The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-05-28
BY MARTIN J. FLYZICK
president of District No. 10 OF the
Unied Mine Workers of America.)

Unied Mine Workers of America)
1.-THE supreme law Of mankind was
always Necessity" declares the
economist, and through increasing
fear of want for food and shelter, the
life of man became an endless strug-
gle. For centuries he applied his in
stinct and devoted his intelligence to
the betterment of his social and
economic life, and any person at
tempting to interfere with this natural.
heritage of man, in my judgment, vio-
lates the most sacred commandment
ever written into the divine laws OF
God or Man"
The problem Of class struggle be-
tween man and man has come into
social prominence with the birth of
exploitation. and the development of
society along class lines. This in
tense conflict has reigned for CEN
turtles, and, to my mind, will continue
to increase in scope until the under
lying causes are removed. This task
can be accomplished only when so
ciety will elect to eliminate class dis
tinction in the field of production and
distribution of our social wealth. This
may seem to you utterly impossible,
but when man, the creator Of social
wealth, will reach the zenith of class
consciousness this problem will pass
out Of existence, and future genera
tons will refer to it as a historical
monument dedicated to the memory
of the present hostile forces, who
were known as CAPITAL AND LA
BOR."
The demands Of labor are based on
human justice, and when reduced to
their concrete form, they can be ex-
pressed in two words: INDUSTRIAL
FREEDOM"
1t is conceded by authentic authori.
ties that the human race is now pass
ing through a period Of high finance.
We are all absorbed with business,
even the country as q whole has
neglected the peoples problems, simp-
ly because men bow in token of re-
spect to the power of the Almighty
Dollar"
Dollars Dominate institutions.
Stocks and bonds are dominating
our social and political institutions;
money has crept into the temples of
justice and there beclouded the facul.
ties of our jurists, philosophers and
divine" lawmakers, so that dishon.
esty and corruption of every sort is
represented among those who admin
lister the laws Of justice and those en-
trusted with the destinies of our gov
eminent. Is it any wonder that La
Dor is somewhat lax in its social, poll
tical and spiritual duties? Gross care.
lessness and inactivity of these insti-
tutions Is causing the workingmen to
lose faith in them all. For centuries,
tAc SOhlhiOA PCopiC ioohSu AoA " OH w
those divine powers with a degree OF
patience and solemn faith believing
to this day that their earthly emAnci-
patton had little or no significance
when compared with the kingdom to
come.
Mr.. Ward tells US in his Ancient
Lowly" about the orator who arose
in Judea from the ranks OF the poor
over nineteen hundred years ago, and
took up Tin defiance of the powers
that were) the cause OF the common
people, and under religious complex
ion proclaimed with an irresistible
pathos the absolute equality Of man.
Lsbor's Attitude Towards War
Military men have repeatedly de-
clared; That war is the father of
all things" To counteract this heroic
phrase of "Militarfsm," must uncom. |
proclaim: That cfviliza-
ton founded on love and education ia
the mother of humanity, to whom we
feel greatly indebted for all these |
marvellous earthly achievements. and
under whose maternal guidance. so
ciety reached the height Of its present |
enlightenment. Others have declared: