The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-15
LABOR CLASS GAINS
EnC!anC's Middle Class Feel ADJ
vance of Former.
Paper Declares That the Lot Of Pro
fessionaI With Moderate income
Is Far Worse Than That of the
Average Working Man.

London.-A good deal OF attention
is being paid to the true meaning and
effect of the almost continual labor up
heayals that have affected this country
in the last few years, and that threat
en- to continue for an indefinite period.
The Daily Express finds ground for
hope of peace in the circumstance. or
alleged circumstance, that. as result
of the recent strikes, many of the la
Dor organizations are virtually bank
rupt Not one or two. but nearly all
the societies of organized workers, it
says, ARE suffering severely from the
strain put on their resources by the
strike mania of the last few years.
The grand strikes have duly taken
place. They have neither inundated
the employers nor broken the back OF
organized society. though they have
done much to imperii that right TO
work which ought 10 be no less in
alienabIe than the right to strike. But
they have effectually bankrupted the
General Federation, reducing its re-
serve fund to tneager sum. largely,
it is said, hypothecated in other di-
rections.
The Globe. pointing out another fea-
,ture of the situation that has aris|
from the labor unrest. prints a thought
full article headed Middle Glass Bur
dens." 1T is" it says, easy TO wax
sentimental over the woes of TIE So
called working classes; and now that
labor has secured certain amount OF
political power. demagogues are find
ing that TO heap benefits from the
ample Golfers Of the state upon the
working man is a sure and safe road
to the attainment and retention OF Of
fee"
Obviously. however says the Globe,
the state can not continue 10 provide
free education, old age pensions and
expensive insurance, as well as salts
flying the hundred and one other de
| mands Of the trades unions. without
some other class feeling the pinch. 1t
goes on TO say: IF the added burden
fell solely or chiefly upon those al
ready possessed OF supeTfuity Of
this worlds goods, there would not be
much cause for complaint Probably
we should ALL collectively and indi-
| vidually, be better off if society were
SO constituted that neither the million
aire nor the pauper could exist. But
that is prospect outside reasonable
calculation, and, as things are. the peo-
pie who pay for the tightening of the
often well-to-do workingman's life are
that great middle class, which, even
haF +ho ~,
the cost of living. has always found
the struggle for existence hard and
| strenuous one.
AT present the lot of the profess
sional man with a moderate income
is, we say it unhesitatingly, far worse
than that of the average working man.
IL the latter has cause to complain that
| his wages do not possess the same pur-
| chasing power as formerly, the pro-
fessional man has good ground for
maintaining that he suffers even more
! severely from the same cause. while
| his unavoidable expenses are far
i heavier.
I'm what direction. it may be asked.
| is remedy to be found for this state
| of things? 1t is clear that this one
! class can not go on forever bearing
not only its own legitimate share Of
| the country's burdens, but everybody
| else's in addition. Yet politicians and
! least of all radical demagogues-have
/ no thought for them. Our ears are
| deafened with the din of many speech.
es expressing the deepest sympathy
i for the woes of the people; parliament
/ passes measures intended. at a cost, to
relieve this or that grievance OF the
same sovereign people. But it is to
! be noted that this phrase. so remi
niscent of French revolutionary times
covers, not all the honest working citi
Zens in the state. but only that class
Of workers already sufficiently cared
for.
We do not believe that IT would b.
possible fer the middle classes to com
hine as the working classes have done
and wrench their rights from parlia
ment. But we do say it is the durl
of the Unionist party 10 come TO tbs
assistance of a class which. above al
others, has suffered from the preda
tory ard socializing Legislation OF the
last few wears