The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-01-21

very SWeetly ana say, Never mind,
and go look it up yourself. And thi
incaDacity for independent action
this moral stupidity, this infirmity o.
the will, this unwillingness to cheer
fully catch hold and lift-these are
the things that put pure Socialism
so far into the future. II men will
not act for themselves, what will
they do when the benefit of their eff
fort Is for all? A first mate with
knotted club seems necessary; and
the dread Of getting 1.-The bounce
Saturday night holds many a worker
to his place. Advertise for stem
ographer, and nine out of ten who
apply can neither spell nor punctu-
ate-and do not think 1t necessary
to. Can such one write a letter to
Garcia? "You see that bookkeeper, .
said the foreman to me in large
factory.
res, Wnat ABOUT hlm?'
well, he's fine accountant, but
If I'd send him uptown on an err
rand, he might accomplish the err
rand all right, and on the other hand
might stop at four saloons on the
way, and when he got to Main street
would forget what he had been sent
for"
Can such a man be entrusted 10
carry a message to Garcia?
We have recently been hearing
much maudlin sympathy expressed
for the "downtrodden denizens of the
swatshop" and the homeless wan
derer searching for honest employ
ment," and with it all often go many
hard words for the men in power.
Nothing is said about the EN-
ployer who grows old before his time
in vain attempt to get frowsy ne'er-
do-wells to do intelligent work; and
his long, patient striving after "help"
that does nothing but loaf when his
back is turned In every store and
factory there is a constant wedding
out process going on. The employer
Is constantly sending away help"
that have shown their incapacity to
further the interests of the business,
and others are being taken on. No
matter how good times are, this sort
ing continues: only If times are hard
and work is scarce. the sorting is
done finer-but out and forever out
the incompetent and unworthy go. 1t
is the survival of the fittest. Self
interest prompts every employer to
keep the best-those who can carry
a message to Garcia.
/ know one man OF really brilliant
parts who has not the ability to man
age business Of his own, and yet
who is absolutely worthless to any
one else, because he carries with him
constantly the insane suspicion that
his employer is expressing. or intend
ing to Cypress, him. He can not give
orders, and he will not receive them.
Should a message be given him to
take to Garcia, his answer would
probably be, "Take it YOURSELF"
Tonight this man walks the streets
looking for work, the wind whistling
through his threadbare coat. No one
who knows him dare employ him. for
be Is regular firebrand of discon-
,ent. He is impervious to reason,
and the only thing that can impress
him is the toe of a thlck-soled num-
Ter nine boot.
OF course l know that one so NOR
lilly deformed is no less to be pitied
han physical cripple; but in our
plying let us drop tear, too, for
he men who are striving to carry on
great enterprise, whose working
hours are not limited by the whistle,
nd whose hair is fast turning white
through the struggle to hold in line
lowdy Indifference, slipshod imbecil-
ty, and the heartless ingratitude
which, but for their enterprise, would
,e both hungry and homeless.
Have / put the matter too strong
y? Possibly l have; but when all
he world has gone a-slumming |
wish to speak a word of sympathy
or the man who succeeds-the man
Tho, against great odds, has directed
he efforts of others, and having sue
eeded, finds there's nothing In it:
nothing but bare board and clothes.
have carried a dinner-pail and
'orked for days wages, and l have
lsO been an employer Of labor, and
know there Is something to be said
N both sides. There is no excel
ence, per Sc, in poverty; rags are no
commentator; and all employers
re not rapaciOus and high-handed.
nv more than all moor men are yir-