The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-04
PUTTING BURDEN
ON THE WORKERS
BY SCOTT NEARING

If the owners do not pay for the
war, the workers will. If the work.
ers will not pay, the owners must.
There is no other possibility.
Owners and workers receive all Of
the income that is paid out in; the
United States. Owners and workers
possess all of the ESQ billions of wealth
that exists in the country. The line
of economic division in the commun-
ity is between owners and workers.
Whatever bills one does not foot, fall
to the share of the other to pay
The workers in Russia. who are
evidently disinclined to pay at all in
so far as the war debt is concerned.
are for pushing the owners off from
the nlap-but that is in Russia. There
is no such radical movement in the
United States
The owners are very few in number
Probably not more than one person in
five in the industrial districts owns in
dustrial property. The Industrial Re-
lations Commission reported that 2
per cent of the people of the United
States owned so per cent of the wealth
of the country, and that the most i'm
portant kind-resources, franchises,
banks and machinery.
While the owners are few, the
workers are many. In most large in
dustrial centers they make up more
than four-fifths of all of the people.
If the owners pay the war bill, it will
be a rich mans war and a poor mans
fight. If the owners pass on the pay
ing to the workers, the workers will
A little study Of history throws onto
the foreground some important facts
about previous wars. Heretofore, the
workers have paid, in high prices, low
wages, poverty, hardships and suffer-
ing. Indeed, there is hardly a, war in
modern times that has not been a
blessing to some group of business
men. The Napoleonic wars proved
a source of immense business advan-
tage to the British. The foundation
of many an English fortune was laio
during this bitter struggle. While the
people of Britain endured the grinding
hardships of that great struggle, many
business men prospered.
The Civil war found Washington so
infested with business brigands that
Lincoln was at his wits end. Finally
in desperation he is reported to have
said to group of New Workers. who
were insisting upon a gunboat for the
protection of New York Harbor,-"If
I were as rich as you gentlemen are
said to be, and as frightened as you
appear to be, 1 would build q gunboat
myself and give it to the government"
The gunboat was. not built. On the
other hand. the business men from all
parts of the nation were fattening Up
on war contracts.
During the Civil war many Of the
soldiers were paid in paper money, sd
deprecated that it took sass lin paper
to buy 800 worth Of gold. Mean
while the interest on the bonds was
paid in bullion. -.
The Civil war like the Napoleonic
wars proved to be Of the most i'm
-mense business advantage. Blood was
poured out freely. The common poo.
pie sacrificed to the limit Of their on
durance, while the business interests
were reaping rich financial reward.
The worker need not necessarily be-
compelled to pay. It would be per-
resources of the United. States to the
American people, and do away with
involuntary poverty and unearned
wealth. We may be sure that no ma
fion con on6,,ro nonn ~ To III, -.