The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-02-20

ladies and gentleman-wnat am I Of;
fered? Can you give this man a Job;
have you & job for No. 10, ladies and,
gentlemen?' eH;~ :!
At this point Mr.. w. f. Copeland,
of the Straightedge Industrial Settle
ment, said that If no one is ready to
buy No. 10, he will be allowed to Join
their settlement. They do not offer
any wages, but are ready to take him
IN If the man can bring with him the
necessary tools. He explained that
their plan is toproduce the neceSsi-
ties Of life, and working on q, CO.
operative plan.
No. 10 was sent with Copeland to
talk over matters, and No. 21 took
the stand. He was mechanic, steam
and eleetric filter; understood steam
heating; knew how to work dyna-
mos; was a total abstainer; fought in
the Boer war, and served the United
States In the Philippine Islands. He
was knocked down for $s5 month.
But complications arose. His en-
gagement was not to start until the
first of March, and what was to be
done in thH meantime? Mr.. Will, the
baker, who bought No. 10, offered food
and lodging until then. !.
While the arrangements were being
made with No. 21. man walked
over to No. II, and after g. few
words, took him away :.
No. % was sold to a painter for
$40 a week
Tho Only Exception.
The exception in the lot Of young
and healthy men was No. IA. He
was old. and the only one whose head
was gray. A shiver went through
the audience when this man took the
stand. few moments Of silence fol-
lowed, and for a time not even the
auctioneer found his tongue Men
turned away their faces, and women
sobbed at the grotesque sight. The
| silence was intense, but of short dur
alton. A young man stepped up, and
after talk with the auctioneer, led
the old man away.
Here the demand for men stopped.
No. 16 was put up. A man who, ac-
cording to the auctioneer, had an
education, was intelligent, in the
prime Of life, we'll built, willing to
take anything. But no offer was
made.
Then it was that the people realized
the seriousness Of the moment The
sight of 20 strong men facing q large
gathering and demanding work was
an embarrassing one. what was to be
done with them? Should they be
sent home? There was no home,
| no
streets? Should they be forced to
crime, or ordered to commit suicide ?
Never did the problem Of unemploy-
ment strike home so forcfbly, and
never was the right to work proven
! more eloquently.
Men WrigEled and turned in. their
reals, ana women covered thefr faces face.
with their hands. It was like realiz-
Ing a great common calamity. There
was the social enemy claiming VIC
Tins. depriving people of their ma
tural right to sustain life. What was
to be done?
The usual happened. Business gave
way to pity 1t was no longer a
mSthod of finding employment, but a
question Of saving life. Charity took
1.-The place Of justice, and aclamor for
a collection was made. In lust two
minutes hundred dollars was gath
cred to KEEP the unfortunates alive.
Appoint a Committee.
Or. John D. Long took a prominent
part In the meeting. He made a
short speech in which he urged the
necessity of creating a movement tc
supply work to the unemployed. On
his recommendation, a committee was
appointed to care for those VINO were
not sold. P. c. Hammond, Of 119s
Flatbush avenue, Brooklyn, was ap-
pointed as the head Of the com
m1ttee. He was authorized to collect
funds.
w. W. Passage, Leon A. Malkie,
and John A. Behringer, Socialists
had taken advantage Of the situation
and addressed the overflow outside o.
the church. The police did not al
first permit them to speak, but head
quarters was telephoned to, and per-
mission was obtained. There wa.
enough to be said. Slavery was re-
stored inside house of God; human
beings were sold into bondage, anj
this on day when the entire world
was celebrating the birthday of Abra-
ham Lincoln! It was evident to all
present that while freedom was q
theory slavery in this country was 9
fact, and those who were not Social
lists, were held by the power Of proof
so 1avisnly furnished by the proceed
1ngs inside the church.
|
h>
From the complete roll Of the labor
o. n niVof of