The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-01-25
THE SOC|Au|ST|C
VIEW OF THINGS
Liberty, January 16, 1912
Editor The Dawn:

Seeing a short article in your
paper, date nth, written by social
list, started me to writing a short
article for the same, providing you
will publish the same with thanks.
do not hear anything from your
the cities this winter. see in Chi
cago alone there are 1000 families
being taken care of, % to 40 per
cent more manufacturing plants are
running on half time this year than
at the same time a year ago. Con-
ditions are worse than at any time
since 1907. Over 5000 families are
now on our books that are eligible
to get assistance from the county,
says James Mullenback, superin-
tendent of the United Charities.
Now Mr.. Editor, why is it that to-
day in the United States, when
every intelligent person knows that
it is possible for every man, woman
and child to be supplied with all the
things necessary for a decent life.
Injuries of this twentieth century
civilization, why is it one-tenth of
the people have four-fifths of all
things which were made and pro-
duced entirely by the working class,
while the same working class, or
nine-tenths of the people have prac-
tically nothing but fresh air and
water-sometimes not even that?
Why is it?
Why is it that in United States,
in this great, big, rich country, when
one state alone, the state of Texas,
can furnish enough grain, cattle,
fruits and provisions to feed every
man. woman and child in the United
States. together with making and
manufacturing every single article
that is used or can be used by the
people of the United States, why is
it that there are now ten millions
of people living in shacks and tene-
ments, facing utter poverty at all
times, underfed. always discovered?
Why is it?
WHY is it that over "a million little
children are taken away from the
schools and shut up in factories,
mines and mills, whore they work
like machines for less than fifty
cents a day when there are millions
of grown men and women begging
for work? Why is it?
Why is it that the United States.
the richest country in the world,
with a population of only about one
hundred million people, why is it
that there are four million paupers,
men women and children, who exist
only through charity? Why is it,
Why is it that every day in the
year there are three thousand men
women and children killed and in
iured while doing useful and neces-
sary work for the people of the Uni
ted States? Why is it?
The answer is easily given and
readily understood. The earth con-
tains everything which beings re-
ouire for food, clothing and shelter
Everything we use, everything we
see. everything we eat or drink,
comes in first condition out of the
land or water.
All we have to do in order to live
is work sometimes and somewhere
on the free matter which is scatter
ed all over the surfaces of the plan
et and by our work satisfy our
wants.
But the earth and it's contents.
particularly the industries, are
claimed as the private property OF
Morgans and other capitalists who
say 1t belongs to them and who re-
uuire us to divide up with them in
order to get an opportunity to work
for a living.
These conditions can be changed
by political action. by voting into
the legislatures and courts Socialist
law makers and judges to make the
industries collective property, and
thus insure equal opportunity to
every man, woman and child living
today. as well as to those who will
be born tomorrow.
Mr. Editor, there is one thing
pie can put up with this terrible
strain and be content to see the suf-
fering of little babes and shut their
face and go on their way.
Yours Truly,
G. NORCROSS