The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-10
BREAD AND

A subscriber has written a letter asking what we think
should be done with the ~Boshevsts in America.
In the first place, be certain that he is a Bolshevik. The
genuine Boshevik is either crazy or a criminal. The laws are
ample to deal with either, according to the degree Of the de
rangement or the extent OF the crime.
We would recommend that the suspect be first fed and
given a shave, a haircut, then a bath and a clean shirt. Poit-
ical conviction, like beauty, often is only skin deep. A little
soap and water may change his entire attitude toward life. II
it doesn't he is a Bolshevist,
But soap and water will not keep a man forever on an even
keel. Nor will a little bread handed out as charity. There is
unrest in this country, but it is not akin to BoIshevism. 1t may
be found as often in the bank clerk as in the day l~aborer-per-
haps more often. in recent months of high wages and unchanged
salaries-but as a general thing it is permeating every class of
workmen whose income is confined to the pay roll OF other men,
Men have come to the conclusion that this country belongs
as much to one as to another. They have regretfully come to
another conclusion, and that is that the employing class as a
whole has so arranged the scale of pay that there shall be no
profit to the wage Garner.
The congress has prepared the most far-reaching tax bill
ever devised. The state legislature has a tax measure that pro-
poses to reach the tax dodger and the man who has not paid
enue, and there is no doubt that this is the way to raise it.
But the anomalous situation that the average man has to
ponder over is that, while industry has been taxed higher than
ever in its history, its profits have been larger in the past two
years than ever before, and the cost to the consumer has been
greater than ever before.
There must be a better understanding between labor and
capital and more consideration on both sides The boast is that
this country has enjoyed a period of unexceIed prosperity, but
ritce and contributed to the wealth Of the few.
We have reached the period in our national development
when the man who furnishes the brain, the man who furnishes
the money and the man who furnishes the muscle must be
counted as partners in the division of the profits.
Men must not deludc themselves with the thought that
things are soon or ever going to be what they were. This
is a new era of thought. of work and achievement. Men who
never raised their eyes from the furrow, the forge or the desk
have had their awakening. in the war. They have been per-
mitted to share in the glory Of its achievement, and now they
propose to share in its opportunity.
They have come to realize how monstrous it is for the hired
man never to accumulate anything, while the man who manipu-
lates the product OF his labor reaps all the benefit.
How many men on the New York cotton exchange would
know a cotton boil from a boil weevl? How many Of those in
the Chicago pit know wheat from barley or oats from rye?
Which OF the great packers knows anything of the balanced "a.
ton or how cattle are prepared for the market?
Since many of Our boosted "old families are descendants
OF pirates and %freebooters, and as we must Of necessity have
some kind OF aristocracN as other nations have, it is much more
simple to have an ariStocracy OF wealth, as the report Of eligi-
blity is much more reliable coming from a certified accountant
than one coming from an expert in ancestors. 1t is easier to
juggle the characters Of the shadowy past than it is to iueplc
the tgu<cs OF a bank to suit the pressing need of the present.
In order to justify the existence of our aristocracy the dis
position is to make a concession to those outside the select cir
Gle by reference to "the dignity Of labor" as though the terms
in a measure were analogous, provided labor keep it's proper
place in the background.
The task that lies before us is to eradicate these imaoipor,
lines of division. This can be achieved by labor recciv;np The
share OF the wealth it earns. 1t is a difficult problem which will
be solved only when all men prosper alike, according to their
zeal, ability and application.
Bread, we are told, will stop the spread of Bolshevisn IN
Europe. There can be no revolution in this country, because il
is governed by the people. But If bread will pacifv the Euro
pean people, how much will it contribute to our domestic han
piness to have not only bread, but butter and an opportunity to
accumulate a bank account?