Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-24
ANTI-THRIFT
By DR.. Frank Crane

Dy LII. IldIIk 0ldllC
There Is no more common delusion
throughout the world than the idea that
capital and labor are two parties opposed to
each other and that either one of them
thrives only he robs the other.
The idea that is behind the average strike
is that If the laborers combine and demand
more wages, they are taking just so much
away from the rich men, the bankers and
the plutocrats, and that this they en-
titled to do.
What they are really doing is that they
are taking this extra money away from the
Industrious and frugal saving population.
We commonly say that it is the public that
is injured by strikes. Really 1t is the thrifty
part of the public that is injured.
For instance, there are around 100000
holders of railroad securities in the United
States, who own $7,000,000,00O of railroad
stocks and $4,000 100000 of railroad bonds.
When there is a strike on the railroad 1t
is not Mr.. Loree of New York, Mr.. Rea OF
Philadelphia Mr.. Hughitt of Chicago, or
any other railroad magnate that are injured.
1t is these 100000 investors who have work.
ed hard for their money and saved it up.
To the mind of the average agitator the
greatest criminal In the world Is the man
who has saved money.
The United States Steel Corporation Is
owned by 1877, 900 persons. 1t is those
against whom the so 900 steel workers strike
and not against Mr. Gary or the general pub
lie. They are striking against the people
who have been self-denying enough to save
their money and invest it.
The American Telephone and Telegraph
Company is owned by 24S, 900 men and worn-
en- stockholders 1t is this great company OF
people who have scrimped and saved to put
little by for a rainy day that the strikers
would attack.
Mr. Human, a financial writer, says that
it is a widespread delusion that few mil
lionaires and bank presidents own the rail-
roads and industries of the United States
and that in labor conflicts the workmen are
fighting solely against plutocrats.
In the three lines of business mentioned
above the total number of owners or stock
holders is over 100000. And there are
emily about 10000 men in the United States
drawing millionaires incomes.
1t is all well enough perhaps and 1t fits
with our notion of liberty for vorkmen to
combine and strike, but 1t would not be 8
bad idea If they had clear notion of just
whom it is they are striking.
A negro was once holding a side of beef
for a cross-eyed butcher to cut with his
cleaver. He glanced up at the butcher saw
his eyes and inquired, Boss is you gwne
to hit wha you lookin'?"
And the blow aimed at the over-rich in at
tacks upon industry really falls upon the
thrifty.
The millionaire class In this country is
insignificant. The class Of the thrifty Is
growing larger every day, and if it is not
put out or business by violence 1t will be-
as 1t ought to be-the dominating class Of
the country.
woman entered the police court dragging
after her very untidy boy about twelve years
old.
AS soon as she got the attention of the mag
istrate she exclaimed:
ooh, your honor, this boy will have to be
sent to reformatory school"
rs he bad boy?" inquired the magistrate.
"He is" replied the woman, with emphasis.
81 can do nothing with him.
Doesn't he go to SCHOOL,"
''Well, [ can't tell that; but he calls me
names, refuses to do as I tell him and has sew
eral times broken my windows"
And you want him sent to a reformatory?"
Eyes, sir
"Is he your only SOM"
fOh no, sir He's the son of one OF my
ne1ghbors, and I've been waiting two whole
weeks to catch him"
The boy didn't go to the reformatory.