The Washington times., 1919-02-02
WORKER WARNS OF
BRITAIN'S PROBLEM

LONDON, Feb. 2-Indicative or
England's reconstruction problems is
the following remarkable letter pub
lished during the general elections
campaign:
'Messrs. Candidates: It is to you
that I address these words, 1 have
read your appeals for my suffrage.
but have not found what sought.
will give you a plain statement Of
my life and position; it may help you
70 understanding.
Il am a journeyman shipwright,
married. and have three children,
aged thirteen, ten and eight years,
the two elder being boys. I have
been working at my trade thirty
years. At this moment I am possessed
OF, 80 pounds (abOut S25O) in money
and a small houseful of furniture. ]
am a teetotaler and do not gamble;
my only vice is smoking. I am in
sured against sickness and death. If
i die tomorrow my wife will receive
about 100 pounds (S5OOl to face the
world with. If I live to sixty and no
long period Of unemployment or sick
ness intervenes, / shall have probably
$50 pounds (S75O) saved. I can re-
tire at that age with shillings
(about $1-92) per week from my trade
union, with a prospective other 8
shiiings (about $1.2O) a week at 90.
II my health lasts shall work toI
near the latter age.
Il have yet to place my children in
some tradeathis may take the greater
part Of my savings.
Lost Savings Twice.
eaTeu-fea GrrrFne- I
seen those savings swept away, once
during the eight-hour strike OF 1897
I was locked out indirectly as a con-
sequence OF it-and again during the
great distress Of 1906, when was
cut Of work for nearly six months.
Now. Messrs. Candidates. you see I
my reward for lifetime of toll. I
am a skilled mechanic, one of labor's /
aristOcrats, and have been both pru-
dent and lucky. The great bulk OF
my fellows, the unskilled workers, |
are infinitely worse OF.
Twas educated at a board school |
where I unfortunately learned to /
read I read much.
II read Of a world that raced at ]
Ascot, yachted at Cowes, shot in Scot
land, and wintered on the Riviera. a |
world that bought First Folios Of
Shakespeare, and original works of
Rembrandt and Corot, a world that
paid its guineas to hear Patti. Caruso,
and Paderewslzi. A world that, sat
lated with pleasure, tried big-game
hunting in Africa or mountaineering
in the Alps to cure ennui.
II have read Of such world, and /
dreamt OF it-that has been my por-
tion.
@I have not been without my little
pleasures. once heard Patti sing; I
stood and heard her divine voice, at
the cost Of a days pay. OF travel I
have had my share, when looking for
work. Travel loses much of its
charm under such circumstances.
Once I spent a week at noisy blatant
Blackpool; once, 3 days in London.
Saved For Rainy Day.
81 could have had more pleasure,
but i have been prudent and saved
for arainy day.
Nov, Messrs- Candidates, you have
heard my story. What Of my brother,
back, manned and scorched, from thati
hell in France? What of that other
brother whose bones lie bleaching on
the sands Of Arabia?
What Of them and their children, and
my children" What will you do for
them?
For myself. I do not ask much. II
have grown used to my life, and have
gone beyond. much enjoying Of another.
But Iyf6lfildren and their children, they
are on the threshold of life. have,
taught mine much Of the joys and glor-
les Of that life; they are eager to cross
the threshold.
''Messrs. Candidates, are you going to
bar the door to them as you did TO me?
Think well before you promise not
20; make sure that you intend fulfill
ment, for, by the living God, retribu-l
tion awaits you IL you fail!
Look TO the East-What do You see
there? 'Bolshevism' you may call it
its name is Nemesis II is the offspring
Of injustice and despair.
Look to It that you do not breed such
a monster in these isles for if you do
II would be better that you die now.
''Messrs Candidates, 1 thank YOU for
your attepton, and ask you most earn
esty to weigh well my words
Wv NJ D"