The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-05-05
Too Many Shoes Produced
So Children 60 Barefoot
WRITER PEARSoNS
SYSTEM-UNDER CONSUMPTION WHAT TROUBLES THE
COUNTRY, NOT PRODUCTION.

ginning, because you'd detect it sOor
enough yourself, that We don't under
stand very much of Karl Marx. A good
deal of the stuff that other highbrow
Socialist writers have written gets by
without ever being tagged by our linn
tied intelligence, either We dare say
there are good many hundred thousand
of us in this little old United States in
the same predicament. Vaguely We feel
there is something wrong with our eco
nomic system. We don't understand
why nation that talks in billions has
its breadlines, its suffering and its mis-
cry. We swallow the over production
dope and the Republican ticket at the
same gulp and then stand around and
wait for the cure. If the cure doesn't
come as soon as expected, why, double
the dose. 1t doesn't occur to us that it
would be cheaper in the long run and
far more conducive to national health
to eradicate the disease than have to
undergo treatment every so often.
That's because We think Marx was
just one of those "writer fellows who
had a lot of economic theories that are
good for those fond of mental gymnas-
tics" When we hear our revolutionary
friends spout "Marx -isms" at us We
grin and look foolish, if We don't get
mad. We know so much, you know.
Once in a while, though, some fellow
with capacity for forcible expression
gets into action and virtually compels
us to stop and listen. When one OF
those men, gets you cornered he takes
the edge off your egotism In double
quick style.
In last months Pearson's writer
named Allan L. Benson wrote an article
entitled care Hard Times Coming" He
split the heart of the plate and retired
the whole capitalist system without a
hit or run.
Here are some sample offerings this
writer dishes up to us. Read them and
see if you think they hit the spot or
not
''When men cannot get enough work,
women cannot get enough food. The
birth rate goes down and the death rate
goes up. Particularly the death rate of
children. Particularly the death rate Of
children because hunger, while it may
only pinch the parent, chokes the child.
child.
SIS this country about to enter upon
another period of little work and much
hunger! / can conceive of no question
that, of right, should be further from
mems minds. Nation n-wide hunger in a
rich land filled with men and machin-
cry. The gaunt spectre of all the ages
frowning upon this age. What right
has it here9 Did not its right to be
here die when mans colossal servant,
Machinery, was bornf When man, with
machinery, can make more food than he
can eat, more clothing than he can wear
and more houses than there are fami.
lies, why should We fear hunger and
coldi
| mo one should be compelled to feal
hunger and cold. Yet, every little while
millions fear them. Men know that
times of unsatisfied hunger periodically
come; that the coming of machinery
did not mark the going of want, ant
II hat 20 ha hnn nln
have produced too many of the thing
that satisfy want. Men are not fool
and do they not know that when th'
markets are glutted with goods shop
shut down and humans suffer while tn
, surplus stocks can be soldf
"Of course, they know why the shop
shut down. That is to say, they know
the reason that the boss gives then
when he tells them to 60. But | sus
, pect that they do not know the create
reason that is behind the boss reason.
"# As one of the stranges
things in this strange situation, pleas
not to whom We go for information an
| tne kluu Oh IactS we SCch Whch VIC "io
? to know what are the prospects tina
We shall be able to get sufficient foot
clothing and shelter. Do We take stoc
of the productivity of our farms'
We did, no one would be talking ba
z. times now, because our farms, neve
Y failing, did not fail last year, nor
{ there any indication that they will fai
this year. Do We ask; have We enoug
: workingmen to produce food, clothin
: and shelter for Ms all? Do We go I
: these men and ask: are you willing an
t able to work. Or, do We make inquir
0 to learn whether We have enough mill
+ and factories, and enough railroads t
= distribute the products of our farm
: mills and factoriesf
r "0f course We interview no working
e men with regard to their ability an
willingness to work, nor do We ask an
: other similar questions. Instead, "
: seek the opinions of the leaders of
little class who never labor; who al
relatively too few in number to enab
s them, even if they were so disposed,
n feed the rest of us with the product
of their labor; whose interest in II
rest of us does not go much beyond Il
i dividends they can take from US; VIII
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