The evening world., 1912-01-18
THE MAN WITHOUT THE HOE.

EN- days ago The Evening World put the potato famine up to
Edwin Markham, charging that his poem "The Man with the
q Hoe" had had q pernicious effect on agriculture because it
that the hoe-man Is "stohd and stunned, a brother to the OK"
This newspaper urged that a companion poem should be written "set-
forth the grievance Of the present day consumer OF farm prod
and perhaps entitled "The Man With tho Baked Potato"
Mr.. Markham rejoined, in . lotter printed in tho Morning
World, that we had gone "a Lte wide OF the mark" and that
hs hoe man was "tho type Of tho men who arc the victims Of industrial
oppression in all lands" Another reader countered On Mr.. Markham
tho statement that tho CULTS" between the hoe-man and the
'~seraphim" were not duo to social injustice, and that the poet should
not have emphasized his subjects brutalized estate by contrasting 1t
With IN estate ito which tho most perfect social conditions could
lift man" Then the metropolitan police interviewed and ordered
the baked potato men Of the streets.
The latest incident il the arrival Of tho companion poem-written
in blank versc-which this newspaper was looking for. II bear the
signature Of tho Rev. W. A. Smith Of Groton, Tomphns County, and
tho title placed at tho head Of this article. II Is a little too long TO
entire, but the quotations TINT follow set forth the thought
sturdy defense OF the dignity and consequence Of agricultural lnbor;
"subdus the sarth," In mercy. not In wrath.
This mandate in ts odsn tmo to man
Was given. Tho voice which said The gospel preach"
Not more Of the divine contained than that
Which said "suSdno tho earth"
O, fools .lons s,oth Ia III. mys,un;
And all things high and low. shove. beneath.
To those who spurn tn APPOINTED law OF heaven.
Mans higher powers stubbornly refuse
Except in the gymnasium Of toll
Their hidden forces to unfold.
"rhe anguish Of tho singer makes
Tho sweetness Of tho strain" Nor plough nor hoe
Could ever make oM scouas bard forget
"A name . man for . thatl" Toll desrads'
Ia not tho stately ornament Of mind
Ahlass with those who. like tho stars in heaven,
with stesAy radiance down tho sGm shine
with those whose CRADLES In the humble homo
Were rooksdS Against misfortune. poverty
And vrong they strovs Unhpktercd and unproppcd
They raised thcmselvs to emtnance
Where N tho rare~t virtues OtenMt found!
DO not tho "smpis annals Of tho poor"
Such diEnties reveal that outward show
And rank and pride 10 nothinsne~ arc turned'
Ubiquitous. .1u.n MAN WITHOUT THE HOE"
Ills wits and not his haDds must yich him bread.
All plans. all schemes he tries to cheat tho hoo.
Tho pick. tho spade out Of their lawful dues
Disgusting 10 the toll that covers him
with sw~t, and makes him brother to tho OK"
And q. ashamed Of nausht but honest work.
PsriOrco TO get some starvennG once fec.
Like verttablo snake he craws along
Tho path Of each villa dema&ogue to gain
III, end. and Mcks the hand in which IL held
Tho magic voa Shade Of tho yocman brave!
FL, ths the thing tho Lord God made and gave
To have dominion ovsr sA and hnd''
10 not the PEASANTS toll
The basis nrm and stronS n which there resta
Tho m,shty fabric Of society,"
Toll oni O cransmAn. toll! Tho drps OF sweAt
Upon your brow " pearls. your tasks divine!
"A lovely face does honest labor wear"
Mr.. Smith has done well. But he has not spoken for the COZ
sumner of ~high-pnced farm products. "The Man with tho Rnk,
U-I.Lo = .t, 0ur,ttnn