The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-07-26

sqnAlid tenemsnts In which they lead
those lives which seem to impress
sothse q being "a h&ppy and luxur-
tous, and, .reflect that there are
gentlemen who are respected and
count themselves asmong the good
and eminent Of the town, who own
the property where these poor crea-
lures dwell, one will have sonae
deeper reflections and indeed some
deeper perplexities upon this subject.
Influence Of Taxes.
/ We have had in this town quite
recently an example Of the very prac-
teal manner in which economic
changes may effect what are called
moral conditions. The board Of asses
sors Of real property the other day
raised the valuation Of realty in that
portion Of the city called the tender
loin. that u.s., the board wisely as
sessed it according to its earning
power. We all know the sinister i'm
plicattons Of the phrase earning
power" in this relation: we all know
what it connotes, we all know its vast
implications. And no action taken
by the police or by the criminal courts
could have the Influence for good that
this blow struck at the root r. will
have; this very practical method OF
rendering practitioners. for they suf-
fer now from 1t, but to the ultimate
recipients Of its profits. thosee higher
up in society, to whom it supports.
The Land owners Too.
I do not wish, however, to be UNI
derstood as blaming particularly
those who rent places for this pur-
pose. I should be disposed to blame
them more, If I blamed them at all,
for their public protestation than for
their participation in the business,
for they, too. are but the impotent
victims Of our social system; they
can be released from it's insidious in
fluences tor evil only when all men
are released from it.. =.
This social system, with. privileges
for the few, and prescription for the
many, creates these conditions and
these types and we cannot get rid
Of either, no matter what we do, so
long as we continue to produce them
If the director Of public safety were
to order the police to drive these
habitues into some other town or in
to the river, their places would be
promptly filled the very next day by
others exactly like them. think
this fact will become clear and patent
to anyone who will but open his
eyes and honestly, fearlesaly, look
about hina. 49,. r..
Society In q New Light.
He should be warned, however, be-
for looking that the. spectacle he IN
about to behold will revsal society to
him In a new light: q light which will
make him tnexpressibly sad md ser
tou6ly interfere with his peace OF
mind for the rest OF his days. But
it may make; him wi1er: it may move
him to the desire and duty Of Eoink
to the fallen IN tho spirit Of love, the
longing to help and save them, andz1
bAlteve that. presently, he will con-
clude that the best way ia help and
s4ve them IL to bextn Is reconstruct
society 10 that 1t shall no longer pro-
duce tho conditions that condemn
Thousands Of his fellow human beings
to such Z life, or to such a. death, as
it is pretty certain soon to be. At
any rate, If he does one Of thes4
things, he will see why these people
are In the tenderloin Or on the way
there; he will come to sec that they
are there because they have to be
thre, because we, all Of us, that is
society, put them there.