Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-02-03
If WE DO AND DAMN
ED IF WE DON'T"
Editor Majority:

Editor Majority: 49,,
l guess you are acquainted with the
story of the man and his mule. An
old man and his boy travelled through
the country, walking alongside their
mule. What fools" said MAN No.
1. why don't one of you ride that
animal? ct seems" said the old
man, that our mode of travelling
don't suit these people, So mount that
beast, sonny" Look, look, said man
No 2. AT that young whelp, up-
grateful son, riding while the old
man walks. Such a SON. The old
man at this jumped on the mules
back and the youngster had to trot
along. Man No. 3 remarked, Such a
shame, man riding and child
walking" At this the young also
mounted the quardruped. Say said
Man No. 4, Are you the owner of
this creature? You and your son are
more ADLER to carry him than he is
10 carry YOU, So the next man
was for, them to carry Mr.. Mule and
still this was not satisfactory The
only plan left said the old man is for
US to go on in our own way and pay
no attention to their foolish remarks
This story reminds US of the way
preachers, editors, lawyers and other
humbugs criticize the Socialists. We
are told to join the church in order
to propagate our principles, but the
moment we mention Socialism" we
are told that 1.-The house of God is
nj place for politics" These guys
should learn that Socialism has at
least four different aspects. It is
an economic system, a philosophy of
society, social movement and a
political party. w care called in
ddels" if we stay outside the church
and if wetake membership We are
accused of taking religion as a
cloak to cover political purposes. "
If we attend Republican, Demo-
cratic, Prohibition or pure and
simple" Trade Union meeting they
get angr at US for opposing or criti-
Ching the speakers. If we keep away
from above referred too meeting we
are told that we are scared and can
not successfully oppose their theories.
When we as for church building
to hold our meetings the trustees and
the reverands ask US why not erect
buildings of our own. If able to do
this we are called all kinds of names
for establishing a Labor Church" !.
They laugh at US because W epreach
the equality of opportunity" and
they call us hypocrites because we
share not our wealth (two pigs, etc.,
with those who have none. When we
read the Bible they say We do it for
low purposes and when the quote
from Moses and the Prophets and
Jesus Christ to uphold our principles
they tell us that we initiate his
Satanic majesty in quoting scripture:
1t is difficult to please these Anti
Socialists and it is a foolish purpose
for the Socialists to try to do this
for we are damned if we do and
damed If we don't" So let us fol-
low the example Of the old man and
his mule. Some of our preachers,
however, are having their eyes open
ed-Here isoneof the latest, Rev. H.
E. Ward, of the Union Avenue M. =.
church, Chicago, who in sermon
on economic conditions the other day
J said: ut has become the fashion
for public speakers to take fling at
Socialism and the intensity of the
attack is usually in direct ratio'to the
density of the speakers ignorance.
One clever writer has said that 1t Is
a sign of intellectual laziness today
not to know what Socialism means.
The great reason for protesting
against capitalists ownership of ma
chinery is that it issno use to the
capitalist unless men are bound to it
BY CHAINS OF BODILY NECES-
sITY. We have wage slavery, it is
an accomplished fact. Without tools
men must work or starve as other
men dictate. The sturdy, independ-
emf worker of other days has gone
to be replaced by the dependent and
the increasingly spiritless army OF
factory workers who are often forced
to sign contracts which take away
their legal rights. However IN spite
If confusion and conflicts confeder-
ates and confessionals, conclaves and
concupiscence, conspiraces and con
ceit, constitutions and contracts the
oppressed in all countries are heed
ing "the characterization Hof the
bells" that rings, Workers Of the