The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1917-02-15
Is PROSPERITY
ONLY A SHAM,
ASKS OHIO MAN
Offers Self As Chattel Slave In Re-
turn for Food, Clothing and
Shelter for Self and
Family
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio. 49, "what il

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio. - "What is
prosperity, anyhow"
Orville C. Lewis of this city wants
to know. In paid advertisement in
the Springfield Sun, he says:
"Owing to the high cost of living
! would like to get a position where
| can make an honest living for my
self and family. | am getting 30A
cents an hour, but would be glad to
accept job from any one who will
in return for my services properly
feed and clothe myself and family, as
! am going in the hole every day.
"ORVILLE G. LEWIS.
"312 South Greenmount Avenue"
A reporter interviewed Mr.. Lewis on
his ad. Mr.. Lewis told the reporter
that he was better off at SIPS a day
during the hard times of 1896, al
though he admitted that there were
"too many" out of work at that time.
He now gets trifle more than SIS
week working at the plant of a
motor truck company. Ha has seven
children and wife.
Don't you think that probably your
grandfather got along very well in
smaller quarters, without many of the
conveniences which you enjoy?" Lewis
was asked.
Eyes, but what we have in the shape
of convenience and luxury is in a way
forced upon u.s." Lewis replied. 81
have lived in smaller, cheaper quar-
ters, such as my grandfather could
have occupied without suffering hard
ship, but quarters of the kind which
were satisfactory in his time now
brand the person who lives in them as
trash
"The amount of space which my
grandfather might have required for a
family of seven and what he consid-
cred an adequate house, might serve
for me were it not for the fact that
quarters of this kind now, were live
in them, would throw my wife under
suspicion, and bring us into proximity
with persons-well, you know l have
five girls and l believe they are en-
titled to chance"
Lewis volunteered no remedy. He
admitted that there were probably
! A. o,,copI- ~ Cor;,, ;o1J l;++1o ~, w
better off than himself, and who are
feeling the pinch Of an increase in the
cost of living which has mounted be-
yond the general increase in wages.
He declared he believed that, in COM
mon with a host of others in Spring
field, there is something wrong"
Commenting editorially on the case
of Lewis under the head of "America's
Problem" the Sun said:
"The appeal of Orville Lewis for an
owner who will feed and care for his
family in return for his labor, epito-
mics the situation of many American
workingmen. Existing industrial con-
ditions have brought them to a point
where they gladly will trade their
birthright as free American citizens
for the pottage of an industrial slav-
cry which will lift their families above
the danger of hunger and cold"
After pointing out that while boast
ing of the growing bank deposits and
other evidence Of prosperity" we do
not stop to inquire as to the distribu-
ton of wealth or if the many are
profiting, the Sun said:
"The greatest danger of America
today is not from foreign invader
coming to waste and despoil the
land The real enemy of this
nation is within and threatens to
destroy the life of America by that
! insidious process which saps the
strength while intoxicating and daz-
cling the victim with the belief that
the country is growing stronger and
greater Until the problem of
controlling the great wealth and Sc
curing a fairer distribution of the
products of labor is solved the safety
Of the country is menaced, and the
primal duty of the state today is to
find the solution of this paramount
question"