The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-08-24
(By Gordon Nye.)

Before me is u letter. 1t was ad.
dressed to me by a woman whom J
admire and respect. In q calm and
courteous manner she protests against
my denunciattion OF the capitalist
class. h says in one paragraph,
You learned some things so bitter
~ that they were hard lessons for
you. but can't you let others do
likewise and let them arrive where
their worth will bring them. The
ages h futility Of expecting
too much of men. Don't be SO hard.
SO denunciatory.'
Very frequently I receive letters
similar to this in tone. For that rea-
son am going TO make. a reply. My
friends, whose good intentions 1
appreciate, always assure me that I
have a future' providing I become
sane" BY that they mean that I
am to join the Ladies' Aid Society
or the Citizens Good Government
League, whose habit it is to clear
things up three of four times a
year by applying the perfume treat
ment.
No doubt at times we Socialists
do seem to lack E~entleness and self
restrain, but one of the most pathe-
tic features of, our present Industrial
situation Gas we'll as one of the most
tfresome to Socialists) is the ever
springing hope in the breasts of.
good people that real progress can
be made, without disturbing the
foundation of the present capitalist
order. by. sprayingscolognesover u
troubles.
Good people and reformers make
eloquent pleas fer safe and sane
changes, but their efforts end al
ways and inevitably in failure. Any
real move to alter abuses of the
present system come in due time in
collision with the rock of intrenched
capitalism.
For the advice which the good
folks offer me, l am much Obliged.
But l can't follow it. Capitalism is
capitalism, and we can't abolish the
vile thing by speaking we'll of it.
there can be no compromise with n
system that is worse thar hell. And
TO prove it is worse than hell. here
are some facts and figures Of capi-
talism as it is.
The same day the above protest
eached me the newspapers carried
the story of little Morris Goldberg.
a pale-laced chap of three years who
was killed by a car in New York
Nny. Inc father of the boy, who
hao been out OF work for several
WEEKS and VINO was weak from lack
OF nourlshment. had sent the baby
u the mousse of a friend on the other
sloe OF the street to get something
to IA
motifs was SO weak hat he could
oo llttle more than todd1e, and he
was unable to get out of the way of
the approaching car. Captain B,ren-.
man, or the reserves, who arrived at
the scene of the accident and carried
the baby's body to the fathers home.
made the following statement: Il
ouhd one OF the most pathetic
cases OF poverty I have ever witness
seq. Mrs. Goldberg, the mother.
was wing on the bed too exhausted
~ rise. She was SO weak that she
mad been unable to get to the win
COW to G what the excitement in
.He street was about. She did not
Know 1T was her little son who had
neen killed. Six other half-staryeo
children, emaciated and hollow
O"O around tbo.>.
o The apartment was almos+
pare. and there was no food any,
"here. The father told me the chill
oren aad been withtour food for q
week.
This is only one Of many sucn
cases. Stories of this kind are SO
numerous that they fail to attracr
a'tehtlon. The capitalist class holds
mat # the little Norris
starve to death it is their own fau1t
me poor are Gods poor, and thew
we're intended to be poor. That's
the philosophy OF capitalism.
nave before me a Of
me pamrered and protected Now
england Textile Industry. Nowhere
on tue lace of the earth have manu-
exploited men, women and
children as have these textile baron.
When we study the financial condt-
IONS OF the New England cotton
"'liS we find that some OF the mills
pad their stockholders as nucb a.
1OI PER share in dividend.