The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-10-08

Virginia: ! want a word with you.
and in talking to you, you will
pardon my grammcr and rhetoric
for am one OF West Nirginia's
uucuiturcd untameu slaves and
living the life Of Americas tecming
millions whose sweat, blood and
tears arc swelling the river Of
profits as 1T sweeps in it's cnev table
ruurSe TO deposit its burden into
the luxurious lap Of :n idle few.
Today in the state Of West Nir-
ginia thousands of people are on
the verge Of famine, while we
have rich fools and richer roeucs,
lording it over those untaught
half fed dupes and drudgcs West
Virginia has her quota of pauperS.
cripplcs, criminals, idlers ounces
and harlOtS.
Our law making body instead
OF being representative Of the
peoples viii, is given over TO ROBBERY
and to humbug. 1t is poisoning
our institutions and endangering
the very foundations of society.
The capitalist class Of West Nir-
gnia indirectly write the plat
forms of the Republican and De
mOcratic parties, and name their
candidates: and any candidate
who steps upon their platform
must directly or indirectly promise
lStD THAT in the event ! am
elected to Office I promise to keep
iuviolatc the sacred system of ex-
ploitation and robbery:2nd that ~
shall keep the wage slaves hood
Wiu!iel into the belief that they
are about to have enacted laws
good and wholesome easing their
lives Of pain and toil:' and :Srd. .
thHt if the mob becomes too
claln"rpuS. nccessitating Il labor
law will use my influence in
having the supreme court of the
state to render it unconstitution-
nj.
Now what is true of West Vir-
glnla is true of every state in this
unjuu.
On the eve of a great political
cam naign we find ourselves in the
@rlp of the greatest ind uStrial
crisis which history will over re
"rrd. with more than six millions
of orr brothers out OF employment
and roaming the highways and
by ways in vain search of the
means to produce the means of life.
j." not deceived my country men.
'.llS industrial panic barring
VARS has come to stay until the
system responsible for panics. wars
strikes. lockoutS. labor disturb
I 6
society is abolished. Listen
brother. you are tired of a life of
'nrcS~cut toll. Of its pain and its
~rrtOWS. Listen mothers, you are
>Wltt"n with The mortal hunger OF
.our babes. YOU wonder why It is.
mat in Il great nation like this
with highly developed machinery
Hnu iimitlcSS raw materials sui
.H2rnt /" produce ten times the
.s""uut Of wealth Good and
,."theS thirty millions Of the
nations wealth creators are in alb
0rrf poverty while the few masters
"." rcveling in luxury spending
thousands for poodle dogs and
monkey dinners.
There is something wrong. yes
'..'' : am gong TO tell Noll what
is III rs few words as possible
..i' lnG yOu to think Think
hank. Capitalism IS the ca!lsc.
BIZ hat IS capitalism? It is the
f'Vhtc ownership OF the means OF
u" @>uch a> Iauds. coal mines,
hops. >torehou$e,. and transpor-
"i."u lines. y master owns Your
"' and You can only work when
..' ~ making Il profit out Of your
-"'It. and coming your life blood
.H'" ItiyidrndS.
II Won become dissatisfied with
' conditions under which You
i." existing and strive to enforce
'''f demands. the SuDServie lent
.''.- OF the capitalist class whom
o- voted into Office viii immedi-
.'-4t get busy and hurl the state
''H'Ila the federal troops, and the