Evening star., 1921-08-07
THOs. r.. MARSHALL.
Former Vice President of the United
States

M tory counts time, that
our divisions into class
es are more artificial
than real. trust we are not yet
divided into patricians and ple-
bians beyond the ability Of democ-
racy to destroy the wall. If that
state Of society should arise it
would render still more difiicult the
solution Of pressing problems. For
no man speaks with his voice
alone. He talks as we'll with the
aura which surrounds him. Should
we ever become definitely divided.
the attempt to voice an honest
opinion would subject the utterer
to serious criticism. II a patrician,
for instance. impressed with the
justice Of some plebian cause.
should voice his opinion he would
be accused Of having deserted his
friends; should he keep silent, he
would betray his own conscience.
Likewise with the plebian. We
have not yet reached that point.
OF course. there are always GER
tain cock-sure men who cannot be
mistaken. These. however. consti-
tute but few and have slight in
huence. The average honest Amer
ican knows and confesses that at
times he is right. that at other
Between the extremes OF thought
is found the medium Of just con-
duct.
1t Is difficult to determine what
is a capitalist. At what point a
man ceases to be a worker and be-
comes capitalist has never been
fixed by law. and doubt II it ever
will be settled by opinion. If it
depend upon money or ownership
of property. certain labor leaders
were capitalists at their death,
judging by the inventories Of their
estates. This is problem in def
milton too large for my solution.
It is on a par with what is a living
wage.
and a laborer, choose to think
myself to be just a plain worker
at the only task was ever taught.
1 thought 1 found right and wrong
in both grades while I was Gov
ernor of Indiana. After my ex-
perience in that Office became
more than ever convinced that it
was the individual and not the
station in life that counted. l was
harassed by two strikes. Fortu-
nately they were settled without
bloodshed or destruction Of prop
erty. In one the labor union was
wholly to blame. In the other the
employer was altogether at fault.
To those OF us who care neither
for Trojan nor Tyrian there seems
to be mistakes by both capital and
labor.
Human nature will associate.
Men OF like minds will combine.
Doctors, lawyers and dentists have
their labor unions, but do not de-
nominate them as such. 1t is an
inherent right Of men to organize
II they choose. No one has the
right to break up their organiza-
tions in order to say that they
cannot exist. On the other hand.
no labor union has a bit more right
to tell me that I cannot work un-
less 1 Join the union than a church
has a right to insist that I must
become a member before 1 can
hope to do business.
A just solution Of these prob
lens will test the intelligence and
try the patience Of the American
people without having a disturb
ing element thrown into the equa-
tfon. I hold no brief for Mr.. Com
pers, president Of the American
Federation Of Labor. Indeed, he
has needed no lawyer. He has
been able forcibly to present his
own cause, not only to the public,
but to the radical elements in his
own ranks. Whatever opinion may
be about many things he has
urged, it cannot be disputed that
he has been an individualist. Be-
fore Mr.. Gompers, in conjunction
with Mr.. W. E. Walling. wrote
"Out of Their Own Mouths" he
must have read from the ancient
writings Of his people. Take us
the foxes, the little foxes that
spoil the vines: for our vines have
tender grapes" His volume dis
closes from official documents the
horrible story Of the red rule in
Russia, the history of the throt-
Ting of free speech and a free
press, Of compulsory labor, OF
crimes worse than any dreamed
Of by the Tsars, Of q paralyzed and
pauperized people. and then re-
veais the lying promises Of ty-
rants to reform the abuses in the
hone Of obtaining foreign trade.
X + \ +
Whenever we are unable to reacf
a man in any other way we try
to do business with him. II car
convince you that it is to your ma
terial advantage to transact bust
ness with me you will speedil,
forget my religious. political and
economic views. The soviet gov.
|nnnKn NKNM IN