The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-12-23

not in the KS, but you willsmile sweet
Iy and say, "never mind," and 60 look
it up yourself. /
And tlis incapacity for independent
action, this moral stul idity, this inirm-
ity of the will, this unwillingness to
catch hold and lift, are the
things that put pure Socialism so far
into the future. If men will not act for
themselves, what will they do when the
benefit of their effort is for all?
A firstmate with knotted club seems
necessary; and the dread of getting "the
bounce" Saturday night, holds many
worker to his place. Advertise for a
stenographer, and nine out of ten who
apply can neither spell nor punctuate-l
and do not think it necessary to.
Can such ole write letter to Gar
cia?
"You see that bookkeeper," said the
foreman to me in large factory.
eyes, what about him?"
"Well, he's fine accountant, but if
|
might accomplish the errand all right,
and on the other hand, might stop at
four saloons on the way, and when he
got to Main street, would forget what
he had been sent for"
Can such man be entrusted to carry
a message to Garcia?
We have rect ntly been hearing much
maudlin sympathy expressed for the
"down-trOdden deniZen of the sweat
shop" a t h Q "homeless wanderer
searching for honest employment" and
with it all often go many hard words
for the men in power.
Nothing is said about the employer
who grows old before his time in vain
attempt to get frowsy ne'erdowells to do
intelligent work; and his long, patient
striving with "help" that does nothing
but loaf when his back Is turned. In
every store and factory there is con
. staut weedingout process going on
The employer is constantly sc d in {
: away "help" that have shown their in
q capacity to further the interests of the
= business, and others are being takel
on. No matter how good times are
this sorting continues, only if times ar
hard and work s scarce, the sorting i
done fner-but out and forever out
: the incompetent and unworthy go. l
o is the survival of the fttest. SelfnteI
: est prompts every employer to keep tn
best-those who carry message t
q Garcia.
;. know one man of really brillian
parts who has not the ability to manag
!. business of his own, and yet who
I. absolutely worthless to any one els
n because with him constantly there
~ always the insane suspicion that hi
n employer is expressing, or intendin
T. to oppress him. He cannot give o
: ders; and he will not receive t b n
Should a message be given him to tab
+. to Garcia, his answer would probab
;x be, "take it yourselfp'
" Tonight this man walks the stree
co looking for work, the wind whistliI
a through his threadbare coat. No OF
no who knows him dares employ him, Fl
he is a regular firebrand of disconter
IN He is impervious to reason, and Il
only thing that can impress him is Il
ii, toe of thicksoled No. 9 boot.
sk Of course know that one so moral
,s. deformed is no less to be pitied than
physical cripple; but in our plying,
us drop a tear, too, for the men wi
are striving to carry on great ente
prise; whose working hours are n
To- limited by the whistle, and whose he
is fast turning white through struge
to hold in line dowdy Indifference, sIi
shod imbecility, and the heartless
,ot gratitude, which, but for their ent'
prise, would be both hungry and hon
i, less.
,o+ Have put the matter too strongl
-. Possibly have; but when all the wol
10 has gone a-slumming wish to speal
,rk word of sympathy for the man W
bar succeeds-the man who, against grt
odds, has directed the efforts of othe
ara and having succeeded, finds there's !
ose thing in 1t; nothing but bare board a
of clothes. l carried a dinner pail q
(Continued IN column this pa0e.)