The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-04-13
Monopolies Thriving
in Charleston.
The Water, Bridge, Telephone and
Laundry Trusts Robbing the Peo-
pie.

bridge trust can live in grand man
sfonS on the hills and look down on
the common herd" in contempt and
scorn. No wonder they can ride in
automobiles. wine and dine at fash
ionatle feasts and banquet halls. We.
poor and common herd" as they
call us. pay their bills by paying rob-
berry prices for water, light and toll.
How much did these monopolies
ever pay the people? Nothing but
Kisses and sneers. We'll, can We
blame them for holding US ill con
tempt, when we allow them 10 cap.
turc and corner our necessaries of
life so as to enrich themselves by
making us pay robbery rates? Man
always hates those he hurts, All
ways wrongs those he robs. When we
make them quit robbing US they will
respect us as human beings instead
of calling us such nasty names as
poor trash and common herd" Tho
people should own these bridges as
well as this light anu water works
Then all the money paid by the pco-
pie to these monopolies would re"
main in the peoples pockets. This
and stop the robbery OF trusts I'D II.
IclepllOne trust.
The Bell Telephone trust capturcul
the Home company and combined the
two into one monopoly. Having tho
helpless public in their = heartlcss
power. they are raising the prices TO
Yes, but what is the use for you pco-
pie to kncl about it? You have al
ways voted to support this system OF
letting the rich deyour the poor. and
M n <>f S-tf
which will abolish this kSalized lar
ceny from earth. Socialism would .
let the people own their own tele-
phone system as they. own the mails:
today. If you want to own your own
want to stop this thing of being
plundered by these monopolics and
trusts. vote for Socialism--thc only
cruelties and crimes of trusts.
The Laundry Trust.
Then the laundries have just
formed~a trust to raise their prices
to increase their profits, but they
were careful not to increase the
wages OF those who do all the dirty
work in washing contaminated pIG-s
tocratic cdlothes. Well, IL you don't
like their prices why don't you vote .
the Socialist party into power. Then.
one big laundry owned by the peopfos
could do the washing for the whole
city at comparatively little expense.
These monopolies and trusts fncreas-
ing prices everywhere should con-
vince you that in few more years
we Will be reduced to slavery and
starvation in being compelled TO
give all we earn to trusts in order to
live. viii you vote to stop or con-
tinuc this condition of affairs Ia your.
city election?
If you want it stopped that is what
the Socialist demands, and under So
c1alism the people would own and
operate their own light and water
works. their bridges, the laundries.
telephones, railroads and everything
else, Just as they own and operate
the public roads today. If you want,
to own these things and save yourt
money. vote the socialist ticket. II
you want to pay the plutocrats all
your toll creates vote and other old
party ticket and surrender your hard
earned coin to trusts.
The water and light trust gets an
average of at least three dollars a
year clear profit from every man.
woman and child in Charleston. How
much profit do you get from this mo-
nopoly? Nothing but expense and
loss. The bridge monopoly gets
thousands of dollars profit from. the
people every year. How much profit
do. the people get from this bridge
trust? Nothing but expense and
| loss. Then why do you vote for these
old political parties to prolong this
robbery? Why not vote for Social
ism and change this thing of giving
a few the privilege to pilfer all the
rest through merciless monopolies
and trusts.