The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-04-05

In sending check for relief of the
children of Lawrence strikers, Joseph
Fels plainly showed how the manufac-
turers who howl for a protective tariff
are morally guilty of the most contempt
ible form of embezzlement The letter
follows:
Philadelphia, March 3, 1912
Mrs. Ida Secor, Treasurer Childrens
Committee, Lawrence Strike, care
Benjamin Fletcher, 1905 Arch Street,
Philadelphia;
Dear Madam
Enclosed find check for $4,000 to be
used in giving relief to the child vic
Tins, of the existing system in Law,
renee, Mass.
In sending this l wish it distinctly
understood that it is not Il phiIanthropic
gift to the sufferers. 1t is a part pay
ment of debt due these children from
all who are upholding existing social
wrong Since I am not one of these,
this check must be considered a gift to
those whose dishonored obligation it is,
to a slight degree liquidating.
Strict justice requires that if we can
not at once abolish legalzed wrong then
when immediate relief is needed for vic
Tins of legalized robbery, the upholders
of the iniquity should be made to pay
the bill But unfortunately that is
not possible. There Is no way by which
we can compel donations from upholders
Of landIordism, of private appropriation
of public earnings, of tariff robbery, Of
private control of public highways, and
of other privileges. We are helpless to
enforce payment, even from the Ameri
can Woolen company, although it can be
proven that this corporation has robbed
these poor children by embezzIing a
fund entrusted to it for their benefit by
the American people.
The people have levied a burdensome
tariff tax on themselves and turned the
proceeds over in trust to the American
Woolen company to be used in paying
high wages to employees The people
were induced to do this by the repre-
sentations of the American Woolen com
pany and similar concerns, that this
trust would be faithfully carried out.
But the corporation has used the money
instead for excessive dividends, Similar
acts Of legal embezzlement are being
committed by other protected employers.
Cpholders of robbery make the false
claim that there is no way by which
the worker may be assured just treat
ment. They claim to know no cure for
poverty and offer this voluntary ig-
norance as an excuse for continuing it.
The eXuse is not valid. Thirty two years
ago Henry George showed in Progress
and Poverty how poverty can be abol
ished. His arguments have never been
disproved in spite of uumbarIe-s at
tempts to do so.
The amount of the enclosed check I
have charged in my ledger against the
American Woolen company and other
supporters Of legalized robbery. I ad-
vance it in part payment of a debt they
owe, without consulting them, because
their child creditors are in distress
through their reluctance to settle.
doubt whether they will recognize the
obligation, in spite of its manifest jus
tice. since it is not legally enforcible.
Consequently if it must be considered a
charitable gift let it be fully understood
that the real recipients of this charity
are not poor children from Lawrence,
but the stockholders of the American
Woolen company and other upholders of
existing wrongs. l am. dear madam,
Faithfully,
JOSEPH FEIS.