The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-02-06


on account Of lack of money!, to be
able to take d little pleasure tripstnto
the country In the hot summer days
with tine poor; tired, Ioverworked wire 1
and the dear children; : to have
enough to- take the wife,eto an enter
tainment; to pay for the life insur-
ance. and rent and fuel and to lay
aside enough for. to make the first
payment for a little home. For is 1t
not the height of. any mans desire TO
own mis- own little home with his own
.fireside, from where; he does not have
to go on account of notice SO to DO
from. his landlord. And how many
men own their own home?. It might
surprise you to know that the num-
Der is so few. -.
Such are conditions that exist.
Then the way many persons must
Of necessity exist, the kind of dwelling
ttney must put up with, sometimes not
fit for human nabitation: In this
severely cold climate, lily ventilated,
unbeatable and poorly and lightly
constructed ETC., that is another con-;
dition. ~* ..-r'
The ignorance manifested. by. many,
yea, .legions of people, relative to their
own good health and the taking proper
care of their bodies and the careless
ness of many infected with contagious
diseases in themselves and their fam.
lilies, is another condition.
The condition that decry most of
all and is probably the worst of all,
and responsible in a measure, is the
apathay and apparent disinterested-
ness of a great many people in. civic
matters, in the general conditions of
affairs. How we will criticize, but
how little will we personally do to
change matters.
The way to combat injustice is to
grapple with her, the way to conquer
is to fight, the way to alter condi-
lions in our commonwealth is to be
willing. to do part Of the work and
not stop with criticism and allow the
Eother fellow to try to do it alone.
Let no man think that he has full
filled tine duties of his citizenship,
when he has complied with the law
and exercised his duties toward his
family and worshipped his God, IN
less he has made a public sacrifice
by giving to the commonwealth in
which he lives and to which he owes
so much, some part of his time with
bout being paid for it. And now to
sum up the conditions:
First-Extreme wealth.
Second-Extreme poverty. :.
Tnird-Insufficien wage.
F'ourth-Not owning home.
F'ifth-Poorly constructed homes.
Sixth-Apathy Of citizens.
And now having told about some Of
the conditions, and the Lord knows
| how many more there are, let us ask
the question: What is the remedy {?
My answer: .
To the first: Associated charities as
we'll as private benevolence: to- the
second: income and inheritance tax:
to the third: increase Of wage to the
proportion In which the price Of living
| has advanced and the profit-sharing
| plan, also old age pension laws and
| new employers liability laws as sug>
gested by the Hon. w. E.. McEwen;
to the fourth; interest capital in build
| ing substantial and fit and habitable
homes to be sold to- the masses at
the same price as rent with a Small
cash payment; to the sixth: willing
| ness Ito take active interest in the
affairs of your own city.'The plea OF
| the people saying we are too busy Isl
la poor excuse.
| The busy man does all the work,
He keeps on working when the others
'shirk.
He's always ready to do more,
The more he does, the more knocks
at his door.
| But would rather be a busy man.
| And do my work, and do it as I can
| Than work along and do just quite
enough,
To go through this old world on moth
ing but bluff.
Let's work then, men, be strong and
true and brave,
And help ourselves and other men to
| save,
So that our glorious land will ever be
Indeed, country Of the brave and
free.
Let each one do a little for the COM
mon veal
And then we all it's influence will feel.
And when at last our work on earth
is DER
There waiting for us on the other
Will be results of work so well begun
And we will hear the sweetest word
well DONE,
|