Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1916-02-10
THE YEAR 1916 AN EPOCH
(6y John w. 5rown.)


The present war is a world conflict,
a world cruise which has all ready
thrown the entire industry and COM
merces of the world out Of joint. Out
of this conflict will come new align
ment in the worlds commerce.
Progress levels the barriers and
widens the horizon Of the people. !"
We are today standing on the thresh-
hold of new era and 1916 will mark
an epoch in, the history,o of the United
States as distinct as that of 1875 or
the more eVentful epoch of 1861.
When the present war Is over and
the nations engaged in it are rearrang-
ing and determining their commercial
policies, the problem will come home
to the United States in concrete form
as to what means shall be provided
wherewith to meet the discrimina-
tions and competition of other coun-
tries. Then will come the crucial test
for American Supremacy"
The Olive, branch theory of recipro-
sity of tariffs will not solve. the prob
lem. There can be no such thing as
universal brotherhood through inter
national competition.
Vice4President Marshall, who also
addressed the Pan-American Congress
was less guarded in, his remarks, and
admonished his hearers that it would
be well for the American Republic
ito come to an agreement for protect
ing themselves against a foreign foe. :"
In the meantime We raise the ques-
ton: If Congress is going to spend a
half billion dollars on Subsidized
MerchantS Marine, and another bill
lion dollars on an army and navy to
protect American Industrial suprem-
acy in foreign lands" how much is
going to be spent to protect American
labor at home? mr.:
! Will Congress order. the publication
and distribution of, the two hundred
thousand copies of the report of the
Commission on Industrial Relations
which has been requested by the
workers? Will Congress make pro-
Rescue cars and Safety stations to
miners who are daily working in dan
ger of their lives? ~
Will Congress pass the Child La
Dor bill, a national ,.Workman's Com
pensation law, old age pension or any
of the other necessary measures to
protect the lives and liberties of the
workers? tt7.
Laibor's principal antagonist has
never been foreign foe but can be
found deep rooted in the Industrial
and commercial system which takes
from the producer four fifths of the
product of his labor and gives it to
those who do not labor through in
terest, rent and profit
The wealth producer who receives
but one fifth of the product of his la
Dor in the form of wages can only
buy back: one fifth of; his own pro-
duction. The manufacturing and COM
mercial clatses. unable. to consume
the vast ana ever increasing surplus
are obliged to seek markets elewhere;
hence, the spread of, ;ouE. industrial
empire; hence the conquest of Porto
Rico, Hawaii and the PHILIPPINE ISL
ands /; hence the IMPENDING conflict
and the necessity for :..'the American
Republics reaching, a mutual. under
standing and an agreement to stand
together against the foreign foe."
In all these high sounding phrases
! about Industrial Expansion" Inter
national Comm - and American
Industrial Supremacy" which have
come into such popular use since the
breaking out of the European war, it
is only the voice Of the exploiter and
his henchmen that is: being heard
The voice of Labor, With but few ex-
ceptions. is as silent as the tomb.
Everything now points to the fact
that the year 1916 viii. an abnormal
year in American industrial activity
and there is every Indication that for
the next year labor will be well en-
ployed. But these conditions can on
" be temporary, therefor sooner or
later things will drop back to the nor
NAL, and then will come the reaction
Mills will be closed down, furnaces
Will become cold and unproductive,
tramps win again fill the public high
ways. the gaunt wolf pf starvation
viii be starring into desolate homes
and strikes against starvation wages.
Such conditions have always fol
lowed in the wake Of periods of alb
normal industrial activities, and will
continue to do so. $50
More essential by far than the es-
tablishment of an extensive Army and
Navy at the present time would be en-
actment Of some drastic federal legis-
lation for the regulation and control
OF American industry and commerce.
Labor, the conservation Of human
life, has never yet been the prime fac
tor in the adjustment Of industry and
commerce, nor does lit enter into the
diplomatic treaties and agreements |
made between nations. Such agree
ments and treaties are little, other
than the rules Of an International |
gamble in the spoils Of labor.
The new epoch diners from that of |
ITS and 1851 IN that 81 for the first |
time In the history Of the Unified |
States the working class themselves
are conscious Of the iasres ~ stake
as wen as Of their moral and ec0nO-
ME worth to modern society.
Inhnr Rn1nnA ifu nnnnf nffino rRnran