The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-02-25

| iol lung "cdtS months.
! ''This is the nearest I've eotteI
to it, he continued, and | don't
want to be thrown down now.
want you to put me,up I'Il rstrir
and show what fine, strong arms
! 've got. 'll work like a horse.
Just for the chance to live. can't
keep this thing up much longer.
Ill do anything to be sold first.
''But there was others who Of
fered as much or more One after
another they rose and pleaded to
be put up tirst.'
''Then one man said: 'I'm will.
ing to stand unmasked before the
crowd in church and let my face
plead for me-
''Ihen the competition started
anew. All were willing to do this
, 'to be put up first
No. / was the first man put up.
The auctioneer gave the descrip
tion:-
''I oung man, twenty four. out
of work eight months; is driver
by trade; strong and willing to
work. He has tramped all over
New York and Brooklyn in search
Of work; has seven little brothers
and sisters at home; father is sick
What am l ot1ered7n
At this point man from the
audience called out that he oifor-
ol $40 Il week. This was greeted
with tremendous applause. The
man was a. G. Will, Il baker, at
GA Coney lslanu avenue. Mr..
Will also offered three loaves of
bread for the mans family.
NO. 10 is a young man 25 years
old; out of work for eight months:
is an ironmolder; can do hard
work-ladies and gentlemen
what am | offered? Can YOU give
this man a job; have you Il Job for
No. 10, ladies snd gcntlemong''
At this point Mr. W. F. Cope
land, of the Straightedge In
duStrial Settlement. 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
man can bring with him the neces-
Sary tools. lie explained that
their plan is to produce the nee
cessaries of life. and working on IA
co operative plan.
No. 10 was sent with Coperland
to talk over matters. and No. 81
took the stand He was Il me
chanic; steam and electric filter:
understood steam heating; knew
how to work dyuamoS; was a total
abStainer; fought in the Boer war.
and served the United States i'll the
Philippine Islands. He was
twenty-Seven years Old. He was
knocked down for $50 u month
But complications arose. His
| engagement was not to start until
the first of March and what watts tc
| be done in the meantime? Mr.
win, the baker who bought No.
10 offered food and lodging until
/ then
While the arrangements were
! being made with No 2l. man
walked over to No. Il. and after
a few words, took him away
Then it was that the people
realized the seriousness of the mo
ment. The sight Of twenty strong
men facing large gathering anC
demanding work was an EN-
barrrassing one. What was to b.
done with them! Should they b,
sent home4 There was no home
Should they be turned over to tn'
streets? Should they be forced t,
crime. or ordered to commi
suicide! Never did the problem o
unemployed strike home so forci
. bly,, and never was the right t
: work proven more eloquently.
, Men wrigglcd and turned il
their seats. and women coyere'
their faces with their hands
| was like realizing great commo,
. calamity There was the sucia
5 enemy claiming, victims. dc
. priving people of their natura
right to sustain life What wa
: to be doneR