Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-10-03
:: A Fable That Came True
(By Geo. 3. Kline, M. D, New Mar
tinsviIIe, w. va.)

(6y Geo. 3. Kline, NJ. D., New Mar
tinsvilIe, w. va.)
On the morning of March 5th, 1913,
every Postmaster received the follow
ing notice with instructions to post at
his Office.
NOTICE" 4
"WANTED-By the government, men
and women, between the ages OF Il
and 65 to work at various occupa-
lions, to whom there will be paid 40
cents an hour, increasing cents
an hour for each year, for five years,
to all who will remain in the ser
vice, and are not voted out by the
workers themselves for incidence,
intemperence or immortality.
The right is reserved to pay the work
ers in checking accounts, which will
be good at the Government stores,
like those in operation nj the Pana-
ma Canal Zone. An Agent will be
here shortly to give. particulars to
all inquirers."
| A great crowd quickly gathered, and
the Agent had not yet appeared the
people began discussing the strange
notice; what could it meant Was the
Government going into business?
| The doubling Thomasses were re-
minded that the Government" is now
running the post office, the army and
navy, is building the Panama Canal,
running it's stores, hotels, ice plants,
butcher shops, etc., and that the peo-
pie are conducting the public schools,
| DO oil
age systems, and scores of other
things very successfully.
| The Agent now appeared when the
din become vociferous and it seemed
as if every one wanted to be heard
first, for fear the jobs would not go
around.
The agent mounted box and said:
'Now listen, before answering indlVi-
dual Questions, wish to state that
there will be work for all applicants,
if not here, somewhere, and free
Transportation will be furnished to the
place.
This statement by a government Off
cial had a wonderful effect in calm
ing their fears, as many were hungry,
in rags and in debt, living from hand
to mouth, with uncertainty, and the
fear of want hanging over them, while
few indeed had the actual necessities
of life, to say nothing of the luxuries,
in land of plenty.
i "Now notice." said the Agent, 1--WE
want men and women of all trades
and occupations, and if no trades, to
work in all possible ways to produce
food and clothing and shelter for the
people, in short to run the various IN
dustries, railroads, etc. !"
The Agent continued: "Debs, as
you already know, was inaugurated as
President yesterday, and has called
an extra session Of Congress to carry
out the instructions of the voters al
the polls last fall. If you wish to see
I their PROCLAIM, look at the Socialist
: platform"
A skilled mechanic remarked that
the offer in the notice did not Interest
4 him, as he is now getting 70 cents
per hour.
every WE'LL" replied the Agent, 1--WE
are glad you can take care of yourself
That gives US the chance to say a
word about the production of the
things the people need, and the stores
The stores will be depots of exchange
for everything the people produce and
need. The middleman will be elimin
ated which will at once nearly double
the purchasing power for all who work
for us, the surplus value which now
goes to the owners of the machines OF
production, and amounts to as much
in the aggregate as the present wages
will be saved to the producers. These
items alone will make the purchasing
power of 40 cents more than that OF
one dollar now, and when the workers
are saved the profit, interest and rent
and are with us five years, the SO
cents will buy considerable more than
double your 70 cents"
The mechanic came back, "But the
government does not own the railroads
industries, etc., how will it get them p
"My dear friend" the Agent replied
"the work has turned; the workers
now control the government, and in,
stead Of using it as private graft, ii
: will be used to help the producers OF
wealth The government will purchase
: by right of eminent domain, or build
: trunk line or two and secure the
railroads as Germany did. A few in
! dustries will be bought or built, and
10, 70 per cent of the capitalization OF
the trusts will disappear as water; we
will compete the private owners out OF
existence, we will give the competi-
tors dose of their own medicine.
"But suppose the rate Of wages Is
too high, or your plan produces an
over production which the wages will
not buy back?"
'In either case" replied the Agent
''the workers will know they are get
y; .-oo