Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-09-23
MEN o SALE.

oonetn1ng or. "a sensation was caused by the
auctioning of live men in Boston a short time ago.
and the attempt to conduct a similar auction in New
York in defiance of police orders caused a riot of
proportions. The auctioning is being
done by an individual who explains that his sensa-
tlonal activities are prompted by a desire to bring
torcibly to the attention Of the public the fact that
there is a great amount Of unemployment, and that
it is. the duty Of the public through whatever agen-
cies may be possible to relieve this condition. In or
der to bring this to public attention he has taken the
rather picturesque method. of auctioning men off on:
the block just as slaves were auctioned years ago.
Any sensational step Of this kind is sure to bring
forth much comment, and some of the comment in
this case is to the effect that conditions in the United
States have become. SO horrible that we are ~reverting
to the days of slavery in which human beings are be-
ing sold just as they were in slavery days. Of course,
nobody has been sold. It was not expected that any
one would be sold. At the alleged auctions there
were few bidders; not because there is no demand
for men, but because those who might need labor
could obtain it in other and less sensational ways,
and were not attracted BY the peculiar steps taken
by this sauctioneera and his subjects in order to bring
their case before the public :
AS a matter$of fact, in the one. sense that men
can be for sale under the conditions of today in this
country, men are for sale all the time, and there is
nothing .disgraceful or discreditable about that fact.
In other words, men are seeking employment. Oc-
casionally employment is difficult to obtain; but
even when it is not. many of those who are employed
are seeking to better their condition, by a change of
occupation. Not always are they willing to trans
fer their services for pecuniary considerations alone,
but pecuniary considerations do figure in totem.
They are an element to be considered. All, that there
is in the present auction enterprise is that individu-
ais have taken a rather spectacular way of advertis-,
ing the fact that they are looking for work, and in
some cases their desire to obtain work may be ques-
toned.
Another case somewhat similar in some of its
phases has attracted attention not because of any
popularity in the basic facts but because of the form
in which those facts have been stated. This the case
of the college youth who advertises that he will sell
his services for a year in consideration of 81, 200 be-
ing paid to himsnow with which to complete his col
lege course. That fact has been treated as if it were
another case of slavery, in which some youth, eager
for knowledge, offers to enter a condition Of slavery
for the purpose of gaining knowledge which he can
obtain in no other way. Stated in another way, the
facts appear less impressive. The young man wish
es to, borrow S., 200 to complete his college course,
and in order to repay it he seeks,a job at the close
of his term at $500 a month. Surely there is nothing
very remarkable about that. The same sort Of thing
has been occurring year after year and many Of the
college men who have graduated with honors have
done so on borrowed money. In many cases they
have not been fortunate in securing Jobs at 500
a month; They have been obliged to Be content with
a good deal less as beginners in the field of industry
and have saved out of smaller salaries money to re-
pay the loans which. have been made them. It makes
a great deal of difference how a thing is stated.