Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-10-16

- - WE WILL NOW HAVE ----.--
A EeU Remarks
BY WALTER B. HILTON

THE WORKERS OF the First Congressional Dlstl1cG
Of West Virginia have again registered their approval OF
the system that exploits them. They have declared Dy
their votes that they approve the present plan Of produc
ton which leaves the worker but half or less OF that
which he produces and gives the balance earned IN
cremen to those who say they the earth and all that
it. and in it. They have given their particular SANCTION
to the business methods Of the Consolidation Coal Com
pany the West Virginia Coal Trustmethods which III
cude the employment Of army Of armed guards and
the smuggling Of defenseess workers who may be guilty OF
the dire crime of trying to organize IN labor union for
their own protection And that there might have been no
mistake about it. they elected the specially active repre-
sentative Of the Consolidation Coal Company offered them
by the notorious Clarence W. Watson, who earned
his title of Maor in the state militia that shoots down
the workers who rebel against oppression M. Nicely
This is exactly what the workers have done: That
they have done it Intentionally is unthnkable They did
not know that they doing this They thought that
they voting the grand old tickets that their fathers
used to vote that they voting for tariff that would
protect them against the pauper labor Of Europe that they
voting for reduction in the high cost Of living that
they voting for prosperity.
In other Words they thought they we're voting for
happier life for themselves and their fames-a except
those who sold their VOTE and they thought they
taking little concrete happiness in the form of S. BILL
which oomed rather larger before them than the nebuous
promises Of politician.
It not at all surprising that the workers made this
mistake All the Of information poisoned for
them Their daily papers are tremendous influence upon
them, and all the daies urging them to make this
mistake. And practically all the people whom the news
papers and heredt have taught them to have
Joined in urging them to this mistake Their habits Of
thought have been formed in the years that are passed.
and Intellectual growth is slow and painful thing.
So it is really not matter Of surprise that many
workers made the same mistake The surprising thing
that nearly 5000 workers in the First District refused
be led again into the blind alley but voted for the working
class candidate. AND FORTY THOUSAND VOTERS
NEVER WENT TO THE POLLS!
This is indeed encouraging. The men who stayed at
nome too Disguised to VOTE perhaps, uncertain
how to vote outnmber all who voted for all the cand
dates These forty thousand have commenced to think
And this dangerous to the expoiter These forty thou
sand will vote next time
And in the meantime the greater happiness in life
that the old party voters voted for will not come-the re-
ducon in the cost Of living, and they will be doing some
thinking next time. But they must be educated !. 10
realizing that the workers unite politically as well
as ndustria In just the degree that they are educated
in this will they vote right And just the degree that
we who have the light agitate will our fellow work
ers become educated.
The fault lies with us, not them.