stop, could they be made to realize what this mighty groan of the race is which is so loud and so constant that most people become used to it and pay no attention.
 During the first few days after the earthquake, many peopledevoted them selves to raising funds specially for babies; yet it is safe co say that every one of these people who has vote casts that vote for the continuance of a system that causes 10000 babies to starve to death each year in the United States.
 Surely the people mean well; see their alarm about II 1000 men iu San Francisco without employment while an army of 2.0O0 OOO men constantly