The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-05-25

the writer of the following article,
it is mindful of the fact that there
are some of our citizens who do,
and they are entitled to an express
sion Of their views on leading ques-
tions. The following paper is from
the pen of George w. Louttit and
makes good reading.-Editor.)
Continued From Last Week.
But what about property? Does
the government conscript that? Does
it conscript the munition plants and
other factories engaged in turning
out the instruments of warfare? One
would assume, that as life was con-
sidered more sacred than property,
that the government would conscript
these concerns, the same as the life
of an American citizen, use these
plants, take their products, and
when the government was through,
give back the concerns to their
owners, if anything were left-the
same as it treats its soldiers. But
the government does not do these
things, nor does any other govern
men, which plainly shows the fl
nancial interests that control govern
ments, our being no exception.
But what does our government do
1t purchases the output of these
concerns at fabulous prices. 1t
issues its bonds, bonds that bear in
terest, and then has the audacity to
call them Liberty Bonds Ye Gods!
When will the eyes of the people
be opened? Can it not be plainly seen
that the bondholder and munition
maker risks nothing, that he has
nothing to lose and is certain of an
increase of wealth in war?
Prior to the Spanish-American
war, the--th regiment of
New York was called the crack
regiment of the country. 1t was
composed almost exclusively of mil
lionaires and ulti-miAionaires
When the war was declared, this
regiment at once disbanded, to
which the powers at Washington con-
scented, for of course it would not
have been according to the modern
way of doing things to have these
rich men jeapordize their lives, when
there was so many workingmen ready
to offer theirs upon the altar of
sacrifice. However, the young mil
lionaire Fiske, was made of different
kind of stuff. He alone went to
face the enemy's bullets and he
never came back. Young Fiske was
almost the only exception. SO to-
day, we see in the newspapers ac-
counts of the enlisting of the sons
of few millionaires. This of
course is a bait for the average
young man, and l doubt very much
if the young millionaire will be fight
ing in the front ranks. For their
influence at Washington, protects
them from such horrors. His en-
listing is mostly confined to the
newspapers, and here his arduous
duties will probably end.
You all remember, just before we
declared war against the Teutons,
that the newspapers of the country
had in glowing headlines the an
nouncement that the government was
about to confiscate. the twelve mil
lion dollars capital stock that Kaiser
William had in the steel trust?
But Kaiser William knew his as
sociates. He lost no sleep, and so
far as we know still has his steel
stock, and all his other vast holdings
in this country. You see to have
confiscated the property of the cap
italists of all the warning nations
who constitute the round. robin
would have established a very bad
precedent. SO Kaiser William has
not been molested, for the chick
ems might come home to roost.'
But my dear reader may ask what
right have | to say that the capt.
talists of the warning countries are
combined? Show me, asks the in
telligent American.
Well, the steel trust has been
furnishing the Allies munitions of
war to shoot the German soldier, has
it not? And the steel trust made
millions doing so, has it not? And
the Kaiser was a part of the steel
trust and participated in the profits
that were made by manufacturing
munitions Of war 10 murder and
mangle his subjects?
You will find that capitalists are
interested in exploiting the people
of all nations, including their own
countrymen. And you will find
that the capitalists of all nations