The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-11-24
THE LABOR ARGUS

their favor-not satisfied with the
brutal TACT that necessity compels the
working people TO support themselves
and the rich combined, or starve to
death-not satisfied with this civilized
savagery in favor of the rich and
strong against the poor and weak, the
monsters of monopoly have sneakingIy
invaded the peoples government to
appropriate and substitute its wonder
full powers 10 enhance their forces to
enrich and magnify themselves. while
the toiling multitude from whom they
wrench their millions must endure
this frishtful thievery and treachery
from the cradle to the tomb.
In olden times the necessaries,
comforts and luxuries of life-nearIy
all the articles OF value, beauty or
utility. were made by handy the
Industry. the ingenuity and genius OF
the hand and brain OF man. Our
cloth was carded. woven, spun and
fashioned into clothing by the hands
Of children. women and men. Our
stockings, socks and other things
were knit by human han6s-kind and
loving hands of labor that are dead
and dust long years ago Our books
and shoes were also made by hand at
home. Our food produced, preserved
and served by faithful hands. BIT
since the creative ingenuity and genius
of discovery and invention have con,
ceived machinery to make these
things, the food and rainment of the
human race are mainly manufactured
by machines.
Women and girls nave discarded
spinning wheels and looms and knit
ting needles to enlist in weaving
shops and knitting mills. Men ana
boys have cast aside their hammers
leather. avis and lasts to operate ma
chimes that make our books and shoes.
Printers have displaced their crude
anal clumsy methods with the peerles.
power press and introduced the wond
rous lnotype,-a miracle of mechan
ism, a mystery and marvel of the
mastery of intellectual genius over
matter and force-and so in ali the
occupaitnos. trades, professions and
pursuits of life, the handmade imDle-
ments and tools with which our hand
made articles are made, have been
deserted or supplanted by machinery
produced by other great Machines
marvellous creation of mechanical in.
ventlons that appear to live and think
Sand labor with the tireless energy
and perfection of divine intelligence
and power.
Thus the sons OF men have lost
the art of doing things by hand They
must depend upon the operation of
machinery to earn their shelter
clothes and daily bread, These ma
chimes invented by the poor have
been patented. exploited or purchased
by the rich The poor, unable to
patent or procure machines them.
selves. were forced to operate them
Tor others. because their handicraft
could not compete in workmanship
or prices with the polished products
of machines. the poor are forced to
accept whatever wages they can get
and pay enormous prices for the pro
ducts manufactured by machines. Be
cause the rich control the money and
machines they claim and exercise the
power to price the peoples labor and
The products of machines besides. In
other words. they. make the working
man receive whatever wages they as
sign and torture him to give whatever
prices they demand for goods.
In this way the wealthy have mon.
opolized the labor and necessities oil
man-arc forcing human beings to
surrender all they make to live, or
starve. freeze and perish from the
planet. This is the monstrous mean
ness men will pledge and sacrifice
their liberties and lives to Danish
from the children of this world And
no matter what excuses or apologies
may clamor in behalf of such a saw
age system of society and commerce,
the happy day will eventually arrive
when the dominated. and impover- |
ished children of men will rise In |
the awful majesty of might to realize |
the sovereignty OF righteous power, and |
extipate these cowardly and barbar.
Gus conditions from the realms OF |
toll and thought. The energy or in |
te1lect that produces and creates will