Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-02-20
From Mr.. Hilburn.

cent issue of the REGISTER, and l
was glad to see an article from his
pen and l feel sure that, like my
self, he is thankful to Bro. AXE
for his kindness in giving space
for Socialist discussion.
A few weeks ago stated in an
article that the small dealer was
doomed. Now don't claim to be
the originator of that information
and therefore not prophet.
Now,I don't wish to be understood
as out of sympathy with the small
dealer for, as rule, he is honest
and striving hard to earn an hon
est living. But on the first page
of the appeal to Reason of February
1st, 1908, under the caption, "The
Small Dealer" 1 find the follow
ing, purporting to be a resolution,
or part of resolution of farm
implement dealers recently in
convention at Kansas City:
"Resolved, that some provision
must be made to take care of the
square, honest and reputable
small dealer, who has as good
right to live and prosper as has
his stronger brother"
',Some provision must be made"
These five words show that the
convention was all at sea. Some
provision must be made, else,
what is the alternative? Death!
What provision can be made and
who can make it? The govern
ment? 1t is owned and controll-
ed by their enemies and competi-
tors. Nevertheless they will prob
ably petition the Government at
Washington, and I feel sure that
they will be fully as successful as
Samuel Gompers has been in Sc
curing the eight hour work day.
Samuel has been petitioning
Congress for number of years,
and those petitions have beeu
pigeon-holed, but Mr.. Gompers
continues to send them in, think
ing, perhaps, that the pigeon
holes will all be full after a while,
and Congress must, perforce,
stand up and take notice. Balder-
dash, pure and simple, and Mr.
Gompers would probably aban-
don that plan of action if his sal
ary depended upon his success
The small dealer will, however,
probably try the same tactics, un.
til a large number of him is gath
tered into the great army of labor
then he will probably see that he
who has right and power to en-.
force it and refuses to use tina
power, but falls supinely upon hi
bended knee and begs for mercy
lis a knave deserving the kicks h,
: always gets.
"Square, honest and reputable
small dealer, who has as good
. right to live and prosper as hi
. stronger brother" Yes, he has
: right to live. Not as a dealer
: however, but as man, human
: being created in the image of God
:. Dealer, forsooth! Is he bette
!. than the ditcher or the cobbler Q
the tinker? These have all
right to live and be prosperou
> and happy. Not because of thei
trades or classes, but because the
4 are men. Every step CT progress
has been fought by those neces
sarily left behind. Why? Be
cause of their interests as trades
N men. Because society heretofol
n took no thought for men, regard
ing them as mere tools to /
thrown into the scrap pile whe
" no longer useful. Under Socialisl
when new machine is put int
use, those who lived by the or
:, supplanted will not be maroone
Is on desert island, but will b
e. given a chance as men and com
= rades to live under the new regim
To illustrate: suppose, for ir
stance, that electric motors we
made to take the place of IL
steam locomotives of our railroad
"a not far distant change, as ] b.
~ so- lieve.) And then suppose that
~, convention of the Brotherhood
in Locomotive Engineers passed
= resolution, like the one quotet
he would they be taken seriously
nd To ask the question is to point i
les answer. They would be told,
IL; ~ they we're told anything at a.
3m 3ss that they must adjust themsely
e., 'as to the new order Of things.
. - Il
BY F. P. HILBURN.
ne Locust Cottage, Ark, Feb. 8.
lb-
he This Nay Interest Yon.