Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-26
John, Plain American Laborer.

he is popularity held is sadly misplaced 1t may
be assumed that his response would. run along
the following lines:
so that's what you want to know, is It?
Well, then, listen and get me straight, once and
for all: I'm selfish as the next fellow. l
want my share of the good things of life. and
the share of my woman and the kiddies
want it. I'm entitled 70 1t, and by this and that
I'm going to have it. But for this red stun
this bolshevist bunk and soviet twaddle. it's nix
with me. hate it. I'm patriot Of the u. S..
I Get that. Oh, and DO. where do you get
this throwing over the Washington Monu-
ment stuff. Listen If you ever hit me. and 1
found out about it, I'd have to spank you. No
misunderstanding and no harm done. Glad
you asked I've got to hurry along now to
help out this overproduction idea of the
boss. So long,
Now it will be recalled that, in framing the
question which it is believed the public might
ask of John, the laboring man, we asked for
response in words combined with response
in deeds. IF you are for us. AND WILL
GIVE FAIR EVIDENCE OF THE FACT we
said. well help you to whatever you justly
seek"
The public may never have the opportun nifty
to ask labor the question that troubles it. Yet
despite this fact labor comprised Of intelligent
men. cannot fail to be Conscious that the I'M
asked question is what is barring the way to
a rapid ana mutually Satisfactory SOLUTION Oh
the industrial problems of the hour. And, sens
ing this fact, it is in labor's power to answer
the unasked question for all time, not by words.
for weary of words, but by actions
that would cry aloud the inherent patriotic in
tegrity of John, the American laboring man.
The opportunity is in their hands. and the time
never so ripe.
Labor, to prove it's fidelity to the nation UNI
der whose flag it has attained to independ-
ence prosperity and power undreamed of when
it started on its quest. can do this. 1t can
repudiate the small minority in its midst by act
we'll phrase 1t can cast from itself the
bloody dreamers the boshevist prattlers and
radical incendiaries who would make of it the
tool by which the United States might be torn
asunder. 1t can drag into the light its Foster
and its Haywood and it's Hayes. and. holding
them there. tell them in mans English where
they and their fellow agitators get Off 1t
consume it's professed readiness for fight in
fighting the traitors to the nation who have in
simulated themselves into its household. 1t
utilize the established American right to
ganze by organizing and for all patriots
Of the United States first and laboring men
second.
X X X X
What would be the response Of the nation
at large to such a demonstration? There has
never been period in the history Of American
industry when the just and rational claims of
labor against capital met with such general
favor. American capital senses its obligations
in the new age and is prepared to work hand
in hand with it's complement in the industrial
equation. Only thing prevents. And that is
the proclivity of John, the workingman, to pose
enigma
John has it in his power to win all he has
ever aspired to by proving to the nation that
his biceps bulge and his jaw Is squared for
Americanism first last and all the time. We.
Tom. Dick and Harry. want to see him do it.