The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-11-01
Mr.. SCHNEIDER WRITES ANOTH-
Err LETTER
Ocal, Fla, Oct. %, 1912.

To the Editor Ocala Banner:
One-half of the able-bodied men
and women produce no wealth what
ever, are either uselessly, unneces-
sarily, perniciously or harmfully en-
ployed or wholly idle-mere consum-
ers and parasites riding on the backs
of the producing class. One-fourth OF
the other half are engaged in produc-
ing luxuries for the benefit OF the
idlers and viciously employed; the
remaining one-fourth are doing ali
the useful and necessary labor of
feeding, clothing, housing, heating,
lighting, watering, transporting,
amusing and instructing the entire
population of these United States and
of the world.
The wages of the usefully and ne
cessarily employed one-fourth of the
population average but little over
$500 per annum, and include the far
higher salaries of all hired superin-
tendents, farmers, etc.
On the other hand, the product PEI
day of these men and women produc-
ers is $1,000, of which the poor dupea
receive about $160 to feed, cloth.e
and house themselves with. and rear
another crop of useful workers.
These figures are taken from the
United States census of 1890. Pro
duction since then, owing to improved
machinery of all kinds, has increased
fully one-third, and while the prices
of all commodities have enormously
increased, at least so per cent. in
that time, wages increased only about
20 per cent, while indefinitely throw
ing from three million to five million
men and women out of employment,
either partly or entirely. So much
for the benefits the useful producer
derives from improvements in produc-
ton
This state of things is too idiotic
and absurd to endure much longer;
growing millions are demanding
a change, a remedy for the tragi-com-
edy, which would shame the intellect
of ten-y ear-old child. A mere block
head, bushman or kaffir would go
on strike if, in addition to himself, he
were required to feed, clothe, house,
etc, three dead-beats. grafters. spong-
ers and idlers, and him doing all the
work.
This is really what this one-fourth
of our population is doing, and has
been doing, for many, many years.
Granted that the poor slave and
blockhead, however much he grunts
under his load, could be induced to
Indefinitely continue toting it, is there
no such thing as honor, honesty, sense
of justice and fair dealing in our
boosted civilization, after two thou
sand years Of teaching and preach
ing the golden rule? Then, the time
is mere to hIre new set or Ieacnefs,
send the old ones to the rear OF the
ranks to do the meanest and hardest
work until they learn to apply, in
practice on themselves, what hereto
fore has been mere living, 1ife-seryice
with them, for profit and pelf
That every able-bodied man and
woman shall heretofore live at his OF
her own expense, instead of that OF
another, that they shall be provided
with the fullest opportunity, while re-
ceiving the full product of their labor,
to do SO, that all rent, interest and
profit mongery shall cease forever, is
the task which socialists the world
over have set themselves to accom-
plish, and will never cease from agi-
tating until it is achieved.
G. r SCHNEIDER