The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-09-08
Our Labor, but Their Laws.
BY FRANK ]. HAYES


of
IF they only together like they march on Labor
Day., sang a bard of labor, unconsciously at
times find myself murmuring same refrain express
ing as does in few words the latest possibilities of
workngcass political unity.
And every Labor Day when see thousands of union
lists parade and realize their strength the powerful
they hold in their hands for woe find
myself saying and over again: IF they would only
vote together If they would only they STRIKE
they Jail together together locked
out together eviced and starved together could la
Dor not accomplish?
There is no limitation however the industrial field
there IS limit past which the trades union
cannot co. it is limited by the system" by capitalism.
The progress we hope to make in the future must be
made In the political and along class lines 1t is
there we can meet economic masters their favorte
game-controllng government an ENJOYABLE pastime
INDUCED IN considerably by the than
golf bridge
1t is there that man with the "full dinner pail" or
anger full of hay has opportunity to cast ballot
tor industrial freedom continued servtude.
Somebody once said, IF the worker wants to be re
spected he must first respect himself honily that bears
repeating. Sefrespect is the stepping better
things The trouble with the past has been
his deficiency in the sense of self respect
For instance he has been known to worship at the
shrine of We Willie TAFT the understudy Bwano Tumbo
the humorous accident, Willie Lorimer alias ack Potts.
and numerous other respectable q satellites and heraed
friends OF labor. In fact, he respects everybody
himself He has has confidence in hmsef-has an al
ways and always will be- of feeling trusting no doubt
to find home prepared for him Gross Jordans shining
sands"
The only Objectionable feature about this sort of
philosophy is its similarity life insuranceyou have to
die to get it. And while you hoping praying and
trusting IN the eternal goodness of Providence
other diey yourself and family going down the
road that leads in the end poorhouse or poers field
sometimes to the madhouse perchance if you have
daughter young and beautiful you may the living eff
tect OF the political ignorance of class the
with scarlet shades
The only force in the world today and she only phil
osophy that and will eventually the slaves of in
dustry is Socialism.
If cooperation is good thing for Tohn D Rockefeller
why not equally good for plain John Smith? Rockefeller
ana ms associates don't believe in competition the basis
OF capitalism and demonstrated very forcefuy the great
value OF owning without competition, of the mpor
tant natural which the people common
depend.
Why isn't plain John Smith one of the stockholders of
Standard OIL the greatest the world? Whv don't
plain John Smith share benefits of this vast enter
prise? 1t isn't because he hasn't chance to become
share holder 1t isn't because God Almighty gave Brother
Rockefeller title to all the oil in the EARTH It's be-
cause PLAIN John Smith hasn't enough for
the people to those things upon which the people in
common depend You can't expect Mr. Rockefeller to
turn his government unless the peonle
ask for it through their ballots.
Why not relieve Rockefeller of his title legally under
Socialist administration, the as we relieved the
Southern people of their title of negro under Repub
can administration? Chattel slavery wrong and so
is slavery Transfer ownership to the United
States government and allow the producers the
workers. to partake of the benefits.
Let us by votes make government conserve
the interests of and gains of the
idle few. -
Why not MIR. Dollar Day, why not? Our labor and
Their LAWS made Rockefeller Millionaire; therefore,
why not our labor and OUR LAWS be shaped protect
OUR INTERESTS wealth producers? Do you know anv
good reason why they should not?
If you don't place is in the Socialist Party in the
front ranks doing your full strike from your
limbs the shac<les of wage servitude
You haven't heard anything about the Governor send
the national guard the Farnont coal field to
protect the union mob violence have YOU
The rro01 a1offfr -