The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-07-13

which the working class is robbed.
1t is because of the capitalist sys-
| TEN of production that the workers
are burdened with hard work and
long hours; that they receive but a
| miserable pittance- in the form of
wages for their labor: that they are
driven by the lash of hunger from
city to town. from town to country,
in search of work, competing with
one another for job like wild
beasts in jungle.
Uuder capitalism the workers
must always produce surplus value
for the owners. There could be no
capitalistic production without this
surplus value. Under the present
system there must always be surplus
labor time in the working day, and
this surplus labor time because of
the increasing competition among
the employed and unemployed can
not be reduced by any kind of re-
form.
Labor power is Il commodity, and
as commodity must be exchanged
with all other commodities in ac-
cord with the law of value The
capitalists cannot be appropriated
through the reform Rroute. Nothing
short of the ownership of the ma
chinery of production can bring any
relief to the workers.
So why waste your time ,by voting
with capitalist and reform parties?
Why not be one.of those men who
has right to exploit labor on
basis of wage slavery. and who in
the face of scorn and defeat fight
wrong wherever wrong exists?
MEN.
So far you have belonged to that
body of exemplary men who gra-
ciously admit that the system is not
what it ought to he; that poverty
prostitution. and child slavery while
wrong, are yet necessary evils
Every election you vote the old
party ticket and imagine that you
have rendered the community a SER
vice when you marked your ballot
for the good men, running on a
corrupt platform in corrupt party.
Without the help of these half
way men the capitalist class could
not exist another year, and they are
therefore directly responsible for
all the misery and the suffering in
the nation. They are the ones who
uphold capitalism and the privileged
ileged. So, :. .s+s-r..
Capitalims says: We will nomi-
nate and elect good, clean, conserva-
tive men to office. They will care
fully guard both the interests of cap
ital and labor. and then all will be
well.
Mr.. Halfway Man echoes: That's
the correct dope. ! am with YOU II
always vote for good men,
These halfway men are the ones
who compose the rank and file of tn e
old parties. They are the posts used |
by the capitalist class to strengthen
their old breakwater of graft and
privilege.
Lately the voters are showing a |
tendency to ignore the buncombe |
brand of oratory indulged in by these |
honest men in the old parties, and |
are listening eagerly to those leaders
who are whole men and who promise |
the abolition of poverty and who de-
mand economic justice for the work
erS.
Industrial democracy rests on a |
basis of the free citizen but a work
ingman can never be really free so |
long as some other man owns his job [
or so long as he is constantly in dan
ger OF becoming dependent for mere !
upon charity.
The only way that Mr. Halfway
Man can be of real service to the |
community is to assume "a position
and hold to it through the day and
in the nighttime.
The day of the Laodiceans is past |
because thou art Iukewarm and
neither cold nor hot" said the voice
that spoke on the Isle of Patmos,
Il Will spew thee out of my mouth
Study conditions in this land CALL
ed America. Learn the truth as to
the pitiful condition of those Who
toll in the factories and mines. Let
government statistics explain to you
the frightful killing and woundng of
men in our Industrial hells. Find
out why it is so. You will learn that
all this killing and wCuniing and
starving of the workers is absolutely
unnecessary.
DO tniS and you will nO longer be
halfway man. You viii! he hot
and that heat will refine you and
leave you "A whole man
PEACE AND WAR.