davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25

not logical and he does not profess to
be logical.
His creed is simple: Protect the dol
lar and make it grow, and to this end
jail every worker who interferes
with it.
The dollar can strike. but workers,
No!
aAgitators for Hcan 't-strike' laws
are as far removed from the concept
Of liberty as were Roman slave holders
and the feudal lord.
It makes no difference to worker
how he is held in bondage. II he can
not quit his employment, he is not a
free man.
No oppressor has ever acknowledged
his tyranny. In all ages he has en-
ployed sophists to conceal his guilt
and justify his wrongs.
Big business today has it's lackeys
as did despots Of old, to ladle out their
mental narcotics.
Liberty is Knocked by these footboys
Of privilege who talk of freedom while
the powerful few would make bond
men Of those who toll.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25
WHEN MEN STEAL MILLIONS

In decision handed down the other
day, the supreme court found the To.
nigh Valley railroad and it's subsidi,
aries guilty Of violating the Sherman
antitrust law.
More than twenty-five years ago the
railroads. directors started out TO se.
cure monopoly of the tremendously
valuable anthracite region of Pennsyl,
Van1a and succeeded to such an extent
that IS per cent of the anthracite
shipped over the road comes from
mines which it controls. All CONNIE.
tltors were either bought out o,
crushed out. ;
While this policy was Initiated he.
fore the antitrust law was enactea Tho
court points out cit was continued
after the passage of the act with in.
creaslng energy and tenacity of pur.
pose.''
In word, the fnanciers in control
of the Lehigh laughed at the law and
to show their contempt for it pursued
their criminal course more boldly and
consistently.
Who are these criminals who could
afford to jest at criminal statutese The
court gives the names:
The late George F. Baer, Daniel
u = sfLyl F'g q z- 80,
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25
Present Agitation Against Union
Recalls Optimism OF John SWinton

they had been cowed by danrerE
that confronted them, if they had
succumbed without resistance. if
they had failed to strike blow be-
fore they fell-what do YOU think
would have happened elsewhere? Do
you doubt that cowardice would
have invited further re prisals. that
the conditions Of labor would have
been made harder in other places
and other industries, that there
would have been numberless at
tempts to reduce wages, to lengthen
the working day, to crush out union
ism, to deny the right of organiza-
ton, to enforce conspiracy laws and
to take all sorts of mean advantage
! OF workers who were at the mercy
of their employers?
IT tell you that those men who
think that such exactions would not
have been made by capitalists. if
labor had retreated from giving evil
| dence that it would resist them, must
| be numbskulls who cannot see the
signs of the times.
Il ask you to bear it in mind, to
hold it in grateful memory, that
American labor in general has been
benefited by the action of the brave
strikers of Homestead, Buffalo, New
Orleans who took the field in its de-
Tense and fell while battling for a
few of the items of its rights. The
labor of this country has been paid
millions Of dollars this year. which
it would not have got without the
help of these striking brethren,
which they would surely have lost if
they had surrendered without a
struggle, or had fought with less
pluck and perseverance, or had
failed to SILVER the treasury of the
assailant
Through them, many of you have
been saved from the risks of the
times; and how, then, can it be said
that they strove in vain? Foul is
the tongue of the workingman who
I would say it while reapiing the ad-
vantage that they secured to him.
II look for progress. if you be
true to yourselves. look for far
brighter times, for far better indus
trial conditions. for a farr worthier
social order. for far greater genera!
welfare than we now possess, it.:
with wisdom and courage, the
working people WELD the power
| which is now in their hands.
Success to the American Fedora
! ton of L2bor!'
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25

Small reductions in the price Of
single articles of food will have very
little effect upon the cost Of living
to the average wage earners, Ethel
bert Stewart, commissioner Of labor
statistics said at Washington the
other day in reply to inquiries as tc
the effect on the average family Of
price reductions that have taker
place in the past three months.
"rhere was a drop of / cent in
the price of loaf Of bread in New
York the other day." said Mr.. Stew
art, that is, the price fell from IL
cents to 9 cents per loaf. Now lei
us see what this much heralded re-
duction in the cost Of living really
means to the average worker with
a family Of five. On the basis OF
October, 1920. prices, the total an
nua! cost Of the food items carried
by the bureau OF labor statistics
would be to an average family in
the United States s6S2.57.
If bread were to drop I cent a
pound this would make a difference
of 1915 per year, Or one-third of ]
per cent of the total food expendi-
ture When milk drops l cent a
quart it means 1886 per year to
the average family. or 52-100 of /
per cent. A drop OF / cent pound
in the price of flour saves the av-
erage family but $4.54. or 77-100 OF
1 per cent Of it's food cost, + based
on October prices. Sugar may fall
/ cent a pound and the average
family saves $3.50 in year, or 3d.
100 Of / per cent of the total food
cost. A decline Of 1 cent pound
in the actual retail price of sirloin
steak means but 20 cents year to
the average workman's family,
though a similar reduction in pork
chops would mean s1.14 a year, or
17-100 Of l per cent
If butter ever chould decline 1
cent pound, the average workman
would gain only to the extent of
$1.17 per year.
"a drop of 1 cent a dozen in eggs
would mean IS cents year; Of l
cent a pound on lard would mean "a
cents per year. in each case only
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25

The present-day agitation for anti
strike laws and predictions of dis
aster to organized labor recalls an
address by John Swinton, journalist
and author, before the A. F. of L.
convention, held in Philadelphia. in
December, 1892. A portion Of the
address follows:
Nov, my friends. I do not mean
to raise any surprise here by say
Ing that there is cause for con-
graduation in the somber history
Of the year 1892. The battalions
that fought this year at Homeste ad
in Pennsylvania, at Occur d'Alene
in Idaho. at the mines in Tennessee,
at New Orleans in Louisiana, and
also in the city Of New York, rem
dered heroic, productive and memoir
oble service to the Industrial hosts
Of the United States-aye, they did.
Honor them forever! Thrice honor
to these brave men who, by their
courage, saved millions of their
brethren from attack, and who pre-
vented the enemy from ravagink
other fields. which he surely would
have ravaged if they had not taught
him that his ancroachments were
both costly and dangerous to HIM
self
But cries some blear-eyed on
locker, labor was defeated in all
these fields and fights, from Buffalo
to Occur d'Alene, from Homestead
and New York to New Orleans
Halt! I answer. Halt! Thou
driveler! We must take broad
view Of the warlike operations of
which these strikes we're incidents.
Skirmishes may be lost. Regiments
may be defeated in the battles of
a triumphant campaign. Campaigns
may end in dismay for the army
that conQuers in the war.
BE not in haste. We blear-eyed
blockheads! This thing is not yet
over. The forces of the advance
have yet begun to learn their drill.
Serious revolutions move in large
arcs, along a course which is Or
derby, though it may appear to be
zigzag. The war of the Union be-
gan at Bull Run, but closed else
where.
II repeat, then, that the $4,000
brave men who, in the six great
strikes and the many lesser strikes
of this year. stood the enen1y's on
slaughts. rendered a service of in
computa BILE worth to the working
masses of the United States.
III they had not thus stood out, If
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25
CONGRESS- STANDS SILENT.

How does congress propose to deal
with the unemployment problem
Talk will not suffice. The workers
want bread, not words. The zero
weather Of January will soon be here,
and if intense suffering is to be avert
cd our lawmakers must act aud act at
once.
Practically every nation in the world
is facing the same problem, but Amer
lea is the only civilized nation which
is doing nothing to meet it.
The house of representatives with a
great flare Of trumpets has passed the
Johnson bill suspending immigration
for one year. But everyone familiar
with affairs on Capitol Hill knows that
"Big Business has directed it's handy
men to pigeonhole the measure in the
senate.
"Big Business welcomes unemploy-
ment and it favors unrestricted immi-
grafton. 1t wants at least two men
clamoring for every job.
Great Britain has suspended it's
naval building program aud will use
the money which would be wasted in
the construction of dreadnaughts to
furnish work for the voorhees,. It has
established system Of insurance
against unemployment, and is preparing
to spend one hundred million dollars
year in the construction of dwellings
for workers, thus relieving the housing
situation.
France and Italy and even Germany
are all handling the problem with the
vigor which its gravity justifcs.
Only America lags. What has be-
come Of the program Of reconstruction
which Senator Kenyon and others were
telling us about right after the signing
Of the armistice! More than two
years have elapsed since that fateful
event and nothing-absolute]y nothing
of constructive character has re-.
suited from all the fine talk.
Are our statesmen Indifferent or in
capable? b
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25
A SOLDIERS DEMAND.

With humanity grooming under the
burdens Of militarism, the assembly OF
the League Of Nations lodges the vital
issue Of disarmament. The question is
to be referred to commission to be
studied, and sometime, somewhere, q
report will be made, and then there
will be further delay. 4
In the meantime, throughout the civ
ilized world every producer carries a
soldier ON his back and while the people
clamor for relief the statesmen bubble
in public and press their imperia1istic
schemes in private.
Out Of the weller Of talk has come
clean-cut suggestion from bluff
old soldier, General Tasker H. Bliss
formerly chief of staff Of the United
States army.
In an address delivered in Philadel-
phia last week the general said it was
nonsensical to talk about an effective
association Of nations to preserve the
peace of the world so long as all the
nations were armed to the teeth for
offensive warfare.
AS soldier, he warned his fellow
citizens that future wars would come
with increasing suddenness and would
be Of increasing magnitude and in.
tensity.
To avoid this menace to our civili-
cation he proposed that the United
States should say to the world definitely
and officially:
"We will agree that nations may
construct such coast and border forti.
fications as they see fit. Fortifcations
cannot stride across the earth, devas.
tating fields and destroying cities.
"We will agree that nations may
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25
JUST GODS KIND.

The SNUG members Of the City Club
of Washington were told some dis
agreeable truths few days ago by
Mrs. Maud Wood Park, chairman of
the joint congressional committee Of
the leading women organizations of
the country. Here are few of her
telling shots:
"Twenty thousand mothers and in
fants die every month in this country
from causes which. doctors and scion.
fists agree are avoidable!
cit is safer to be mother in four
teen countries than it is in the United
States!
"Babies have a better chance in
seven foreign countries than they have
in our own country!''
That's not a record to be proud Of.
but it is the record of the most power
full republic in the world 8 history.
1t rises to shame us because we have
permitted our government to fall under
the control of greedy interests that
think more of dollars than they do of
men and women and little children.
The newly enfranchised women of
the nation are making brave attempt
to improve the situation. They have
sent committee to Washington to
urge on congress definite program Of
remedial legislation.
First they ask for the passage of
the Shepard-Towner bill, which pro-
vldes that the nation and the states
shall cooperate to the end that every
mother and her child may be assured
proper care during the trying period
of maternity.
After that, they will press measures
which have to do with the protection
of women and children who are forced
into gainful occupations, education and
the public health.
All are sane, sensible suggestion,
which no decent legislator can afford
to oppose.
Of course, we think we can hear
'Unele Joe' Cannon. exclaiming $3.50
c'allsm! Rank Socialism, He and
his kind said something like that when
1t was first proposed to establish the
Children's Bureau to look after the
interests Of the neglected little ones.
Perhaps he's right. Maybe it is So
cialism, but, if so, it's Gods kind of
Socialism.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25
FACTS ABOUT MEXICO.

The Excelsior, newspaper printed
in the City Of Mexico, proudly an
nounced in its issue Of October 30:
ono crime was committed in the
City Of Mexico within the last twenty
four hours. Not single arrest was
made for an ~infraction Of the law
The Mexican Review, printed in
Washington, is authority for the state.
ment that the per capita national debt
Of the United States is about FIVE times
as great as that Of Mexico.
The cost Of running the municipal
government of New York during the
coming year will be three times the
national budget Of our southern neigh.
Dor, although the latter has two and
one-half times New York. population.
These are facts worth recalling when
some super-patriot is urging the con
quest Of the Land Of the Montezumas
OF course, they are not conclusive
Necessarily they come from Mexican
sources, but we know of no good rea'
son to question their accuracy. II
given half chance, Mexico will get
OIL it's feet. Americans should assist
and not hinder the process. Only the
oil spectators and the land grabbers
would profit from Intervention. The
American people would pay the price
with their money and-what's infin
itely more precious-the blood Of their
SONG.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25
LIBERTY Is MocKED.

Only an intellect biased to property
values would support "can 't-strikeO
legislation.
An intellect that is alert to logic,
to moral values and to freedom of the
individual rejects slavery, though its
defense be sugar-coated.
The property bias Of "can 'tstriken
advocates is apparent.
They agree that business may cease
to function because Of loss Of profit,
but they deny wage earners the right
to cease work collectively in order to
redress grievances.
Manufacturers may close their plants
and cause hardship to society; coal
owners may withhold their commodity
tor higher prices, but if employees Of
these manufacturers or coal owners sus-
pend work they must be penalized.
Banks may withhold credit and cause
factories to close, but when workers
strike to enforce living conditions thew
would be jailed because "the public
is Inconvenience
Trusts, monopolies and public utili-
ties may impose unbearable burdens
upon the people, but when workers are
forced to their last resort to secure
justice, they are to be branded as GRIM
inals by statutory law and condemned
by a public opinion manufactured bv
those who you'd control the lives Of
the men and women Of toll.
Logically, the "can 't.strike' adyo.
cate finds himself defending an autoc.
racy that would shame the kaiser.
But the tean 't.strike' = advocate il
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25

maintain their navies. No navy with
out an army can conquer and hold for.
eign territory.
'We will agree with you to abolish
any military system necessary for in
ternational war and to reduce our army
to the limit required to preserve in
ternal order.''
There is no Misunderstanding that
proposition.
IF submitted by the United States
to the world it would produce a pro
found impression.
Statesmen might be disposed to re
ject it, but the war-sick people back
Of the statesmen would compel its &C
ceptance, or know the reason why.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25
Reed, E. B. ThomsA L. D. Smith, E. T.
Stokesbury and George F. Baker.

Reed, E. B. Thomas, L. D. Smith, E. T.
stokesbury and George F. Baker.
Every one = multi.millionairs.
What punishment did the highest
court in the land mete out to these
malefactors Of great WEALTH.
Having wrung tens Of millions of
| dollars from the users Of anthracite
through their unlawful monopoly, sure
ly they were sent to Jail, or, at least,
compelled to disgorge their plunder'
Oh, no, gentle reader. That is not
the way our courts deal with men who
steal millions. That CROUCH stuff is
all right for the scoundrel who
"swipes' a sack Of -four, but Mr..
Stokesbury is the leader of Philadel-
phia society and Mr.. Baker controls
New York's greatest bank. It would
never do to put them to breaking rock
in the Atlanta penitentiary.
Instead, the court directed that the
Lehigh monopoly be "dissolved.'
When Wall Street heard the news
the price of Lehigh stock advanced
three points in ten minutes.
Of course, Lehigh will sell its IN.
lawful subsidiaries. They will be
bought in by "insiders' who will
make untold millions out of them
No one will suner-except the pub
lie, and it won't be new sensation
for the public.
The senate committee which held
hearings in New York recently found
that during the last year the users of
anthracite in New York and New Eng
land paid $34,0oo,00o more than rea-
sonable price for their coal.
After the Lehigh has been thorough
" dissolved' that figure, will prob
ably be materially increased.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25
Petty Retail Price Reductions Are
Of Little Benefit to Wage Farmers

12-1OG of 1 per cent. A drop of
cent pound i'll bacon means IS
cents year to the average family.
or $500 of l per cent.
For coffee to decline I cent a
pound means AZ cents a year. In
the case OF rice it would mean %
cents a year: tea, II cents a year;
cheese,16 cents a year, and the per-
centage of total cost of these things
becomes almost too small for the
human mind to grasp. To be sure.
if potatoes dropped 1 cent a pound.
Which means 60 cents a bushe!. the
average workman would feel it to
the extent of 1882 a year, which
after all is but L 29-1O0 per cent of
his total food cost"
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25
CHRISTMAS DAY

God rest you, merry gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan's power
When We were gone astray.
From God our Heavenly Father,
A blessed angel came;
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
+ How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.
Fear not" then said the angel,
LET nothing you alright,
This day is born a Saviour
OF virtue, power, and might,
So frequently to vanquish all
The friends Of Satan quite
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway
This blessed babe to find.
But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereat this infant lay,
They found Him in Manager,
Where oxen feed on hay,
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray.
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brother
hood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide Of Christmas ~
All others doth deface.
n. Old Carol.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25
Christmas GREETINGS
BY SAMUEL GOMPERS
President American Federation Of Labor.

BY SAMUEL G0MPERs
President American Federation of Labor
The American Federation Labor greetings
to the working people of America.
There much that calls for Of gratitude at
time approach the coming another year, there
that thoughtful and be apprehensive
The labor movement must not and deceive ITSELF It
must face the facts and fight its fights in the light conditions
as theyare.
Numbers Of employers out of harmony with the great dom
inan thought of time blind to the only the
mediate past but to that which tranping all other countries
bent only upon and willing destruction to gain
profits placing obstacles in the road progress
Extreme ractionary joins hands, in effect with extreme
radical to make difficult the work Of the trade
movement the greatest agency progress republic
The American Federation of Labor sends Christmas greeting
in which peadges itself to the fight maintain that struggle
humanity for the beerent of humanity fitting
this
all have courage fight wrong and intolerance and
the ranks be firm Let the might Of right
justice stand sody against the aggressive efforts Of unfree
dom and destruction.
The right triumph only if those who believe in the right
assert belief Working and women unite justice and
progress.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-25
A SQUARE DEAL FOR LABOR.


times abused the great power war con-
,litions and shortage Of labor placed
In its hands. Production, greatly
needed by the people, the nation, and
the world, was cut down deliberately,
while wages went up. Agreements
were sometimes ruthlessly broken and
conditions forced upon employers which
have had much to do with the economic
evils from which we all, including, Of
course, the manual workers, are now
suffering.
That is to say, labor was in many
cases selfish and short-sighted. But
can capital claim that in the past it
has been always altruistic and far
sighted?
Both employers and employees are
human, possessing human faults aplenty
as we'll as human virtues. Both fire.
quently abuse power when they have
if. Both demand a square deal when
they are at the disadvantage and lose
most of their enthusiasm for it when
they get the upper hand
So we have had a see-saw between
them. Perhaps it can't be avoided.
but at least let US try to get forward
on straight line
During the ascendancy of labor we
and others exhorted labor to use its
advantage with moderation; to con.
slider the common good, recognizing
that labor's good in the long run is
tied up whit it; to give up tho
foolish and immoral cheating on work,
which cheats the worker himself in
the long run; and to respect the prin-
c'ple Of contract, which in the long
run labor must rely upon for Justice
and advancement.
Labor to a regrettable extent ignored
these appeals. That was not wise. But
how much more foolish will it be for
employers to adopt similar course
of action now that advantage is pass.
Ing in some measure to them.
Trade unionism, with all its faults.
has been force for justice, for prog
r'ss, and for the common welfare of
employer and employee. The way to
combat it's evils is not by making the
worker helpless, but by giving him
other forms Of representation and other
methods Of protection and advance.
ment-ln other words, by doing justice
to him. recognizing his stake in indus
try, his contribution, and his human
needs.
Employers in America will be mex.
cusably stupid if they adopt policy
Of reprisal and of selfish advantage
during this period Of difficult read
1ustment. They will perpetuate a vi.
clous circle, and what they gain will
be paid for with interest in due time.
If they want square deal let them
give 1t now. If they want the loyal
cooperation of their employees let them
show consideration for their employees.
IL they want industrial peace let them
lay the foundations Of peace in Justice
and good feeling.
employers are passing through a
costly and difficult period of readiust-
ment. They deserve, lots of them at
least, the loyalty and support of en-
ployes. But employees also are under.
gong difficulties and deserve the Ut
most consideration for their needs from
employers. Employer and employee are
1nterdependent. Let them act Justly
and considerably for their common
good.-Chicago Tribune.
WITHIN hHYAH