FRIDAY, SEl'I. 17, 1920
THE TOILER
PAGE 0
No Place To Live
40,000 tenants in the city of New York have
been notified to move on October 1 unless they
are prepared to pay greatly increased rents. This
is only an incident in the nation-wide house short
age which is already resulting in the greatest
privations to the workers. Inadequate room and
extortionate rents this is becoming the rule in
every industrial center.
Karl Mane estimated that the break-up of
the capitalist system would be due when it could
no longer "guarantee a living to the slave within
his slavery". That period is not far distant here
in America and it has already arrived in most of
the European countries.
When the workers cannot have a roof over
their heads, when the oncoming panic throws
them out of work and the prospect of actual hung
er stares them in the face, it is quite likely that
they will ask themselves if existence under capital
ism constitutes a living. They will then turn as
Marx said they would to the task of organizing
for the overthrow of capitalism and the erection
of a social order adopted to their needs.
The Mob
What is a mob?
A mob is a mass of men, unorganized and un
armed, held together by some aim, not clear to
the whole body of men. It generally consists of
workmen, particularly, nowadays.
An army is a body of men, well organized,
well disciplined well armed. This body exists
for only one purpose: to shoot and to kill.
The interference of State militia and Federal
troops in labor troubles is teaching the American
workers how to change a mob into an army.
Freedom
Organized workers of Duquesnc, Pa., want
to hold meetimg. The chief of police forbids
it for FEAR that something irregular might
be said.
Thoy hold it just the same.
Six speakers, one after the other, are pulled
down from the platform and arrested. The
meeting is broken up. The men are taken to
court, found guilty and sentenced.
They apeal the case. The higher court up
holds the decision
Organized workers in Spokane, Wash., hold
a convention. The convention is dispersed and
ten of the delegates arrested
What kind of a country is this anyhow?
. Jail is the only FREE place the government
provides for workingmen.
The Picket Line
Italian capitalists would no doubt prefer an
earthquake to a revolution but it looks like
thoy rvre going to got both at the same time.
Latest reports indicate that the red flag flies
over 300 Italian factories. That couldn't be done
in the state of New York because there is a law
against it. Or could it?
John Spargo, tho ev-socialist 1ms sailed for
Italy to study the labor movement and see
what he can do to help the capitalist of that
country out of the bad hole they are in. We
are glad to lose him, but we hate to see the
Italian workers get him.
The labor movement of Kansas City, Kansas
was afraid there might be some misunderstand
ing of their sentiments toward the anti-strike
law enacted by the Kansas legislature. So they
carried this sign in the labor day parade:
To Hell With Governor Allen's
Industrial Court Law.
The 780 refugee Russian Children now in
New York in oliargo of the Red Cross were each
presented with a picture of Woodrow Wilson
last wedk. Soon after, 200 of them tried to
escape from their custodians-.
A gang of burglars in broadcloth meet in
hotel room in Chicago and decide that Mr. Hard
ing shall be. nominated. Another band of pluto
cratic cut-throats gather at Frisco and agree on
Mr. Cox. Then they tell us: "Here, this is a free
country. You are free to take your choice."