The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-23

THE KNIGHTS VIGIL
"Do you find any Captain of Industry
spending the night before the launch
ing Of some business campaign In
patient vigil before an altar, praying
for holy guidance and strength 30
battle for tho right?" asks MIR. Hope.
On the other hand, in America 1t Is ID
be noted that many Of the rich have only
a house on Fifth avenue and small place
at Newport. The sons, instead OF taking
UP the fathers business and entering poll
tfos, are content to wander about the
world prodigiousy spending money. OF
course, one hears good deal about Amer
lean extravaganza on this side. ] have
not noticed that the sons OF the rich Amer
leans are any more prohtgate than tho
cons of rich Englishmen or OF any other
rich Europeans, for that matter. But the
spirit OF national solidity. OF family In.
terest, of interest in national politics
among them Is lacking.
It would be much better II they seN
ously took up the work OF life and OF their
country. It would be better II they re-
manned ut home and studied the conditions
of laborers the problems of more just
division OF property.
Because capital has reached its extreme
in America, with problems proportionately
appalling; because the trusts are con-
trolled by selfish interests. by men with
and because the people suffer from these
conditions-you will vigorously have to
face the problem and deal with 1t.
What shall be done? What shall those
who suffer from hard masters do?
believe in strikes. BY a series of
strikes the laboring people will mako
themselves heard There should be re-
distribution of property-here and In
America The laborer should be paid the
full share OF his earnings. He is the e1-
plotted man on the modern battlefield.
And he suffers from the unhumanness and
selfshness of the modern financial war;
riors.
What do foresee7
The common people. the people who
create wealth, who are now exploited By
the modern captains of industry, Will hnal.
ly get Justice.
They will force Justice IT It is not given
And If the great magnates who have
been 30 obsessed by self do not listen.
foresee this in America revolution.
In England think society will work ou1
its problem slowly. Many OF our rich men
are themselves trying to work out q solu-
ton and deal more equitabIy with the
laborers In London a great gas company
has worked out plan OF giving shares Of
stock to the workers In proportion to their
labors. In Yorkshire Lord Furness In
augurated q plan Of cooperative sharing
of profits for the men in his iron works
and mines Our laws are flexible here
they permit the working ont OF such plans
Moreover, the laboring man has the vote,
and with that he can do anything. Justice
must come, even II 1t comes slowly do
not think there will be In England tho
possibilities of violence that there are In
America. Unfortunately, because OF pov.
erty and oppression. much OF our popuIa.
ton here in England Is incapable of rising.
But in America you have an admixture
of races-Italians, Slays, Russians-an az.
cftahle, heated, easily infamed mass. If
they do not get Justice from your masnates
they will force 1t. That is all there will
he to 1t.
But justice the working people should
have. 1t is wrong that thousands should
suffer priyation because of the ruthless
and extreme ambitions of men with throt.
tied hearts.
AS for the rich man, when he has gotten
his money he may wander about the earth
bestowing nunifcence. We observe the
spectacles of libraries rising throughout a
nation Of splendid hospitals built for the
cure of diseases; we hear of great funds
devoted to scientific research, to the study
Of bacteria, the isolation OF disease germs.
But in all this we see the vanity and
selfishness OF the rich man. His charity
Is often but the desire to gIorify himself.
OF the fundamental causes of human I'm.
happiness and disease he takes no interest.
Perhaps the paying Of better wages to his
employees would not afford such fanfare
OF glory as the erection OF great hospitals
for the treatment Of diseases engendered
s by the unsanftary conditions OF labor.
y He needs education. does this rich man
SA He needs to learn to recognize the iust
sS@d demands OF those who create his wealth
no fight his battles. He needs. indeed
fEsAe spirit of the early cavaliers who shared