United labor bulletin., 1913-01-02

camp where work awaited them
Because they had no transportation,
they were compelled to work or beat
their way to their destination TWO OF
these men had Just money enough TOT
meagre breakfast II was a question IN
their minds whether TO go without preak-
fast or a bed. They decided to deny
themselves the latter. The others were
.enniless, and had to win their oreak-
fasts In some way or continue TO starse'
They were all comfortably clothed The
swede's suit seemed particularly good
one. but In the approaching daylight IL
was discovered that, while lying TOO near
the FIRE he had burned out one SIDE OF
his coat and one TROUSERS leg Noucing
this. he remarked. Well. boys, must
sneak out OF town unseen. In hurry,
for II the police see me now they VIII
arrest me without question he anu
Others expressed fear that feit an
through that awful night-the fear OF the
Memphis police.
week later met one OF the pals.
He told me the food down on the govern
ment works My euod.~ ~ coarss focds
and there was plenty Of 1t. but the sleep
ing accommodations were extremely oao
II would have stayed" he said. al
though the work was such that wore
out clothes faster than my wages ~ou,a
replace them. but the water made me III;
and, too, / saw n man drowned After
that | didn't care to stay
Explaining the tragedy. he said; You
see II was this way. We were working
with the willows from barge In the
river. The boy lost his balance and fel
into the stream. The treacherous cur
rent instantly swept him from the barge.
He tried to swim back. God never
saw such "A trial OF strength Tor ne.
with the strong Indian overstroke, the
muscles stood out on his arms and neck
like cords OF rope. wrought TO sueh
tension II seemed as II the slightest blow
xould have snapped them like glass. But
the look of anguish on his face II
could only forget that, Almost exhaust
ed. and seeing that his efforts to reach
the barge were In vain. he turned 10
swim down stream and toward the shore,
but n whirlpool caught him. For an in
stant he raised his callous hands above
his head, and then-all was over.
mo sooner had he disappeared than
the boss demanded. with violent oath'
Bring on the Willows.
Were there no means of rescue pro
vidcd for such an emergency" l asked
In horror.
His answer was nothing but mention
of the existence OF SO much red tape,
possibly saved the young mans life.
The man was so visibly affected as he
related the incident. was led to inquire
the cause, and he replied as he abruptly
left me. "He was our pal that night IN
the jungles-my pal.
The six men represent a large proper
ton OF our population. The incidents
that follow In this article, all OF which
are taken directly from my personal eN-
perience. illustrate the kind OF treatment
vl ich the constituted authorities OF this
rx.Jublic mete out to these men. whose
only crime is misfortune, in many cases
whose only crime is their honesty. Tor
surely It is sterling honesty that drives
n man far afeld in search Of honest
work when the opportunities Tor sue
cessful dishonesty always lie near at
home.
To my mind the facts here related put
up vital question, question that mas
been faced by confession OF murder In
the city OF Los Angeles. when fellow cit
izens claimed their awful and bloody vio-
Ience was n resentment OF the treatment
Of them by society. In connection with
the affair. however, It has been claimed
that the only question which confronts
society-that is, the reader OF these
pages-that murder was done ana tine
murderers well bestowed.
I write purely from the standpoint OF
the individualist. with personal excuse
nor defense for none. Yet can we neip
but question ourselves--all OF us.uh IN
our bringing to Justice the premeditated
nerpetrators of this crime, have we
solved the problem of violence?
Let us follow the treatment that
large proportion Of our population are
even now receiving. and then see what
kind OF feelings toward society sucn
treatment is likely to call forth we VIII
not only see that, but we Will hear .ne
scxpression of Il from some Of those bit
terly twisting lips. Then in the light oil
such things let us ask ourselves whether
society is not to be held responsible Tor
the creation OF the hate which. however
lamentably, will express itself IN deeas
that are murderous. but that cannot In
snIrness be called murder pure and sim
ple. with whose causes we have nothing
to do--for which we accept no RESPONSE