New-York tribune., 1908-01-27
WAGE FARMERS NOT SLAVES.
Mrs. Rose Pastor Stokes Taken to Task for
Her Red Flag Haunting.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: When Mrs Rose Pastor Stokes in her let
ter published in The Tribune of January is COM
rares wage slavery" of the present day in this
country TO the African slavery in the South in
ante Rebellion days she must be blinded TO the
real truth. If there is anything in the wage sys-
of to-day at all comparable to the selling of
the blacks to the highest bidder. husbands from
wives children from mothers. with possible
redress. l. with a recollection which goes back
q those days. have it
There was wage system for the black lie
belonged TO his white owner as did that owners
horse mule. and fed and clothed for the
same reason that the horse was fed and housed.
that he might last longer to labor for that owners
benefit When. away back in 1854. one of these
slaves carried hy due process of United
states Law. under decision of the Supreme Court
the effect that the black had rights
which the white man bound respect.
out Of Boston Farbor. by order OF President
Franklin Pierce revenue cutter, and under
the Stars and Stripes back into the slavery from
which he had vainiy tried escape. and The
Tribune published tJune IS. 1850 that scath-
ingly sarcastic poem containing the line "All hail
tho Haunting lie etc, referring to the flag 1t
voiced the real sentiment Of the civilized world.
Then the alleged flag of freedom. yet waving
over 100000 slaves. it Haunting lie, but
to-day it gives equal protection to the wage Garner
and the employer Before the law they alb
solutely equal
If this not So why do the oppressed and
hard pushed of all other countries flock to this
the rate Of more than Il million each year?
They enjoy personal freedom. which, not
withstanding the assertion of agitators to the
contrary, does exist. and with that freedom the
possibility of becoming. within incredibly
short time. capitalists and landowners Hun
dreds OF these immigrants are to-day owners of
real estate and proprietors of lucrative business
enterprises. although but few years in this
country, something which would have been. for
them, impossible in their own country.
What about the 100000 Italians who. have
seen it estimated have returned to their native
land during the last few months (as visitors and
tourists only. for the most Of them intend TO re-
turn). taking with them from $500 to 500 each
ageregatinE some 500. .0O0. 900 which they have
earned here within from two five years taking
it freely because they have earned It; it being
moreover. money than It would have been
possible for them in 4 lifetime in Iheir
country.
If II he true that the condition Of the wage
Garner is bad here in Russia. why do the
people Of that country come here in such svarms?
If conditions equal in both places, why do
not see an emigration the other way. and behold
thousands of our people going to Russia to enjoy
freedom?
Out upon such nonsense, It seems if some
people had every sense but common sense. It.is
true that the condition of the wage Garner in
this country is not ideal II is capable of much
Improvement. and Mrs Stokes and many others
are doing good toward that end; but, in
Heavens name why cannot the truth be stated
and why may not comparisons be made that are
reasonable?
Socialism has beautiful theories and may pre-
vail at some time in the far future, when the
world shall he ripe for il. IT will be a slow
process. and must be attained along conservative
and reasonable lines. has everything else under
the slow but sure processes of evolution.
Incorporate and extravagant statements only
put back hands the dial of progress and
! verify believe that the extreme assertions of
this most estimabe woman, to the CompaTa-
tive conditions of European and American wage
earners. together with her acknowledgment that
as much as she loves the Stars and Stripes, she
loves the red flag more. in their effect upon the
patriotic sentiment of the descendants of those
who founded this great country. and yet who
sympathize with her work, have done more harm
10 the cause which she devotes her best energy
and marked ability than years of her continued
labors in the direction undo
ALBERT T. SHERWOOD.
Waterbury. Conn, Jan. 90 1908.