The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-10-07
STRIKE FOR JUSTICE

) lklkE FUR Jus LIE
The brand Of Independence we call
American imported with the Pill
grim Fathers and is perpetuated in the
trade union movement Of today. 1t
was really then, as is now, a struggle
for authority. The Puritans "struck'
against domination over their soul and
body by those in authority over them.
Trades unions striking against the
same thing in West Virginia today
The Puritans - struck for greater au-
thority over their own lives. Today
workingmcn have organized to make an
effective strike for the same purpose.
Those sturdy foreigners faced the will
dcrncss and the savagcs rather than to
fawn at the feet of monarchs, who claim
cd complete authority over their souls
and bodies by representing the living
God And like those sturdy heroes of
old, organized labor fights against the
assumed authority Of industrial and DO
htical monarchs, whose grip is fastened
upon them by means of a vicious
guard and pconagc system, and who
clam authority by reason of their re
presenting the god Of greed and gold.
If there is one thing that is good,
1t Is that spirit of independence i'm
ported by our forctathcrs and pcrpetu-
ated through their postcrity which will
eventually rid this State of all
forms OF slavery to assumed authority
even to the wage Slave-the slave of
commcrcialsm
And yet the followers of labor s great
cause in West Virginia are denounced as
d"inag"gucs and false prophets by men
who wear the collar of political and cor
Porhtlon task masters, simply because
they assert that Independence and free
dom inherited from the heroes of Valley
forgc and protest against the dictates
of the powers that rule the state with an
iron hand.
This oppression and suppression has
grown to such an alarming extent during
the past few years, that like the Puri
tans OF old, the masses of the people
must strike for freedom Our wcapons.
however, will differ from those of Wash
lhGton and his followers; instead of
s'r'klng with the sword and musket we
must strike through the trade union.
industrial and political tyranny must
cease and Independence and freedom
must prevail in our state regardless of
the political hcnchmcn and the tools of
inc industrial tyrants, who with brazen
chr"nt"ry publicly renounce the sover.
''Sh clt'zcnS OF West Virginia at the
bchcst of the criminal corporations.
The bands of oppression are tighten
ing and the manaclcs are being forued
more closely about the wage workers of
our stat" day by day, and their rights
an" privileges are diminishing hour by
hour and they are being robbed of their
freedom and Independence more boldly
ana d"hantlv by those who they have
entrusted to legislate and conduct ~tbe
affairs of state for them with each suc-
ceedlng moment. Well may we ask
"h'th'r we are drifting and where will
be our final destination.
Can there be any doubt as to that
oestlnatlon-abie Jet wage slaverv-in tho
minds of the liberty loving and Cod
tearing West Nirgnians with the nro-
ee'olnSs and actions of past legislatures
ana public officials staring them in the
lace! II Will come sure as the nipht
iolIo"s day unless the toiling masses
arouse and cast off the bonds that hind
them and shake the rnanacies and shack
les from them and strike for industrial
an" political freedom and restore that
american principle and independence for
winch our forcfathcrs shed their blood
to gain.
40" Is the time to begin by atfiliating
WIN the State Federation of Labor and
solalfylng labor $ forces and CARVING
the fight for freedom and Justice into
tue legislative halls and back your de-
inands Tor remedial labor legislation with
the united support Of the wealth pro-
duces of the state