The Connecticut labor news., 1921-12-16
PLEA FOR LABOR
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 kind divides into three great periods l First, most of us were slaves; then we
 were serfs; and now we are free labor CTS. As the outset let us realize that in
 each of these conditions all the honest
 work, demanded by nature in Infinite l Wisdom for the maintenance of life, the l production of the needs of man without
 which none could live-a11 this has been
 carried on by these masses. To whom, | more than to them, can the light of l knowledge, the glory of unfolding nature
 and man belong?
 l For the slave there was only toll, rags, dusk, the barest necessities of life grudgingly given that this human, divine
 machine might grind out in the bloody | sweat of his ceaseless toll the wanton
 beauty or mocking ug1iness of the Par 1 theon or the tomb of a Pharaoh. 1 The slave performed more than his
 natural duty in Gods great economy of
 work for needs. But light came not to
 him. A few kind masters surely taught l But the mass of us, for man is one, did 1 as 1t was told and never had a chance to l think. We lived a constant death
 The Middle Ages had little light to offer men or rather men found little light dur 1 ing their course. :. Nevertheless the 1 position of serfdom was an advance over | that of slavery. or mems persons were
 conceived as free, though they were l bound to their little plots and their labor 1 and produce was in large measure appro- l priated by the lord . But in general the master could not claim any right to l own the man.
 With the Industrial Revolution and the
 rise of the town craftsmen; with the | development of nations and the stamp ing out of violence by the sheer force of
 humanity's vail, came the modern work
 man. The light of the Renaissance help
 ed the workers, later revolutions helped
 still more, until in the rural districts of
 many lands today we have the true and healthy condition of association of own ership with the use of that great tool of production-land. But there remains
 much to be done Our great cities are
 centers of wretched, seething masses.
 The modern workman Is personally free. .. Yet even in his position there is an
 element that binds hin1-not to the land
 like the mediaeval serf-but to the fac
 tory. He must work for wages to live.
 But he does not own or control his tools
 and he must depend upon those who do
 for the inalienable human right to earn
 his needful living in the honest sweat of
 his brow or the honest fatigue of his
 brain.
 There remains yet one more step to be
 taken. Through the ages all men
 have been learning truth. .. There is
 still an irreconciIed factor i'll the present ) way of things which is not in tune with
 Eternity, the destiny of every man to
 Light and Knowledge. Briefly stated it is this-we have not yet fully recognized the natural right of every man to the , fullest mental and spiritual development ! tn I3J1ic he Hair
 Clearly before IS, then should lic the aim and duty of all true men today # IS said Hhat little knoaVIedge IS da,t- gerouS thing; and this IS true" The la-
 borer of today aH over the aVorld is cry ing for the "good of aH Uuen,' foy the ,, social distribution Of product, for shorter l ho1WS higher 1VageS and the control of industry. We must not ledVe him to the : mercy of laz0s Of supply and denand for
 his labor. . But IS the Eaborer ready? He a0iH be; but at present. do tot believe that he is -.
 The haphazard labor movements of the United States are tearing out the
 heart of labor. They do not know their
 own cry of the good of all
 But in the heart of the workmen is a great simplicity He wants to own the tools he uses and to feel that his gov
 ermnent will require all men to make e their contribution to the needs and well h fare of humanity. The very essential of : the labor movements of today is insist Il ence on the infinite worth of man and = insistence upon the conception of wealth = and property as existing solely for that = mankind of which each man IS part Q Now how are we to deal with these
 men, these simple workers. producers of Il our necessities. clamoring for rights so
 justly theirs? :.
 But I do not believe this choice is necessary. The mass of men can be ! taught. By friends they are eager to be taught. They are seeking light What
 America needs, what she must have is a
 great Labor Party, built on a new and
 great unonism, a party of all men who N believe that he who produces has an eternal right to light, while he who does
 not produce IS no true member of so-
 ciety. It must be a party of those who
 work with hand or brain and men must
 and will belong to it on this platform, y that they believe that men can work to- s gether better than they can fight apart CTS will love the manual aborer will give their lives for him, The party will ], exist for the worker. He will trust 1t - It will attempt to control the govern
 ment and to administer 1t and industry
 for the good and development of men The members of the party will attempt 2 to gain for the users their rightful own ership of tools and all men in this great , increasing movement will decry profit e and exa1t the ina1ienable, eternal never deniable right of every man as the child l of the Maker of us all to be sure of the < constant privilege of living in self-devel- opment and of all the light his govern ment can give!
 > To you, the educated of this great : movement, the possible leaders, there sounds true the voice of the Master as
 He gives His decip1es order: Co and : preach the Gospel to the Poor, and de- lliverance to Captives.'