The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-11-24
Laboring Man Forced to bea Chat
tel Slave Of the Rich or to
Roam About i'm Rags.
An Able Article by S. c. Cross, Former Member
of the West Virginia Legislature in Which
He Portrays the Facts as They Have
and Now Exist in the Labor
World---Rea1 Conditions

In the past the laboring man was
torcsd to be a sort OF servant. serf
or slave. During feudal days. when
selling real estate, The landlord sold
him as an ordinary chattei with the
land. He was Obliged to bear the
bittcrest impositions from the rich
or roam about in rags TO steal or
starvc. He was driven to accept
whatever wages they prescribed or
perish from the earth. Then as now,
il" had little or no voice in what re.
ward he should receive for services
performed The wealthy owned &e
property and land ,and forced the
people to support them or fevacuate
the scene. Then as now, his employer
conspire% with famine and necessity
TO make him work for barely enough
10 exist or starve to death. He was
compelled to sweat and slave from
dark to dark-from twelve TO. sixteen
hours day. or more, in order to Sc.
cure q little food and common clothes
~ save his lffe. He was discharged
without moments warning, thrown
out Of employment without the slight.
est notice. provocation or excuse. to
shift as best he could upon the shore.
i'sS sea of cruel accident and chance
With countless other infamies in
iIlcted on his suffering soul. the arro-
CANT unfcclins money sharks and
iosnes r"morselesslyA reduced his
wages TO starvation rates He was
anu Is cocrccG to toll and drudge in
gloomy shops and mills and mines,
exposed to grave dangers every
uay, surrounded by the most unSan1-
'a'y conditions conductive to disease
n'SaSt"r. death. While rich employers
slept away the morning hours in pleas.
ant dreams. the working people ate
'""is breakfast by the light of lamps,
Ill otdcr 20 resume their tasks before
inc dawn Of day. This was done
H'he*t. Industrious. prosecuted, power
HHEht get cnoufih to scarcely
.'ot"" and feed their weary. hungry
"NeS. Whil" producing miracles OF
wealth that srandly robe, and dine the
Hiulnfnisl"nairs in marble mansions
"'n''i' palaces and gorgeous gar
niehtS All cmbcllished with the gaudy
U'd'"hrF OF diamonds, silver. jewels
S"'o and art, While the wealthy hoard
4"aF Still other millions stolen fron
'n' Unprotected child of toll. the toll
CTS often suffer. starve and die fol
ordinary wants and needs of life.
l''a0~" these money makers grasl
'"''mn"- profits from the fruits o
u"Ie"'rd"d toll. these workers hav.
combined in unions to protect theil
interests. their liberties and live:
''''' IN" ruthless and relentles:
.l''ch "' sr""d for gold and gain
lH'F concluded then as all observ'
''o'H' ina since monopolies ant
"NS'' nav" organized against the pee
PIE. n" pccple to defend themselves
must necessarily organize against TIL
H'f'"leSr monopoly and trusts. Know
NH 'HA' rh"y create all there is o
neatly. wealth and use: that they ar
4'' rewarded N proportion to tn
t'''''N uloduccd by work: that mi
"'"' nj Industrious. honest peopl
wv" IN d"stitution on the verge. G
'"'- Hn""tng and feeling thes
''oIr. 'H"- ar" determined to r.
''''' enumeration in compariso
WIN MAT ,b"y make. They ar
St''''HiT diSgusted at the sight {
"'h'-'. manly diligence in povert
su1 -"--- While indolent dishonest
!. -2II. d. "uricned and sloritied wit
Ia" FRUITS and flowers of the
t'ih-''"d toll and thought.
l"'s" labor organizations have el
u+aEo7"i to uphold the dignity an
.sA'' %: toll by demanding dece1