The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-05-09
BY p. q. PHILLIPS.

BY p. q. PHILLIPS.
, Robbery as viewed by the socialist,
is one of the curses that afflicts hui
mainly, and is today the same as in
the past, the germ which breeds the
conditions, which afflict all of the
people, in: the face of the fact that
some are benefited by: those >condi-
tions. What we as socialists say, We
do not say, as haters. Of those WHOM
we criticise, or because, we hold any
malice, or use our words as flrs
brands, to incite hatred against those
Of whom we speak, any one holding
such views Of the socialist, are the
greatest mistaken, and misinformed
people, yet, hardly day passes by
but we are accused Of being the same.
What we say we say an the truth, and
proven by facts, what we say, Is said,
regardless Of who it is or what posi-
ton in life he may hold. We spare
no one whom we know to be in the
wrong. say 1--WE know and from
that I mean, that we ask such ques-
lions Of our opponents? What are
they going to do for the unemployed.
the bread line, which they are unable
to answer. I would ask is it right to
| live by robbery, and the answer would
be no; but such answer would be
made only, from the view that the
robbery spoken of was the one Of
taking something from another by
force.
We contend that robbery, is rob-
| berry, whether it is taking something
by force, or whether it is getting
! something that don't belong to the
getter. no matter how he gained it.
There are robberies carried on, every
day, and our system protects the
strong to rob the weak, and yet when
the weak cry out aloud, against such
conditions, they are met with the
| answer: If you are not able to pro-
tect yourself in the struggle for gain,
| why don't holler," for the law Of the
Survival of the f1ttest" is the law Of
| our day, and if you can not meet its
requirements, "go away back and sit
| down.; there is more meaning to
| those words than the words imply.
What Is robbery, simply getting some
| thing produced by someone. else, and
not returning an equivalent, for the
right of having the same.
There must be some fundamental
law for us to take such a view, it may
be claimed by some, to be q moral
law, but to US 1t is simply, giving the
same right to the weak, as the strong
may ask, and showing favors to none.
Some people think they are the great
est aids to humanity, by giving men
! employment, but the fact remains
| that they do not employee men, be-
cause they have any tender feelings
or brotherly love, but for the reason.
they derive profit from the labor Of
! these men, and the employer plays
the rogue. In trying to conceal this
fact from the worker. Were he to adj
| nit in the open that such was the
case, ana not try to cover over the
| fact, but would expose, the conditions
to the people and tell them the exact
trouble, It would b but a short time,
before aa those conditions would be
righted. But as long as men are pro-
tected with the force OF city, state and
nation, in the right OF taking part OF
the product OF the worker. you may
rest assured that he will take all he
can bet, and lay all blame Of doing
wrong onto someone else. The state
ment made by the government, that
on an average the Individual, pros
duces $2,461 and receives $437 In
wages seems IN part to expose the
condition Of things, whereby the capt.;
/ taiist Is able to rob the worker. n Wa
claim that the product, contains, no
other element IA It's production hut
the labor, which nodded 81, from Its
crude; from into u whereby Il