Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-04-14
MODERN SLAVERY.


A few days ago, John L. Lewis,
while appearing before the house COM
mittee on labor, was asked this ques-
ton by one of that committee
Don't you know that the cost of liy-
ing has been greatly reduced since
the present wage agreement with the
miners, went into effect 2" By that
question implying that he believed
wages should be reduced in proper
ton. Mr.. Lewis made this answer:
"The miners have never submitted to
the theory, that wages are to be regu-
lated by the actual cost of livingl"
wish to call your attention to that
answer, and ask you to give it serious
thought, for it contains the stormy
history of labor since the earliest en-
ployment of one man by another.
Labor--the men who work for hire
has never submitted to that theory,
and never will.
This greed made" theory, that the
cost of labor mall be regulated by
-sha cost OF natural necessities to en-
able the animal to function efficiently,
is the heart, the essence, the living
bacteria of slavery. 1t is as old as
the body which it innoculates, but has
never lost its malignancy, yet it has
constantly evolved in its method of
communicating.
In the days of the great Roman
Empire, laborers were procured by
conquest, am economical method in
conjunction with other spoils of war.
These captive slaves were assured of
an actual living as long as they were
of economic benefit to their captors,
a living sufficient to keep them in
health and strength to be able to per-
form the labor required of them; but
they never submitted in fact.
This system of slavery, through its
engendered class hatreds, its econo-
mic, political and military activities,
brought about the fall of the mighty
Roman Empire. Read the history
Of the Roman Empire, and you will
be reading the history of civilization
of today. The many parallels are
appalling.
The slave system of our own Sunny
South, was but another page from the
age-old book "eupidity of man." In
that form the foundation was pur-
chase, thus as an economic question,
1t was cost, plus the upkeep, or ac-
tual cost Of such living as would keep
the slave IN mental and physical con-
dition as an investment. This slav-
cry was almost as horrible as that of
Rome.
That this great Empire-America-
DID not fail because of slavery, was
due to the deep love for liberty and
justice so implanted in the hearts of
the majority of its people, that they
plucked it up with great suffering and
cast it out.
But, what of today? Are we again
to see this monster, in its modern
form, establish itself as arbiter and
Judge Of human well-being? Of course
It will coneede few pennies extra
here and there, for a minimum of
education and small pleasures, because
those things are now considered as
adding to efficiency.
Our scheme of life is founded on
an economic and materialistie founda-
ton; for that reason, our 'house"
can not stand. it is the ''house built
on sand" spoken of in the scriptures:
II Is a scheme whose blatant philoso-
ply disregards the spiritual essence
Of justice.
Mans greatest recognized value to
the individual, is his economic value
that is not true of his social value
lbs value to the, social body is above
matenalism. He is Of greater worth
20 nus community as he has had the
means and leasure to develop TIE
best Talents within him. This no can
seI~ss 'olks are pinching them