Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-17
JUST FOLKS
BY DR.. Frank Crane

THO read the public prints to hear the IL
rades of Socialists, anarchists, and in
deed all generally who speak of social
conditions, to study most textbooks poIiti-
cal economy and to peruse most Of the
learned articles on politics and affairs in the
heavy reviews, one would imagine that there
are but two classes in this muddled civliza-
ton of ours--the laborer, who is joining
unions and striking, and plutocrat, who is
fleeing the 1aborer by all possible means,
direct and indirect.
Yet here I wish to emit one modest but
firm whoop for that great third class, which
never gets into politico- economical treatise
except as a football to be kicked by the
scorn of both parties, but which, neverthe4
less, comes nearer being the real people than
either of them, and which at pinch could
manage to get along if both of them get off
the earth.
l mean just plain folks.
l mean the class who are ordinary, honest
people, making living where they can, and
where they can't, going somewhere else.
They are the despised, bourgeois. They
are the objurgated middle class, one Of
whom, in the language of the gentleman
from out west, | am which.
They don't want to smash the government
and they don't want to own 1t. They don't
march around of evenings and threaten, they
don't interfere with the work of other peo-
pie, they don't fl up on home brew and see
everything red.
They mind their own business, stick to
one wife take care of their children, and
when they have leisure they go to church or
stay at home and play pinochle, as they may
be disposed.
The Sunday newspapers and the Paris
Herald are unconscious of their existence
They are not partisan "laboring men," and
don't call themselves "the workers." yet
they work hard every day.
They are not Capitalists" and "exp1oit-
ers," yet they have some money in the saw
ings bank, and are steadily paying off the
mortgage on their house.
They are occupied in minding their own
business. They cannot be stan1peded, for
they have common sense. They cannot be
bribed, bullied nor scared.
When the professional agitators and med
ding politicians get the country into trouble
and the rioters at home or the foreigners
begin to shoot, they heave a sigh, lock up
the shop, take a musket, and go out and lick
the disturbers, and then disband and come
back home.
They are not weak, mindless, unpatrotic,
unprogressiye invertebrates. They are just
folks.
They want to lead their lives as decently
as they can, get along with their neighbors,
keep out of the Jail, clean the snow off their
own front walk, do their duty where they re
put, and let the Almighty run the universe
to suit Himself.
When the trust is fined it takes it out of
these people. When the labor unions are I'M
happy they strike, and make these people
suffer and pay the bills. Every special class
robs them, gouges them, and sneers at them.
Meanwhile they go ahead doing nine-tenths
of the business, supporting the schools, and
keeping alive what little religion we have
left.
Some day they, too, possibly may organize
and declare to all the various classes, lead
ers. thinkers, reformers, and superior folk:
''You got to quit kickin' M cog aroun."
(COpvright 1924