The Harrison times., 1906-07-21
Whittier are We Drifting,

Our patron saint is the almighty
dollar. | have noticed the closer a
man examines these social and poll
tical problems the less liable he is to
speak as one having gobbled up the
worlds output of knowledge
1t is usually the patriot for pie,
who absorbs his political dogma
from the prescription department
of some political pharmacy, that is
most anxious to relieve the almigh-
tv of his occupation and assume
control of the universe
For long months l have been
waiting the coming of some modern
Moses to gather the scattered Israe-
lites and lead them beyond the reach
of the raging foodswept Jordan of
need and greed; but never a Moses
comes to WELD for slaves the golden
rod.
We have arrived in this footsore
journey to a point where need and
greed have toed the chalk mark to
settle forever the question of human
rights, to set limit upon those
who are piling up wealth they can
never need at the expense of the
needy
The political powers are called
upon to read this problem and woe
betide us if we blunder !;
| know there are many well-fed
people who consider it a crime to
call attention to this condition, and
even deny the proposition altogeth-
er, branding its as sensational But
unfortunately we can't snub a cv-
clone, nor induce a charge of dyna-
mite to wait for a formal introduc-
ton.
The resting army asleep under the
watchful eyes of the sentinel should
respond to his alarm, tho his warn
ing shot shattered the beautiful
dream Of loved ones in the far away
home sweet home.
Believe me | have no purpose to
misrepresent our present condition,
nor do | care to magnify the evils
that now destress already beyond
reasonable endurance the million
of hOruy-handed tOilers whose tire
less labor have made of this our
western world, the grandest Repub-
lie that ever summed itself in the
smiles of Omnipotent God.
A man said to me a few weeks
ago: "Derrieux why don't you take
an active part in the Farmers I'm
ion, and write a series of articles
in its support" This union, while
of deep interest to some, does not
appeal to me with much force,-as
it covers only a slight portion of the
greviOus wound that labor feels.
Therefore its good intention will
never be realized as very extensive
remedy for our present ills. Mind
you, my prediction is not born of
desire. For truly | humbly bare my
head and bow with reverence at
whatsoever alter | find gathered
around men who are striving to bet
ter mankind. The problem now for
us to solve first. is to find the rem
edy that will eliminate abject pow
erty from land of prosperity,
l sometimes wonder@n tIIt t-~+-
round world can duplicate theewoe-
ful combination that fate forces us
TO endure, the condition of grinding
penury in a land bursting with
plenty
1t is we'll in this our darkest days
of need that we give heed to those
who claim that they have found the
philosophers stone, and perhaps it
is wrong wrought through
ignorance, but still must say as |
think, that blank disappointment is
on the way to crush the hopes and
scatter gloom in the pathway of
those who are looking for social sal
walton in the ark of Socialism.
Socialism or any other ism has
never put pie or penny in the work
mans pail. Socialism has made a
very decent diagnosis of the trouble,
but the remedy, if applied in a prai-
rie dog town, would starve them to
death in four days
For wears we have heard one par
tv preach production, the 9th
er party offset this charge by sub
stituting the one OF under ConSump-
ton.
The over-production bagaboo
must be dismissed without apology,
for it is not possible for people to be
hungry because they have produced
too much hog and hominv, neither
are they homeless because they have
built too many houses, neither nak-
ed and cold because they have made
too much cloth. But it is because
corrupt and selfish legislation has
legalized robbing by granting special
privileges to favored few freeboot-
ers who Systematically despoil them
year after year.
Surely there must be a remedy, but
confess with regret that | do not
know what the final result will be
when the now angry army of toilers
reaches the limit of endurance, | do
not know where lies the hidden
rocks that will wreck the pirate ship
of greed. l do not know what lead
er will spring from the womb of
time and declare in thunder tones,
"Oh mighty mammon this far shalt
thou go and no further, and upon
this rocky reef shall your waves be
staid," but | do know that If the