The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-19
Peoples Forum

Hoult, w. Va. March IS, 1915.
Editor West yirginian.
Dear Sir:-Last Sunday in our
Sunday school lesson we studied
about Saul being filled with the Spirit
Of God, "and his anger burned great.
ly." So we must decide that there ts
indeed such a thing Us righteous an
ger. Therefore,
1 do not feel ashamed to say that
the news Of the shameful surrender
OF the state senate to the corporate
influences and the. whiskey trust
filled me with such a surge Of indig'
nation that the English language
seems to be deficient of adjectiyes
with which to express our anger and
disgust, and am sure that ! express
the state OF mind OF an overwhelming
majority Of the common people.
hope SO. for II the people can fall
righteously indignant there is still
hope.
When we think OF the big corpora.
lions being favored at every point
even to the point of Gripping our
schools and other state institutions,
the things we feel like saying are
not at all suitable for the Weak Diet
column. am greatly in hope that
you will keep up the fight and don't
spare any, regardless Of party.
You may feel certain that those who
are not hit will not blame you for
using vigorous language.
Any man whittier he be Democrat.
Republican, Progressive or Socialist
who Is 80 conscious of the fact that
he owes his job either at home or
at Charleston to q corporation, that
he is constrained thereby to prove a
traitor to the voters at home, to his
state and his party should be sen
fenced by the voters to political obi,
WON. Under the circumstances Is 1t
any wonder that q great many people
are asking, Wonder how much the
corporations and the whiskey inter
ests paid" certain individuals? They
have a right to ask.
And right here let me say that there
are q great many people like the weak.
kneed ones who do not wish wrongs
denounced In vigorous language who
would be very much disturbed to
know that they are peacefully slum.
bering over political and social
mine that is liable to explode and
rudely awake them II we don't get
more righteous legislation In a few
years. DO you know that an immense
majority of the. laboring people of this
country are either. consciously or un.
consciously Socialists, or still more
radical?
For an ordinary political Socialist is
q conservative in comparison to a
great many OF the people who labor
in the mines, or railroads, in shops,
factories. etc. Il know whereof ]
speak. have talked with scores OF
working men; trainmen,s engineers,
brakemen, laborers, shopmen, glass
workers, miners, carpenters-all kinds
and classes OF workingmen. having
worked at a good many Jobs myself,
and the opinions,-and forcibly eX-
pressed opinions.-I have heard ex.
pressed would frighten some Of those
milk and water people who cry peace,
peace, when there Is no peace"
am much reminded Of cartoon
printedS in one Of the very radical
magazines several years ago. It re:
picted two seaprate scenes on the
upper and lower side Of a thin crust.
On the under side was a perfect In.
efrno. Those on the top side stood
on this crust which rested on the
shoulders OF those below, who were
struggling, staggering, groaning ur
der the weight. There was misery,
death, hunger, horror, hatred. murder
and fercest determination written on
the various faces.
Those on the, upper crust were
dancing, drinking wine, talking, laugh.
ing. All oblivious Of the horror un.
dernath. except In one place where 4
rude hand from below had made a
Jagged rent in the covering and the
guant. hand was thrust through; and
through this rent a few few had
caught a glimpse of the horrors and
dangers underneath and were stag
gering back with faces showing hor.
ror, and fright; but only a few were
concerned.
It was one Of the most compelling
cartoons ever saw. I know 1t was
true to life and yet when some one
dares raise a warning word against
the ,aggressions Of corporate wealth
and point the danger, he is accused
of stirring up strife, being a trouble.
maker, etc. demand to know who
are the real propagandists Of social
ism and anarchy? And yet they go
ahead bribing legislators, walking
rough.shod over the rights Of the
people and "damning" the public. Is
it not indeed true that when the gods
wish to destroy they first make mad z"
There is going to be- an upheaval
and reckoning before many years. It
may be political by the ballots. God
grant it may and the decent news
papers can help 1t on. by fighting for
the rights OF the people. It may be
In bloodshed and revolution. Cad
save US from It. The corporation con.
trolled papers can hasten 1t by try!
ing to suppress truth.
/ hope you, and the other editors
like you. will start a campaign AT,
ONCE which will never let up till the
polls close in November, 1916, and will
send to the political scrap heap all
traitors to the welfare OF our state,
regardless of party, assured that the
people will be with you.
.