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 DAVID B. ROBB 
 
 ROSE FARM, OHIO 
 
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iFor tl)f Horkpra 
 
 DAVID B. ROBB 
 
 ROSE FARM. OHIO 
 
 CROOKSVILLE ADVANCE PRINT 
 
 1 9 O 7 
 
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 t Library of consi-iess 
 Two Copies KeceiyiKi 
 
 JAN 14 1908 
 
 Oopyrif ni tr»tf>= 
 
 (TV XI ^(^7 
 
 LASS 4 XXc'rto. 
 copy 3. 
 
 OLA 
 
 COPYRIGHT 1907 
 BY DAVID B. ROBS 
 
i 
 
 AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 
 
 Fellow-workmen: I take this opportunity of 
 placing before you (in book form) a few of my 
 Poems and Essays, which have appeared in the 
 United Mine Workers' Journal and other papers 
 from time to time; and feeling, as I do, that this 
 departure is fraugiht with all the uncertaimties of 
 "Book Life" and the inconsiderate feelings of ad- 
 verse critics: I offer this small volume for general 
 perusal, and the Intellectual improvement of the 
 wage-workers. 
 
 My chief purpose is to give the cause of organ- 
 ized labor ithe 'benefiit of these thouglits, matured 
 in my hou-rs of leisure — or if you wiill — my hiighes. 
 thoughts and aspirations at the lowest possiible 
 cost, and w'hen I learn that they are being read -by 
 the miners, or the members of kindred organiza- 
 tions, I sha'll be amply compensated for the time I 
 have spent in this humble effort to educate or ele- 
 vate the workers. 
 
 D. B. ROBB. 
 
 Rose Farm, Ohio. Dec. 1, 1907. 
 
\eri/ *Jt*uly ^ours, 
 
 3)€ivid SB, SRahh 
 
POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 FOR THE WORKERS 
 
 A PETITION. 
 
 O God! bestow on me tihe power to wrAte 
 
 In simple lines — The Uuiversa'l Plan; 
 
 And grant me strengtih and wisdom, zeal and might 
 
 To teach and harmonize my brother man. 
 
 Ungodly are the scenes wih'ioh round us float. 
 
 In this eventful world of social strife, 
 
 Where man is like a crew-abandoned boat. 
 
 Drafting along t)he endless stream of life. 
 
 Untiring Time rolls on with steady pace. 
 The tides, the winds and planets keep their course; 
 But man can crusih a brother of his race 
 WiTjhout tihe s^lightest tincture of remorse. 
 W'hy are tthose men unprincipiled and liarsih? 
 W!hy not be bound by love's great social links? 
 T'hey keep their unpaid hireling in a marslli 
 Wiho strives to rise, but rising deeper slinks. 
 
 It burns my heart, whene'er I look abroad^ — 
 
 And view those men, to whom such pow'r is given; 
 
 Suclh pow'r abused, in sight of Thee — O God! 
 
 Would make tihe angels weep, before high heaven. 
 
 Eternal King! of endless, Iboundless worth. 
 
 To you I huimlbly tender this petition: 
 
 To teach the Rights of Man whiile here on earth 
 
 f vow great power, this is my sole amhition. 
 
POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 DEMOCRACY'S 31 ARCH. 
 
 Sons of freedom, rise and rally. 
 
 Round your leaders, name fthe day; 
 Make a bold, united sail'ly, 
 
 'Gainst tihe foTce that bars the way. 
 Justice claim for every worker. 
 
 Equal O'portunity; 
 Bread for all except the shirker, 
 
 Earth a fi'ee community. 
 
 W(here's the force that can resist you? 
 
 Marching forward >hand in hand. 
 Unity wtill noiw assist you 
 
 Onward, upward, powerful band. 
 Claim the air, the earth, the sunlight, 
 
 Man's imheritance from God — 
 Powerful Demos claim your Mrthrig-ht — 
 
 Beat the track your ifathers trod. 
 
 \^'^ihat is life to those who labor 
 
 On ifrom early morn till nig*ht, 
 Scarceily time to greet your neiighbor. 
 
 Or assist him in the fight. 
 Why not cihange it now — forever — 
 
 You have power <if used ariglht; 
 Burst the bond-chains, make them sever, 
 
 Life will then the sweet and bright. 
 
 There are miany snares to lure you, 
 
 From the patli wihich unward tends — 
 Seek that course wihlc'h will assure you 
 
 Happiness wihere misery ends. 
 Trust not those who first will greet you; 
 
 Gold, for purpose, they may give; 
 Common sense will never ciheat you 
 
 TMs tihe world's alternative. 
 
 Churchmen preach the world's salvation 
 
 These they threaten, those enchant, 
 Churning Love thro' black Damnation 
 
 Vdid of substance, idle cant. 
 Trust in God and bounteous nature 
 
 Jusitice, Truth and Liberty; 
 Let this be your leading feature 
 
 — Universal Equity. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 
 
 Parties figiht to gain position, 
 
 Baoh thetir interests to promote- 
 But itlieir ilaw is your deoision, 
 
 If you exercise your vote. 
 Do not trust the proud and wealthy 
 
 Nor a base pHutocracj'^; 
 Trust yo'urselves to raise a ihealthy, 
 
 Wise and great democracy. 
 Rose Farm, Ohio, 1903. 
 
 THE CH.1INS OF TOIL. 
 
 The cihains of (toil are circling round the heroes of 
 the ihour, 
 
 And every link that's cast anew it lessens Labor's 
 
 power, 
 Wihile clouds looim up en every side to darken 
 Freedom"s cause 
 And crusih us down 
 With angry frown. 
 Or class-exacted law®. 
 
 A cry of discontent resounds from Washington to 
 Mia^ine; 
 
 From Michigan to Texas we can feel tihe power of 
 gain. 
 
 While graft and greed or judge-made la\i foretell 
 the coming storm, 
 
 W'hiclh aims to cruS'H 
 
 Witih'out a blush 
 The helpless toiling worm. 
 
 Those words of Lincoln ring today, w^ho prophesied 
 arigiht; 
 
 He urged Ms countrymen to guard against the 
 
 coming fight, 
 And seer-like spoke of graver things which faced 
 the people then — 
 That lives today, 
 Th' industrial fray. 
 Inspired by iheartless men. 
 
 Where kingly power exalted is inspired by princely 
 
 laime. 
 Can people feel then bound — and yet, can freemen 
 
 hide their shame? 
 
8 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 ColumiMa boasts t'hat all are free — that men are 
 equail here; 
 
 But men ihave bled 
 
 For Preedami — ^dead, 
 And angells guard her bier. 
 
 Where is that patriotic fire w^hicih gave this natlion 
 
 life? 
 Where is the (hand to guide the ihelm of state 
 
 throughout the sitriife; 
 No Waisbington or Dlncoln lives to set the workers 
 free; 
 And trusts control 
 A nation — wthole. 
 That pawned lits Liberty. 
 
 Arise! Arise! Columbia, land claim your own again; 
 No foreign foe surrounds your shores, no menace 
 
 o'er the main ; 
 You freed the slaves of chatteil birtih, you gave 
 tihem liberty; 
 Then free us all 
 Froim graft and gall, 
 And crown posterity. 
 
 Rose Farm, Ohiio, October 7, 1907. 
 
 IN MEMORY OF KTHEL \nNEFORDNER. 
 (Written by Request.) 
 
 Wfhen irksome gloom o'erspreads the earth, 
 
 It speaks approaoMng night; 
 At early dawn the sun gives bdrth 
 
 To day when all is bright; 
 But autumn came with falling leaf 
 
 And eke that painful day 
 Wlhiiclh filled our home with endless grief 
 
 And caliled on Ethel May. 
 
 Full nineteen years she blessed our home. 
 
 And was our only child, 
 Wiho owned these charms whioh s'hould 'become 
 
 A majiden undefiiled. 
 But queenly chanimis are rarely given. 
 
 She came, not here to stay, 
 Suoh gems are only lent from beaven. 
 
 And suclh was Etihel May. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 
 
 Beloved by all and friend of all, 
 
 Impairtiatl, kind and true; 
 Inspired by God at friendsihip's call, 
 
 And every clDild she knew. 
 But now, alas! her work is o'er. 
 
 And God has called her hence. 
 To share with Him forevermore 
 
 That heavenly recompense. 
 
 Silee]) on, dear daughter, death's long sleep. 
 Your earthly journey's done: 
 
 Your kindness lives, ibut sEill we weep, 
 You left us all alone: 
 
 But God who rules the eamh and skies 
 Will hear us day .by day, 
 
 Until we meet in paradise 
 Our daug^hter, Ethel May. 
 
 1906. 
 
 ^lODKRX TRADES UNIONISM. 
 
 Come join our band of workers who have organ- 
 ized for right — 
 
 To stay aggression on our craft from those with 
 wealth and mig'ht, 
 
 Who long have tried to beait us down and crush 
 the workers' cause — 
 
 But to gain our end we'M change the men who 
 make the nation's laws. 
 
 in days gone by we organized the workers' cause 
 
 supreme. 
 To cilaiim a share of labor's wealth, to feed the toil 
 
 machine ; 
 But wihile those claims are justified, we must 
 
 evolve — ^^because 
 The men are not the workers' friends who make 
 
 the nation's laws. 
 
 Our guiding maxim — ^hist'ry proves — we claimed 
 
 that right was might, 
 In many a stubborn contest, in many a hard-foug'hf 
 
 fight; 
 
Ii» POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 But we must cihange our tactics by amending all 
 
 those flaAVTs 
 In the House of Representatives whiioh makes the 
 
 nation's laws. 
 
 We have legislators (party men) and seldom you 
 
 Willi find 
 Amongst them all "a people's mian," but has an 
 
 "ax to grind;" 
 We have mming magnates, railroad kings, wiho 
 
 talk to gain appilause, 
 (Besides our votes to cut our throats) those men 
 
 wiho make the laws. 
 
 Our two great parties in the State are men of 
 
 wealth and ease, 
 And matters not how we dictate, their party they 
 
 must please; 
 But really, these two parties are, as tMs inference 
 
 draws, 
 The workers and the shirkers, but the latter make 
 
 the laws. 
 
 Now let us join together, by advancing with tihe 
 
 times. 
 And hoist the flag of labor, as they've done in other 
 
 climes; 
 But every worker must unifte, and each make coira- 
 
 mon cause. 
 By returning men to Congress to amend our labor 
 
 laws. 
 Rose Farm, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1904. 
 
 ^HNERS' PARLIAMENTARY REI RESENT ATION. 
 
 I've been reading your paper, as every week ends, 
 O* a man ye ca' "Fairplay" w^ha naebody kens. 
 He may be a "Big Bug," but you ken yersel'. 
 And, if its your duty, be suir an' no tell. 
 
 Since tlie questions appeared, I hiv thocht on a 
 
 name; 
 And if I am richt, sAv, he's guid at the game. 
 Altlho' he attacks tme as ane in a place, 
 Yet I'm only a miner, which bears nae disgrace. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 11 
 
 Since this siclieme 'has 'been started, this chap that 
 
 I mean 
 Has hinted, and twisted, and carried Ms spleen 
 Tae a pitch that a fellow o' guid Scottisih Muid 
 Wid chase Mm riciht oot o' the place wibar he'd liid. 
 
 lie styles himsel' "Fairpilay," but Guid only knows. 
 And yerseir, "Mr. Editor," I may "suppose. 
 But! if he was a man, and an honest Scotch chiel, 
 He wid oot wi' his name, tho' opposed tae the Deil 
 
 Tae the wark folk o' Ga'ston I beg an excuse 
 For writing tae papers and trying the muse, 
 riil ne'er be a poet, I iha'na the nit. 
 But tae knuckle tae "Fairplay" I'll hardly submit. 
 
 Noo tMs scheme o' the miners is no sae ill timed, 
 For the builders o' Engines and Boilers have 
 
 joined; 
 Tho' I favor the scheme I am not its designer, 
 I just had a'e vote. Sir, alang wi' the mmer. 
 
 In conclusion, dear readers, an advice I will gtie 
 Tae the writers o' letters wha ask for "Fairplay," 
 If you want tae get lear, gie your name, that's tke 
 
 plan. 
 And if vour siarcastic be suir o' your man. 
 
 AN APPEAL TO REASON. 
 
 If Christ were seni on earth today 
 
 To judge the human race, 
 And let us all pursue our way 
 
 In daily life and place. 
 What just pronouncement could He give 
 
 (To judge impartially) 
 But this — "O mankind, you may live, 
 
 But live unequally." 
 
 Earth abounds witlh imperfections, 
 
 GuMty men I see; 
 Power usurDed, by close detection. 
 
 All appears to me. 
 
^2 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 Tj-.rants live and spendthrifts revel, 
 
 Butra-esised up with gain; 
 Fiic-ihed from Ijaibor's lower level 
 
 Stdll her sons sustajin. 
 
 Such a system — ^trade perveited 
 
 Rolbb'ry, grab and greed; 
 Oft her Kaders have assserted: 
 
 "Workmgmen, tailje heed! ' 
 
 Radly, hrotihers. swell youir numbers 
 
 If you would be free; 
 Privilege sweflls, but Labor slumbers 
 
 Strike for Liberty! 
 
 Where are those I sent as teachers 
 
 For My flock on earth? 
 Mendicants, and monks, and preacihers 
 
 Preach for wfhat it's wort'h. 
 
 Scattered over My dominion 
 
 Sects and factions grow; 
 Churches, chapels, false opinion, 
 
 Chaos reigns below! 
 
 Churchmen keep on moralizing 
 
 Life to perfect "here; 
 But wh/iile they are oraidzing 
 
 Are their words sincere? 
 
 Men and women flock to ihear tihem, 
 
 Children go to learn; 
 All are spell'bound wih'ile they're near them. 
 
 Still I can discern. 
 
 Want of courage, want of spirit, 
 
 Charity and love; 
 T/hese can win true Tieavenly merit, 
 
 But — Grod niust approve. 
 
 Kings and Emp'rors rule the nations 
 
 Claimed by "Right Divine;" 
 Why believe such fabrications? 
 
 Ornaments, they shine. 
 
FOR THE WORKEKS 13 
 
 Useful not, nor self-susta'ining, . 
 
 Bmrdensome are they; 
 Freedom sihrinks wthile they are reigning- 
 
 Omt, aad clear the way! 
 
 Is it better wihere the people 
 
 C'lai'm that they are free? 
 Does that freedom tend to treat all 
 
 ManMnd equailly? 
 
 Neither commonwealth nor kingdom 
 
 Practice as designed; 
 Truth and honesity have winged on, 
 
 Leaviing them bethind. 
 
 Great republics rise land flourisih, 
 
 Kingdoms swell with pomp; 
 But 't is Labor's sons that nourish. 
 
 O'er her rights they romp. 
 
 Governments forswear their duty. 
 
 Yea, to 'man and God, 
 Where they g*ive the r'ich the booty 
 
 And <the poor the load. 
 
 This is not as God has willed it. 
 
 Nor as He designed; 
 Wihen He made the earth He filled it — 
 
 Plenty for mankind. 
 
 Rise, ye slaves! and oast your fetters 
 
 To the winds of heaven! 
 God commands, in brilliant letters, 
 
 "Take wihat I have given." 
 Rose Farm, Ohio, Marcli 11, 1905. 
 
 THE MINERS' LIFE. 
 
 The miners' 'life is full of trou'bles, 
 Always present, never late; 
 
 All his ihopes are burst like bubbles, 
 Then he's 'left again to Fate. 
 
14 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 Hopes, I say, for that's what keeps Mm 
 Toiling on from day to day — 
 
 An'd ihis master will not seek hdm 
 If ihis labor can not pay, 
 
 I have ofiten thought it over. 
 
 Of the power which (he's possessed, 
 
 But I've failed yet to discover 
 Why ihe stands to be oppressed. 
 
 This is true, though you mtay scoff it, 
 We are only toil machines; 
 
 Simply used for making profit 
 
 For the men who lay t'he sohemes. 
 
 NVihen he first sets on his journey, 
 Nothing daunts ih'im, all is joy; 
 
 Sympathy may whisper, turn ye, 
 But 'it's nothing to the boy. 
 
 On he trudges, night and moirning, 
 Thinking nothing of his fate; 
 
 Every danger bravely scorning. 
 But, alias! lit is too late. 
 
 Destiny has placed Mm hither, 
 
 And his future is to toil. 
 Till he seeks that rest — forever 
 
 Underneath the cold, damp soil. 
 
 Where are they t'hat have compassion 
 On the workers underground? 
 
 Ask not those that "lead the fashion;" 
 As)k yoursellves, and it is found. 
 
 Mining as an occupation 
 
 Hard and dang'rous, brutal is; 
 
 Envy not Ms situation, 
 Suoh a fickle job is this. 
 
 Will (he ever learn th'is lesson? 
 
 And no longer be a fool; 
 Organize to stem aggression. 
 
 Face united those that rule. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 
 
 This is life among the masses, 
 A)ll is toiil, and want, and care; 
 
 But compare it with tlie classes — 
 And ihow d'iff'rently they fare. 
 
 Life is sweet to those that toil least — 
 Care has vanished, all is bliss; 
 
 Buit tihe workers, they have no feast, 
 And must iMse or suffer this — 
 
 Let us all be up and doing, 
 
 Help eadh other in tihe fight; 
 
 While the "cause" we are pursuing, 
 Teach the workers Right is Might. 
 
 Onward, upward, ever raising, 
 Never let us bow the knee — 
 
 Keep the fire of labor blazing 
 Till the workers all are free. 
 Rose Farm, Ohio, 1901. 
 
 ine.s Written by Request, on the Death of Thonias 
 Conghtine (my uncle), Whose Home Was 
 in New StraitsviUe, Ohio. 
 
 A fonm has vanished from this hearth, 
 A parent fond — companion dear; 
 
 His dhair is vacant at our heartJh, 
 
 His plleasant voice no more we'll hear. 
 
 A loMing husband, and a guide 
 
 Along the ~rough pathway of life: 
 
 A father kind — who loath to Chide 
 He lived to love, or banish strife. 
 
 His face familiar^ — -nevermore 
 
 Will grace our homes with parent smile; 
 Xo more he'll greet us at his door 
 
 Where iove abounded all the while. 
 
 He's gone beyond the pale of woe. 
 
 His earthly suff'dngs now are o'er; 
 His iife. thoug*h ended here below, 
 
 Begins upon a brighter sihore. 
 
16 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 Where all <is iharmony and joy! 
 
 Wihere envy, hate and wrath shall cease! 
 Where God controls without alloy! 
 
 And now his asihes rest in peace. 
 1904. 
 
 INAUGURATION DAY. 
 
 Come let us join together all — ^both men and maid- 
 ens giay, 
 
 And ceilebrate as citizens "Inauguration Day." 
 
 Our nation is in 'holiday, so let us all rejoice; 
 
 And hail our first Executive, a mighty nation's 
 cihoice. 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 Shout ihurraih! Columbia, 
 Join with heart and hand; 
 God has sent a President 
 To guard and rule our land. 
 Raise on ihigh the Stars and Stripes; and sing with 
 
 heart and voice 
 In honor of our President, a mighty naition's 
 choice. 
 
 From our long line of Prasddents we've had some 
 
 noble men, 
 Wlho always proved of peerless worth, no matter 
 
 how, or when 
 Our Republic was in danger — througih home or 
 
 foreign foes; 
 To save our constitution grand — some matcliiless, 
 
 heroes rose. 
 
 Sihout hurraih! etc. 
 
 God gave to us a Washington to crush a tyrant's 
 power ; 
 
 And gave to us a Mncoln in tihe nation's darkest 
 hour. 
 
 And our illustrious statesmen who must hear t)he 
 nation's load. 
 
 Have gained the people's confidence and won re- 
 spect abroad. 
 
 Shout hurrah! etc. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 17 
 
 All honor to our President our nation's clMef — 
 
 select 
 Of eighty million subjects ihe has won our joint 
 
 respect ; 
 We dla'im a corisittution which has surely come to 
 
 stay. 
 And 'hail our worthy President's "Inauguration 
 
 Day." 
 
 Shout hurrah! etc. 
 Ro.se Farm, Ohio, Jan. 28, 190 5. 
 
 LINES TO THE SUN. 
 
 O! blessed orb of endless light, 
 Your labor has tbis day begun; 
 
 And many a weary soul e're night 
 Will have recorded — labor done. 
 
 O! ball of fire, but friend of man, 
 
 I greet you here another day; 
 Your home is space, and worlds your span 
 
 To rule throughout Eterniity. 
 
 Thy presence fair at early dawn 
 
 Creation moves — your charms begin; 
 
 Wihen man must toil, tihe beasts will roam. 
 And birds and insects take the wiing. 
 
 Thy rays bring forth the s'peckled Hark, 
 W'hicih soaring, sings in Suimimer time; 
 
 Your I'igiht diffusing guides the barque. 
 And laden s/hips to every clime. 
 
 One smile from thee awaits' the flowers 
 Wihen each uplifts its drooping head; 
 
 The dial stone records the hours. 
 By your instructions it i's read. 
 
 Wihen Spring appears your face sutolime 
 GMves force to Nature — life to aW — 
 
 You rule supreme in Summer time. 
 
 And golden Autumn marks your fall. 
 
IS POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 In Winter bleak wit'h -snow-clad earth 
 Yon oheer the gloom with sllant'ing ray; 
 
 Creation s'houts aloud your worth! 
 
 A servant bounteous nigiht and day. 
 
 If mian would but example take 
 
 Prom thee — Perfection — light and life. 
 
 And raise eaoh unit, none forsake 
 Unite his fellows — end the strife — 
 
 Not till he tries, will he ever succeed 
 In raising his fellows, he must sacrifice; 
 
 Self has no name in a noble kind deed; 
 Kindness and Love is a true Pairadise. 
 January, 190 4. 
 
 THE WIND. 
 
 List! 't is the wtind. like the wail of the weary, 
 With isoui-troubled longings for silent repose; 
 
 Bitter it bites in the Winter so dreary — 
 Spreads' desoliation wherever it goes: 
 
 Weak not, nor soundless, endless and boundless, 
 
 Free, yet invisihle, ever it blows. 
 
 Hark! 'tis the wind, as a tempest it rushes. 
 Angry, iimipatlent, and king of the stoTm; 
 
 Mighty, triu'miDihianit, he everything cruslhes. 
 Powerless befiore him is every form. 
 
 Rearing, careering, forward and steering, 
 
 Onward! destruction! no force can reform — 
 
 Hush! 'tiis the Zephyr, it doiefully glidet'h, 
 Over the mountains, the valleys and dales; 
 
 Boreas, the sitorm-king. it playfully chidet/h 
 
 Nature, in sipring time its fond breath inhales: 
 
 Wellcome iby mankind, to arbor and verdure 
 
 Welcome siimplicity, everything hails! 
 1903. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 19- 
 
 MAN AND ADVERSITY. 
 
 There is a time in man's career 
 
 When 'all is dark, his lite ds chaos; 
 His every effort practiced here, 
 
 Seems, as opposed to heavenly pathos: 
 And W'hile those efforts lack results 
 Wiho knows but what reverse exailts? 
 This man who in despairing mood, 
 Wihose 'hope lies in his fortitude. 
 
 We see him struggling on through life, 
 
 He toils to live, he loves for pleasure; 
 And aU his hopes to sinuooth the strife, 
 
 Is love returned, an earthly treasure. 
 Then sho'uld disaster come Ihis way. 
 He fails, though trying day by day; 
 His partner w^ho if constant, sihe 
 Can clheer him with that constancy. 
 
 Could man but know the higlher plan 
 
 As skeitcihed throughout the Grand Design 
 A just reward, since time began, 
 
 To all bestows, in every line: 
 But man's impulse with patience frail, 
 His faitlh recedes, Ms woe^ entail 
 Abundant tiardsihips, and a load — 
 W'hich vanisiheth by trusting God. 
 Feb. 1904. 
 
 AX HONEST TAIiE SPEEDS BEST, BEING 
 PLAIN^.Y TOLD." 
 
 There's not a day that passes by, 
 
 In man's brief journey through 
 
 This life of toil and worry, 
 
 But some fancy meets our view. 
 
 Some take to sport and so^me to dress. 
 
 Or pleasure's enmpty fad; 
 
 But this, ray fancy — stirred no less 
 
 Than by my writing "Pad." 
 
POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 A maxim true this Pad contains, 
 
 A guiding truth to man, 
 
 Which, tihougih we shun, it stiil reimains, 
 
 Dissemble those that can, 
 
 It through iihe past Jias always shone, 
 
 A guide to young and old 
 
 "An ihonest tale speeds furthest on. 
 
 If it he plainly told. 
 
 Some search the Scriptures through ana 
 
 through. 
 And books of olassiie loi'e, 
 They seek for maxims oild and new. 
 Add knowledge to tihe'ir store; 
 But if perdhance they mean to teach. 
 This statement I make bold, 
 Learn that your words will furtlier reach, 
 If tihey be plainly told. 
 
 We often read how kings advise. 
 How statesmen grow so great; 
 Each nation on those men relies. 
 To gudde tbe "Ship of State," 
 But if those kings and statesmen try, 
 Wlhiile they, their plans unfold; 
 To gain our trust, to edify. 
 They must be plainly told. 
 
 The parsons preach to ihlgh and low 
 
 Of how we ail should dive; 
 
 Of how to Hove both fr*iend and foe; 
 
 Of how, and when to give; 
 
 But let me here remind tihem all 
 
 Wihen counselling their fold, 
 
 That God, the judge of great and small. 
 
 Knows if (it's plainly told. 
 
 We roam this world on "wings of hope" 
 
 Eacih thinks ^his chance the (best, 
 
 We never pause, nor call a stop 
 
 To reason what's our quest; 
 
 But there again I urge my tslalim, 
 
 To all who seek for Gold, 
 
 An honest word, in search of Gain, 
 
 Wiiill speed, if plainly told. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 21 
 
 Our itenure here, is but a guess, 
 
 So, wihy should love not sihine? 
 
 Wlhether our lot is married bliss. 
 
 Or bud'diing love^ — divine. 
 
 Some, different forms of love will sihow 
 
 But true love ne'er gets cold, 
 
 High honor's taile wtill furthest go 
 
 If it be plainly told. 
 
 Vx^ihen entering on life's brief patih. 
 
 We often make siome friends. 
 
 And let us prize them, those that Jiatih, 
 
 True friendship never ends; 
 
 But, ilest we err on friendsMp's side, 
 
 There's tales we must withhold, 
 
 Remember tales are magnified, 
 
 Even, tihoug'h they're plainly told. 
 
 In summing up my muse at last! 
 I caution those who reiad 
 These few short /lines that I (have cast. 
 May each and all take -heed. 
 If God so wills it, we s'ha.11 sihine, 
 A guide to young and old: 
 Our words will float the stream of Time, 
 If only pilainly told. 
 Dec. 1903. 
 
 Extract from a Letter to a Fidend. 
 
 The watohword of Philanthropy is, if you've got, 
 
 be giving; 
 Give every cent that you can spare, to keep the 
 
 people llviing; 
 But if the people alll would think, and try to 'help 
 
 themselves, 
 Then aill our good Philanthropists could be put up 
 
 on sihelves. 
 
 Extract fi'om a Letter to a Xear Friend. 
 
 The proper place for men of bTains, is post and 
 
 honor in a State; 
 The proper place for those without — is but to serve 
 
 and mourn their fate. 
 
2 2 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 l)oscrii>'^ion of New York to a Friend. 
 
 EverytJiing is profit-makdng, and commercial 
 
 bustle; 
 But Ihiose wiio try to gain the First, must like the 
 
 Second, hu&tle. 
 
 Linos oil {he Eve of the Miners' Convention in Co- 
 himbus, 1904. 
 
 We're met dear bretih'ren now, to speak tihe minds 
 
 of those we left beihind who sent us here; 
 We bring with us their confidence, and trust that 
 
 harmony will reign throughout the year: 
 Our dlaims are truly just, to bring good cheer to 
 
 homes and waves, and offspring whom we love; 
 And hope our counsel whatsoe'er it ibe, shall win 
 
 the approving smale of Him above. 
 
 Dispel all rankle, enimity or 'hate, be guided by the 
 
 Law of Commonsense; 
 If Reason be applied in every case. Progress, 1 
 
 hold — ^sihall be our irecoimpense: 
 And while I know our "findings" must go 'hence 
 
 for final confirmation, ne'er recoil 
 From duty, be courageous, sympathiise with those 
 
 we left behind — The Sons of Tdil. 
 
 THE IDEAL OF LIFE. 
 
 Can you tell me love, is youT heart still true? 
 
 Is your pledge sdncere as of yore? 
 Can i hope for those smiles when we both were 
 young? 
 
 When the sunshine of life lay before — 
 I ihave cherished in mem'ry your words to me then. 
 
 And I ask you that piledge to renew; 
 How I long for that smile so inspiring to me, 
 
 When you murmured "I'll ever be true." 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 2 3 
 
 I've been wai'ting years for your answer, love, 
 
 For the time when we both would be one; 
 I have treasured that lock of your golden hair. 
 
 Which you gave m'e wihen leaving my home. 
 I have lived for the tlime, love, when first we would 
 meet, 
 
 T have loved you in lands o'er the sea; 
 And I only now as-k you, your pledge to redeem, 
 
 That united and happy we may he. 
 
 Rose Farm, Ohio, 190 4. 
 
 Lines on the Death of a Fellow-Miner. 
 
 Come gather round and listen to my tale. 
 
 Draw nigh and hear my m.use — .the labor plan; 
 Ot flow we all oua- ihelpless lot bewail. 
 
 Of how we view tihat gulf 'twixt man and man. 
 Each workman, in his way, puts forth his case. 
 
 To tell of trade — conditions iill or good— 
 Of every vice attenidant on his race 
 
 Of every Virtue rightly understood. 
 
 Attention give ye. sons of rustic toil. 
 
 A t(hougihtful moment, now, from you I crave: 
 While heedilessily we struggle throug-h life's moil, 
 
 Some weary, toil-worn worker seeks the grave. 
 That ultiimate of man, eternal rest. 
 
 Where all ^his troubles cease, which ends his care 
 Where Prince and Miner each at God's behest, 
 
 Forthwith must to tlhat dark ahode repair. 
 
 The miner bears the mark of human woe. 
 
 His iife is one of thard, incessant toil: 
 And with th' inevitaible, what can he show? 
 
 But solace for his labor, 'neath the soil. 
 He may, wiMle aotive, stem misfortune's tide. 
 
 If he be frugal, diligent and wise: 
 But if. thro' age or trouble, laid aside. 
 
 That viile. inhuman monster — want replies. 
 
 Xo State-assisted pension can he claim. 
 No Public Subsidy for age or health; 
 
 A class neglected — everywhere the same — 
 
 And yet we owe that class our power and wealth. 
 
2\ POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 TJie wiieells of industry in every clime 
 Revolve, to turn man's labor into Gold; 
 
 His bone and slinew spent before tlheir time, 
 His constiitutlion sihattered e'er it's old. 
 
 Industrious man! Tiow can you look and lauglh? 
 
 And treat indiff' rentlly comimercial irusih; 
 To see your felilow-imortals swept like dhaff 
 
 Before the wind of Gain, without a blush. 
 I seek not here, tihe industrial course to dheck. 
 
 Nor stay man's progress honestly pursued; 
 But while I reason, tihis I can detect. 
 
 Those wrong's we Suffer, rlightly understood. 
 
 Tlie statesman prates this economic lore. 
 
 Of Masters. Capital and such like Oant: 
 But. when the Master counts ihis stock and store, 
 
 Say — does he estimate the Human Plant? 
 So oft' we know, he never counts the cost 
 
 Of man's exertions, failing every breath; 
 And yet, tIhe faithful worker keeps Ms post, 
 
 Until relieved by Labor's best fi"iiend — ■Death, 
 
 W'hen death o'ertakes his luckless steps — what 
 then ? 
 
 No pageant grand, conducts him to the tomb; 
 Scarcely one knows without iMs family's ken, 
 
 That ihe has passed into eternal gloom. 
 Gone from this fatal stage of human faults, 
 
 We praise him. one of our fraternity; 
 And. tlhough >he erred, conduct it to those vaults. 
 
 With ihim in endless dusk — Eternity. 
 
 Feb. 1903. 
 
 MEMORIATi DAY. 
 
 The brave man Us not ihe wlho feels no fear 
 But he wihose nohle mind that fear suibdues. 
 
 — Bailey. 
 The day Teturns with 'hallowed thougihts a nation 
 
 mouTns her dead, 
 And o'er the tomlbs of iheroes passed her sons and 
 
 daughters spread 
 Tlhat Ihonored flag, the Stars and Stripes, and 
 valor's lau'Tel wreath. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 2 5 
 
 Still mindt'iil of those men who fought that Free- 
 dom's cause mig'ht breathe. 
 
 As if in life we sttill recall that patriot fire of old, 
 ^»'•hich then inspired her val'ian't sons whose names 
 
 are now enrolled 
 On fadr Columbia's "Scroll of Fame," who died to 
 
 set her free, 
 .aid ])aid that .ransom with their blood, wihioh pur- 
 
 cihiased Diberty, 
 
 All honor to our noble dead — illustrious ;in song, 
 Who fear subdued, 'w'ho dared to die fo rlg^it a 
 
 nation's wrongs; 
 Still, with pajtriotic fervor we revere the spot where 
 
 lies 
 The mighty dead — tlie dust from which ten 
 
 thousand heroes rise. 
 Rose Farm, Ohio. May 27, 1905 
 
 DESPONDENCY. 
 
 r often think \\hen I am lonely, 
 Dife's a hardsihip ill to bear, 
 Yet I know I'm not the only 
 One who'se life is fraught with care; 
 Humankind ihave each their troubles, 
 Hope exultant 'leads us on — 
 Often, yea! to burst like "bu'bbles. 
 Seldom worth depending on. 
 
 Some wiho seeim with every pleasure. 
 Often feigned, tho' always sought; 
 But we may discount tihe measure 
 Whiclh, (to judge, is dearly bought. 
 Passing pleasure may relieve us 
 Of our sorrows ifor a time. 
 But it cannot long deceiive us. 
 When it fades, the truth will s'hine. 
 
 Opulence! we see him jolly. 
 Phantoms beckon him to stay. 
 Till 'he learns it's only fpUy, . 
 When the mist iias Cleared away. 
 
2 6 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 He must face a true reaction, 
 \\%ic/li, when 'happy, seems afar — 
 Common sense and real attraction, 
 Chastens all who idly err. 
 
 Poverty is so abundant, 
 To descrd*be in simple lines; 
 And her woes are so redundant, 
 Countless millions sihe entwines. 
 O what suff'ring! O what sadness! 
 Lives of dark despondency; 
 Few your pleasures, short your gladness, 
 Go-d's your main dependency. 
 Rose Farm, Ohio, 1906. 
 
 MAN AND INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 ("Great truths always dwell a 'long tiune with 
 small minorities.") 
 
 That man wiho independent i?! 
 
 Had ibetter ne'er been born; 
 A hard and ruffled life is hiis; 
 
 Of all its sweetness shorn: 
 Unsullied Ihonor marks his course, 
 
 And Dutj^ bids him stay. 
 But God commands with prudent force. 
 
 And God he must obey. 
 
 At early dawn his thoughts are bright. 
 
 The past he tihus revolves; 
 We've nothing gained 'but wlhiat is rigiht, 
 
 How slowly man evolves. 
 Unswerving, zealous, on he sipeeds 
 
 Hi® ideals to proclaim; 
 His llife-work here is mankind's needs. 
 
 Or tyrants hold to sihame. 
 
 No passion proud or empty fame, 
 
 His course can thus retard; 
 Thiat gilded mirage — ^boiastful name — 
 
 All freemen disregard; 
 But why sihould one so sacrifice 
 
 The pleasures smail of life? 
 While few there are who aggrandize, 
 
 Yet, milll'ons in the strife. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 27 
 
 Unequal life, unequal tlioug'lit, 
 
 Wihy should it thus obtain? 
 The rich man's feast as dearly bought 
 
 Witih poor men's bone and brain; 
 Has no-t God equallly diffusied 
 
 His gifts to man and beast? 
 Then w^hy are millions iharshly used? 
 
 And wihy so few the feast? 
 
 That spairk of fire unquenchable 
 
 Digihts on those noble few 
 Who preach tihat cause invincible. 
 
 And Labor's claims renew; 
 Organic change in every sphere 
 
 Has every idea] riven; 
 But men and women — todlers here — 
 
 Assert their rigihts from heaven. 
 
 That man wiho holds our flag on high 
 
 For tihose wrlio care to work; 
 His brain direcits a watchful eye 
 
 On those who always shirk; 
 He feanlessly instructs the mass 
 
 Against that idle cant 
 Wihicih emanate froim those — ^tihe class — 
 
 Wiho neither work nor want. 
 
 Fight on, brave spirit, never tire, 
 
 Old-fasQiioned themes must fade; 
 Let Lalbor's cause your course inspire, 
 
 J^et Progress don Brocade; 
 Nor let a;mbition cheat the world 
 
 Of one on Freedom's side; 
 But keep the flag of toil unfurled 
 
 And God sihali be your guide. 
 
 Tntelligence denotes tne hour 
 
 Which cause ailone must speed. 
 And eke provide some migtbty power 
 
 In man — who, born to lead, 
 Those scattered millions o'er the earth 
 
 Wiho toil while life remains; 
 Who, trusting in their right of birth. 
 
 Can only lose their chains. 
 
 Rose Farm, Ohio, Oct. 1, 1907. 
 
2 8 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 TllUE HEAKTS THAT EVER BEAT. 
 
 Since time began the 'human race has constantly 
 
 Deen dhanging, 
 And tribes migrate from place to p'lace and o'er fhe 
 
 world are ranging; 
 But with tihis change throughout the world, 
 
 amongst mankind we'll meet 
 The fervent few, with flags unfurled, and hearts 
 
 that truly beat. 
 
 For "love of country" men have fought, true honor 
 
 marked their lives; 
 In Freedom's cause their blood has bought that 
 
 happiness it gives; 
 Vv^'Mle knaves and cowards crouching sink into 
 
 their dark retreat. 
 But Justice! stands on Freedom's bnink, w*here 
 
 true hearts ever beat. 
 
 To grasp in full the 'higher plan, man's speculative 
 
 mind 
 Has varied oft' s;ince time began, and still today 
 
 we find 
 That time — worn narrow — seilfish trend, or jeal- 
 ousy compQete, 
 Wihicih prompts those men, to gain their end, whose 
 
 perjured hearts aye beat. 
 
 Could man but reason for himself that nobler, 
 
 higher plan, 
 And banlsih Lust or love of Pelf, and guide or teach 
 
 who can — 
 Let all discord (be overcome, as brothers let us 
 
 meet 
 In every iand, in every home where truthful ihearts 
 
 sihall beat. 
 
 In Labor's cause we find it thus — divisions great 
 
 and small, 
 Wihere men agree, dissent, discuss tihe best for each 
 
 and all; 
 Wihere men responsive to the caW who faithfully 
 
 repeat — 
 "The wrongs of one concern us all" Whose loyal 
 
 hearts still beat — 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 29 
 
 In e\^ery land, in every sphere, there's loyal ihearts 
 
 still throb; 
 From Kdngdoms, Comimonwealths I hear tihe wail 
 
 of Labor's toad; 
 From Pole to Pole let us evollve, and on mankind 
 
 entreat; 
 And Justice claim with one resolve and hearts that 
 
 truly beat. 
 Rose Farm, OMo, April 10, 1907. 
 
 THE CENTENARY OF BURNS. 
 
 A sacred day to all is drawing nig-h 
 
 To Prince and Peasant, lowly born and high — 
 
 A day on whieh all Scotsmen true wtill shew it. 
 
 Their never-dying love for one — ^a ipoet. 
 
 Brief (history narrates oif noble Kings; 
 
 The statesman's voice is 'husihed on aerial wJings; 
 
 A tablet marks our greatest warrior's urns; 
 
 But posterity will 'hail the name of Burns: 
 
 Of alil mankind a Scotsman's truly blest 
 
 To own him as their Poet — Nature's best; 
 
 And doubly blest the iland Whioh gave 'Mm birth. 
 
 Whose name is stil revered all o'er the earth. 
 
 No son of haug'hty indolence was he; 
 
 No Dineal Prince nor Lord of high degree; 
 
 Yet noble was his birth, tho' poor his lot; 
 
 His palace was a country peasant's cot. 
 
 A genius 'born, by nature's G-od inspired. 
 
 Who oft' our paitriotic blood has fired; 
 
 A tribute pay Mm, gather round Ms urn, 
 
 Who splendor lent to Bruce and Bannockiburn. 
 
 His works abound with tender songs ot Love, 
 
 Of hope, of fear, or pleasure's fickle grove. 
 
 Of pain, of wealth and power, or ihuimian wrongs; 
 
 The would admlires his poems and his songs. 
 
 One hundred years ihave slowly passed away 
 
 Since Robbie bade adieu to lovely day, 
 
 Around him — Death — so certain — waved his 
 
 hand. 
 And called ihim hence — the noblest of our land. 
 Arise! Auld Scotia's sons, a homage pay 
 Unto the Bard, now mould'ring in the clay; 
 Let al!l wihose patriotic iblood yet wairms, 
 Assemble round the grave of Robert Burns. 
 Jiilv 21, 1906. 
 
POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 A SnUG O' HEILAN' HEATHER. 
 Frae Dear Old Scotia's Hills. 
 
 Dear fnien', I got yer heather sprig. 
 An' often since I've Messed the twig, 
 Wihioh binds Auld Scotia's sons tae her, 
 
 Prae far an' near; 
 Its purple builliance nane can slur, 
 
 Oir fail tae cheer. 
 
 Lang syne when Rome's advancing arms, 
 A fancy took tae Sco'tia"s charms; 
 Bold Oaesar scanned oor heaither hills. 
 
 In conqu'ring mood; 
 But 'yont the Forth he kent the ills 
 
 An' there he stood. 
 
 Wihen Haco's legions first cam' forth, 
 Tae cowe -the Scots, frae South tae North; 
 Her sons wha lo'ed the heather dear, 
 
 Withstood tihe charge; 
 A "rock of strength" with SAVord an' spear, 
 
 At bloody Largs. 
 
 Wihen Ciressingthiam received command 
 Frae Edward First, tae rue oor land, 
 Brave "Wallace Wight" for love o' hame 
 
 An' iheather sprig; 
 Inspired her Sons wi' patriot flame, 
 
 At Stirling Brig. 
 
 Again when England tried 'her ihan' 
 Tae rule the heather, richt or wrang; 
 The migihty Bruce sprang tae the front. 
 
 The tide tae turn; 
 He forced CarnaTvon's men tae shunt 
 
 Frae Bannockburn. 
 
 At famed Quebec, an' Waterloo, 
 
 At Alma heigihts, oor sons were true; 
 
 An' weel we ken they focht tae win, 
 
 Or dee thegither; 
 Inspired by "love o' haime" each ane. 
 
 The land o' heather. 
 
P^OR THE WORKERS 31 
 
 O: dearest bloom of endless worth, 
 Oor sons Ijiae praised yer iJarent earth; 
 An' a' agree in verse and prose, 
 
 Yer lasting fame; 
 A sprig o' thee tae frien's or foes 
 
 Exalts thy name. 
 
 But here my frien', I must conclude, 
 My muse 'it ends — my 'hamely mood — 
 An' tho' I praise yer gift sae' trig. 
 
 In strings o' rhyme; 
 I'll ever prize yer "heather sprig" 
 
 For Auld Lang Syne. 
 March 12, 1904. 
 
 UNIVERSAL PEACE. 
 
 A cry for universal peace resounds throughout the 
 
 the world, 
 And ifhinking mm must nov.- respond — ^love's ban- 
 ner is unfurled; 
 Irdorsed by kings and statesmen great, inspired by 
 God on higlh; 
 
 And ihigh and low 
 Shall learn to know 
 The uniiversal cry. 
 
 The "doQir of Janus" stands ajar, no truce nor par- 
 ley comes. 
 Continuous is the clash of arms and thundering of 
 
 guns: 
 And jealous staites, for 'honor's sake, keep soldiers 
 on the traimp: 
 
 'T is meet to say. 
 
 That now today. 
 
 The world's an armed camp. 
 
 Great nations thirst for lands abroad — to win, to 
 
 co>lonize — 
 And base their claims on some pretext, protests can 
 
 ne'er suffice 
 To stay the hands of conq'ring hosts, the weak 
 
"2 :^OEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 againPt tihe strong*; 
 Aad trade recedes, 
 "WiMle mankind Weeds, 
 And sitill the world looks on. 
 
 When shall it end, thds savagery — ^tiMs universal 
 
 curse? 
 As nations build up armaments, they filch that na- 
 tion's' purse; 
 And piile up debt for those at home, to colonize 
 abroad; 
 
 In searcih of gain, 
 
 And glory vain, 
 
 And figihting thank their God. 
 
 When sball the "Law of Nations" be alike to great 
 
 and smalll? 
 When shall this thirst for human blood be 
 
 quencihed to end it all? 
 If diplomats and figure*heads be all that they pre- 
 tend — 
 
 Supplant the pen, 
 For guns and men, 
 And war will surely end. 
 
 Long, long ago, in Beth'lehem, the Prince of Peace 
 
 was born. 
 Who taught a filial bro'therhood, and war he held 
 
 in scorn; 
 His miaxims and fixed principles (when preaohed 
 without afliloy) 
 Applied today. 
 Might clear the way, 
 For universal joy. 
 
 True ,honor lies in kindly deeds, to cultivate the 
 
 mind ; 
 Of ignorance or prejudice, so rampant 'mongst 
 
 mankind; 
 Let men agree and nations all resolve that war 
 shall cease; 
 
 And Jove of old 
 Sihall then behold 
 A universal peace. 
 Dec. 13, 1904. 
 
FOn THE WORKERS 
 
 A PTIEDICTED E^^CTTON. 
 
 An eviction is on fuit jist noo, 
 An' fet'h'the tenants arna few, 
 
 There's hailf a tihooisan — -«fic a crew 
 — Or there aboot; 
 
 An' a' tihe nation's in a stew 
 Tae get them ootr 
 
 This is the Hoose o' Lords I mean, 
 For centuries they've ruled supreme, 
 
 An' landed thieves — an' rogues they've Ibeen 
 Klcht up to date; 
 
 Bat noo the folk ther deeds hiv seen 
 An' them tihey ihate. 
 
 But hoo tae get them a' unplaced, 
 
 Those lineal cut-throats — so debased — 
 
 Unless tihe peopile's ire be raised 
 Them t?e unseat: 
 
 An' prove for ance oor minds have blazed 
 Tae fi'ghtiiiTg iheat. 
 
 When Billy I, cam/ o'wer the main 
 Tae teacih oot Harold hoo tae. reign, 
 
 His sogers great wha werna slain 
 On Hastins' field 
 
 Took up tihe conquered Saxon's claim 
 An' pawned 'Ms shield. 
 
 An' still today they treat wi' scorn 
 
 Those cowed and servile — Britiisih born — 
 
 Wiha yet dispute that they've been s^horn 
 O' birthriglht deiar; 
 
 But mirk precedes the sun at )miorn 
 An' day is near. 
 
 That day when glorious education 
 Will free a dull, (lethargic nation 
 
 Frae privileged, tH-tled exaltation 
 O' men o' birth; 
 
 An' stir her sons wi' emulation 
 Towards brains an' worth. 
 
3 4 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 Wi' candor noo, can it be said 
 
 That God's coimmands ihiae been o'beyed? 
 
 Wihy was 'this titled differs made 
 'Twixt man and man? 
 
 Tae ihonest men a spade's a spade, 
 Wiha changed the plan? 
 
 If God Ihiad meant it so to be, 
 
 That luck o' birth stooiild rule the tree, 
 Wfli}^ does He say like brithers 'gree 
 
 Be firm an' fast; 
 Poir strictly on the square is He — 
 
 Frae first tae last. 
 
 But noo tae further pres ma news 
 For rhyming sae is jist a roose, 
 
 rill name some tenants o' this hoose 
 O' titled dandiesi; 
 
 I'll "back a g'ill" they'll craw as cron?e 
 As Spanish grandees. 
 
 There's ane they ca' the Duke o' Argyle, 
 
 His equal disna tread tlhe Isle 
 In tyranny or ony Vile, uncanny act. 
 
 But wiherst! auld Nick, in stately style. 
 
 Is on his track. 
 
 There's Lansdowne brave, an' Judge HalSibury 
 An' Ashlbourne, Cross and Londonde»!Ty 
 
 Wha make the pulir folk's life a worry 
 An' llaiws condemn 
 
 Then Godly, York or Canterbury 
 Pronounce — Aimen . 
 
 We've princes o' tibe royal bluiid, 
 Wi' dukes an' eao-ls an' viscounte hid 
 
 'Neath coronets — that gaudy lid — 
 Tae ih'ide their sense; 
 
 But Demos says, we musit get rid 
 O' sic expense. 
 
 There's twa three mair that I could name 
 
 W)ha a' aspire tae ihaud the reiin, 
 An' weel I ken it's in their game 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 35 
 
 Tae damn reform; 
 They ooht tae filing theiiT helds wi' sliame, 
 — Gret tlhence! for scorn — 
 
 If men o' sense wid jist review 
 
 This subject as I've traced it through, 
 
 Ji&t ask yersels, an' answer noo. 
 Should title rule? 
 
 Is Freedom deid? or why do you 
 Remain a fool? 
 
 Can lit be said that men o' birth 
 
 (Win a claim a' things that's i' the ea/rth 
 
 An' a' the feathered triibe that's worth 
 The ihunter's shot) 
 
 Should clalim tae rule the people's hoartli 
 W'i' priiv'leged vote. 
 
 There is a day ayont man's ken, 
 
 A' eartMy po'er'll ihae it's en' 
 When ity rants a' in sihape o' men 
 
 Wha live in mirth 
 '11 hae tae state hoo they did spen' 
 
 Their time on earth. 
 
 Their plea'll be, we traveled wlide, 
 
 Consplired in schemes as mirk as Clyde, 
 
 But deeds o' thiev'n widna hide. 
 The diie was cast; 
 
 O God! excuse oor earthly ride — 
 Forget ithe past! 
 
 But na', this Great Almiohty po'er 
 Yer evil deeds He'll na lo'ok o'er. 
 
 Ye may be buried 'neath a bower 
 Tae save the smell; 
 
 But when life's oot, afore an 'oor 
 Ye'll be in H — ^11. 
 
 My last upon this Hoose o' Gods 
 
 I wid suggest for a' sic sods, 
 Make men wii' titles carry hods, 
 
 ( Or mend their ways ; ) 
 Distilibute them 'mong parish broads 
 
 Tae end their days. 
 Rose Farm, June 11, 1906. 
 
:;<> POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 BURNS' .INNIVEKSARY. 
 
 Come listen! a" ye bletlierin' Scotch, 
 
 An' eke ye stop yer havers; 
 Yer gossip taps the highest notch, 
 
 A brash o' clish-ma-clavcrs; 
 I here invite ye, ane an' a' — 
 
 Vt'ha idle gossip spurns, 
 Tae come an' spen' an' hour or tvra 
 
 An' honor Rabble Burns. 
 
 Vv'hen George the Second reigned as King 
 
 In Seventeen Fifty Nine, 
 A Scattish chiel was born tae sing 
 
 O' Nature's charms &ae fine; 
 His hame wis on the Banks o' Doon, 
 
 This sturdy Lad o' Kyle, 
 Wha shaped historic words tae tune 
 
 In Scotia's martial style. 
 
 Auld Ncture claims his choicest muse 
 
 Wi' feelin's grand an' guid, 
 The birds an' flowers he could infuse 
 
 Wi' 'Charms that poets hid — 
 The ^hoTse or coo, the sheep an' dog 
 
 A place in verse can claim; 
 The limpin' hare, or moosey snug 
 
 Evicted frae its hame. 
 
 Whaur is the Scot that hisna heard 
 
 His tender songs o' Love? 
 Ten thoosan' passions he has stirred. 
 
 An' a' in verse he wove — 
 That secret flame he trilled sae sweet, 
 
 In songs sae warm an' true 
 E'en Venus fair, knelt at his feet 
 
 Enriched 'wi' speerits new. 
 
 Reforms he wrocht, he quickened lear, 
 
 An' made the tho-chtfu' think — 
 He pictured weel the Rich an' Puir, 
 
 An' pleasures false o' Drink; 
 The Slave and Coward aft he scored. 
 
 An' Traitors held tae shame; 
 But priceless held high honor's word 
 
 An' gave tae Courage fame. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 
 
 37 
 
 But Time gangs on' an' Burns is gane, 
 
 Oar best — oor country's pride; 
 His works sae truthfu 'still remain 
 
 Still lisped ower — ^world wide — 
 This nicht "The Twenty E^ifth" returns, 
 
 An' High an' Low shall dine; 
 Tae honor Scotland's poet — ^Burns 
 
 For Auld Lang Syne. 
 
 January 25, 1907. 
 
::S POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 L \150U POLITICS. 
 
 Or thv Iiunii'diato Possibilities of the Trades Unioji 
 Movement. 
 
 Fellow-workmen: For a good number of years 
 environment has placed me in a position of van- 
 tage, to study in an elementary way the causes and 
 eiTeets of our present industriial system; and {have 
 leairned, througli experience, tihe disadvantages ex- 
 perienced by working men, when trying to gain 
 those necessary refoirms whicb call for immediate 
 attention. Questions, which are of the utmost im- 
 port to the health and welfare of our great army 
 of wage-workers who aire the ibackbone of this or 
 any other country. Modern progress in our present 
 industriial system 'has swept away all of the old- 
 fasihdoned bargaiining between emplloyer and em- 
 ployee, and instead of meeting our employers in 
 small groups or isolated units, as in the past; we 
 have to face colossal aggregations cKf wealth in our 
 st'uggle for existence, by combining the forces of 
 labor, to better enable us in t'hat struggle witih our 
 employers for better wages and conditions of em- 
 ployment. 
 
 Thus far we have succeeded, but are wages the 
 Alpiha and Omega of a Tradesunion? 'Ceirteinly 
 not! There are other channels for the advocates 
 of TjRbor; viz, to see that the workers get a 
 "Square Deal" in our Nationall, State and Munic- 
 ipal bodies; therefore, the subject matter of this 
 essay is quite in keeping with a people, progres- 
 sively in earnesit. 
 
 To write an esay on the above subject, and to 
 encompass within a limiited space the ever-increas- 
 ing possibilities of working men in this direction, 
 vvould be a hard task, indeed; hut with the data at 
 my command, and with the patience and forbear- 
 ance of my readers I shall try and enligihten all of 
 the different elements cf our craft in this hrief es- 
 say. 
 
 Labor politics, as the name implies, is a sulbject 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 3f> 
 
 w'M'ch has engrossed 'the attention of progtressive 
 master-minds tihe world over, and while it is ser- 
 iously misunderstood (or to be pQaiin) ihas never 
 been taught in free-born America, the day is not 
 far distant w*hen the imtoist fervent of the trades 
 union leaders will have to turn to tMngs practical 
 and elevating, and face those problems, wihioh to 
 the woirkers mean so much, in a true spirit ot 
 American citizensihip, 
 
 Maggini says: 
 
 *'Ke who would be free himself must strike the 
 blow." 
 
 As a. preface to my essay, permit me to ask of 
 you a few pilalin but trenchant questions. 
 
 1. How many working men have a national 
 "say so" in the legislative business of this coun- 
 try? 
 
 2. How many working men sound the trumpet 
 of labor in the state legislatures from an independ- 
 ent viewpoint; and iif there are any how far does 
 their views trend towards the general advancement 
 of our cause; or, on the other ihand, ,how much hold 
 has the workers of ithis country on those isolated 
 members? 
 
 3 Is our modus operandi compatible w<itli pres- 
 ent day trades union effo.rt; and if not, what results 
 can we expect when we take into serious consid- 
 eration twentieth century industria'lism? 
 
 4. Can it .'be argued for organized labor that 
 our efforts are meeting with effect the unscrupulous 
 tactics of organized capital? Or can we ihonestly 
 declare that the interests of the laboring Class can 
 best he served by that class of representatives 
 known as employers of laboir, in the state or na- 
 tional legislatures? Having regaird to the fore- 
 going quesitions, I shall attempt, to the best of my 
 ability, to answer all of them in ordinal! form, and 
 if I fall sihort of my present set purpose, that fault 
 is mine and not the fault oif this great twentieth 
 century ideall, in the leading countries of the world. 
 
 First question: I need hardly 'have asked this 
 question, "if any working men had a say so in the 
 national' legislature." They have not! This is a 
 glaring truth which we are ail cognizant with long 
 ago. But to sihow that our faults are none the T^ss 
 and to show the absolute necessity for a working- 
 
4 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 man's party — ^irrespective of political creed or col- 
 or — my object shall ilmve been attained. 
 
 To any one who has slightly studied the science 
 of politics from a modern view point, the govern- 
 ment of la miodern state (as Uhe term modern im- 
 l)lies) is government of the people, by the people, 
 for the people, but wihen we impartialily dip down 
 into the ■ question, as lit stands in every country 
 (monarohiial or otherwise) is it really so? 
 
 Switzerlland, I admit, ihas set examples for the 
 world to learn; but take this, the greatest of all 
 modern republics, how does it stand? Simply thus 
 — government of the poor, by the ridh, for the 
 ricih. 
 
 The American national anthem is a genuine piece 
 of patriotic genius, and dlearly demonstrates the 
 why and wherefore wihioh actuated the spirit of 
 its wniter; but really and truly the present condi- 
 tions of American life (political, sodial and indus- 
 trial) are not in sympathy with thnt great poem; 
 therefore, sometihing evolutionary of a progressive 
 nature is imiriied lately necessary. 
 
 The last line of the poem runs thi:s: "The land 
 of the free and the home of the brave," but to suit 
 present conditions sihould read like this: 
 
 "Here the rich and the knave doth the poor man 
 enslave." 
 
 It will be airgued by some that the people are 
 indirectly represented in Congress in tlie interests 
 of all classes of society; but if tlhis be the case, 
 how mudb legiislative business has been done in 
 that chamber, within recent years, in the interest 
 of labor? 
 
 If tihe spirit of Congress were actuated by that 
 l^assage of Scripture wihioh says "By their works 
 we sihail know them," all round legislation would 
 be safe in their hands; but we have found by bitter 
 experience that a few iiundred of the peoples' rep- 
 resentatives assemble together to enact class legis- 
 lation on personal mandate; and the people of this 
 country (have become so lethargic that they care 
 not nor will they seek a remedy. 
 
 Within that saored chamber (the House of Con- 
 gress) the voice of labor has never yet been heard: 
 and it is to the everlasting discredit of every work- 
 er in this country tlhiat sudh is the case. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 41 
 
 Some, again, will contend that the American 
 Federation of Labor looks after the leg^islative (bus- 
 iness of tihe trades unionists of this country; but 
 with all due deference to the leaders of tlhat great 
 organization. t;he legis/latiive funotions of tihat body 
 are more expensive than useful. 
 
 Instead of this unnecessary expense of lo'bbyfing 
 the wrongs of labor, the workers sihould take tiiie 
 matter in hand, and by their votes on election day 
 send their own congressimen plum inside the House 
 to air the seuitiments and ameliorate the conddtions 
 of all classes of la'bor. 
 
 The Ameili'can Federation of Labor 'has been in 
 existence for over two decades, and while lit serves 
 a good and useful purpose, by uniting the wage- 
 earning class on a common line of action, its ef- 
 fecitiveness as a flegislative factor is unstable and 
 incomplete. It has knocked at nhe door of Con- 
 gress for a considerable length of time. but. like 
 the proverbial "unwelcome caller," Is still knock- 
 ing. The good book tells us to "Knock and it sihali 
 be opened unto us," ,but ihere is an exception to 
 this world-wiide maxim. The only knock that wiiJl 
 ever have true effect here is for the working men 
 ol this country to make up their minds to send di- 
 rect laibor representatives to Congress. Then, and 
 then only, will t'letir mandate be respected. 
 
 Then agaiin, fthere is the United States Senate — 
 the house df many lords' — ^representing the class 
 privilege and monopoly. This House, under the 
 l)resent system, no working 'man need ever hope 
 to enter; even "angels would fear to tread" within 
 its sacred Gorrldors. 
 
 This branclh of the legislature :holds an executive 
 veto over all mlinor bodies — even the peoples' cihos- 
 en champion (the President) has to pause before 
 its miglhty influence. If its doings were inspective 
 ?n-d its members eilective, as a peoples' corrective, 
 all would be well; but in its present form — is use- 
 less, dangerous, and ought to be abolished — no 
 evaporating pnlliative nor fantastic nostrum can 
 ever be offered as the grand <iase-ending panacea 
 for sucih an evil in our midst; a nation has a lesser 
 claim for two minds rhan a man has for two skins. 
 Make thpni elective by popular vote, or "out and 
 cloa.r the way." 
 
{2 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 Second Question: My second question can be 
 fcasilly answered as to how many sound the trumpet 
 for labor in the Stare's leglsilatures. 
 
 To beg'in witJh, I must admlit that there are a 
 fevv- iso'Iated units in the different State legislatures 
 but as to their effectiveness, or how immch 'hold tihe 
 workers ^haye on sudh memibers, there 5» no ques- 
 t i on . 
 
 Ttliese men enter the as'semblies of the different 
 states on independent lines; and vvhile I pay all 
 due respect to the few so ihonored, I must confesvs 
 their voice 'is like the one "crying in the wilder- 
 ness" — of very little avaii'l. Alll the comibined force 
 of ilhe empilorving class is brougiht to bear against 
 puoh members, and the interests of the corpora- 
 tions, such as interurban, traction, railroad, mines 
 and mining, gas and oil, are best served and safe- 
 guarded against progressiive legislation and equit- 
 able taxation. 
 
 Those independent legislators a^-e good enough 
 in their way, and I 'have no donbr are sincere 
 enough; but there is no staibility nor effectiveness 
 in this isolated workingnian legislator, in a House 
 of mixed interests, and any slighl diminution of 
 support at ellection time (wihile his oppoiient has 
 doles to give to get there) 'Ms time has passed off 
 as a peoples' man, and the elector, wise after the 
 event, 'has no other alternative but take his imedi- 
 cine — ihumi'liatlion and ring rule. 
 
 My answer to tihis question is, that our modus 
 operandi is not compatible with progressive trades 
 union effort; nor can we look for any social, eco- 
 nomic nor industrial reforms, unless we rearrange 
 our mode of procedure to co'mbat twentietfti century 
 industr'ialism. A retrospective glance at the his- 
 itory of the labor movement will positively satisfy 
 every worker on this point; and if we clear our 
 miinds of party prejudice, or 'hereditary political 
 bias, the conditions today are not to be compared 
 with tihe conditions whSdh otbtained 50. 30 or even 
 20 years ago. 
 
 Take the latter of these dates. Then we had to 
 organize in small districts, to combat (isolated em- 
 pJoyers of lalbor, to claim a fair sihare of the profits 
 of hard work. But conditions today are completely 
 changed; and instead of that kind of guerrilla war- 
 
FOR THE V/ORKERS 4 3 
 
 lare we have had recourse to the ^broader idea of 
 coimiblning t'he forces of organized labor to better 
 enable us, for tJhe never-ending contest with organ- 
 ized capital for wages and conditions of employ- 
 ir.ent, slaorter Ihours and recognition of our union. 
 But, ^afcer all, is this to be all, and the end of 
 our existence? Have we arrived at tihat point of 
 j>erfection wihere our efforts should cease? Cer- 
 tainlj' not! We muSit evolve and by evolving we 
 are progressing; to enaible us to lead happier, nob- 
 ler and more useful lives. 
 
 Twentieuh centucy civilization demands imore of 
 us tihan that v/hiich was demanded from our parents 
 or grandparents 50 or 100 years ago. We are now 
 past thiat "finger post" in history wthen the worker 
 "lived to eat" to enable him to toil. Today we 
 "eat to live," to love, and harmonize, and enable 
 our less foTtunate co-workers to enjoy the full 
 fruits of those God-sent blessings so bountiful and 
 bright, but stifled and limited by class privileges 
 and party legislation. 
 
 In this country today the science of government 
 has become a misnomer, and not till the working 
 men take an inteiEigent interest in the affairs of 
 state w^ill it ever 'be any better. 
 
 Present day indus'trialis.m is moving at suoh a 
 rapid rate t'hat the positlion of the day wage-earner 
 hasi beoome alarming. Any one wlitih average in- 
 telligence must admit that the sovei'eagn voice of 
 t'he people ihas not been, nor is not respected, and 
 the political machines (for as such they appear to 
 me) have become so corrupt, and serve no good 
 purpose, that the honest voter must stand aloof 
 if he wants to remain immune from the stain of re- 
 action and political lintrigue. 
 
 FourtJi Question. My fourth and last question 
 brings me to the crucial poiint of this essay, and 
 one whicih, to say the ileast. Is of ionmediate im- 
 port to the American people. My answer there is 
 eimpihatdcalily — No! Our best efforts presently are 
 not meeting with effect the unscrupulous tactics of 
 organized capital. Nor can the best interests of 
 the Ipjboring classes be served in the State or na- 
 tional legislatures, by employers of labor. 
 
 A few existing anomolies will suffice to prSS'^e 
 that class legisilation is the rule in this country. 
 
4 4 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 We -have law by injunction, pi iviilleges of trusts 
 and co-mbine-:, railroad preferences, loose banking 
 laws, defective mining laws, alien immigration 
 uncontrolled, and a whole 'host of other albuses 
 x^ihich caul foir immediate remedy. 
 
 Agaiin there is the postvil sys.l:em. Instead of it 
 being a drag on the government exchequer, it 
 ou'giht to (be a paying concern, and if every servant 
 had to qualify in this branch of the government 
 service (instead of iby appointment) this could be 
 broughit about — with better results. Further, 
 
 there is muniicipal owneirsihip of puhlic utilities, or 
 rnuniaipal goverDment on modern iines with pow- 
 ers from the State, or, if you wiill, government own- 
 ership on a broad national basis. In fact there is 
 no end to the possitb'ilities otf a popular governmenr, 
 all of wihioh can be materially emhanced by work- 
 ing men taking a practical interest in their own 
 and tfee nation's welfare. 
 
 What is wanted in this country is a national 
 labor party, to sehd direct liaibbr members to the 
 national congress, and the (legislatures of tihe dif- 
 ferent states, to voice the opinions of the wage- 
 earning dl ass. 
 
 Under the present system the different assem- 
 l)lies, state and national, are packed wtith men rep- 
 resenting the money interests, and are obligated to 
 no one; but if laJbor had its own representatives 
 pledged (to the principle of labor reform, no one 
 can gaiinsay the fact but what the interests, the 
 health and the safety of the workers would be 
 strictly safeguarded. 
 
 A^s i have already stated, ail this can be brought 
 about independent of a man's political convictions, 
 creed or color. Only one needs to stretcih bis geo- 
 graplhical imagination to other countriies and learn 
 for himself. A glance at the great adbievements 
 of the workers of Great Britain, France, Gerimany 
 Switzerland, etc., and there you will find that the 
 voice of working men is a force to be reckoned 
 with: and no iminiistry is safe without paying due 
 tribute to labor. Take Great Britain--^e recent 
 elections and theiir results for laibor's cause is 
 something astounding, and nothing short of a po- 
 litical revolution. 
 
 Somevrbere between 50 and 60 labor members 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 45 
 
 have been returned to that leg'islatiire, a fact wihlich 
 far ouiLstretcihed the hopes of the most optimiistic. 
 It is argued by some that most of the great trades 
 unions have 'b<5en burst asunder on the political 
 "rock of destruction;" but lif any organization for 
 progiess 'is buiilt on a solid foundation, its powers 
 and porJibili'tiies are progreissively limitless. 
 
 DAVID B. ROBB. 
 Rose Farm, Ohio. 
 
 LABOR POLITICS. 
 
 Editor Mine Workers' Journal: 
 
 I have noticed with interest the different ariticles 
 on labor politdcs, since my letter on this suibject 
 appeared a few months ago in the Journal, and 
 whiile I (have no fault to find with tihe different 
 writers on the general proposition, tihere is less of 
 a rush towards this new issue than the case neces- 
 sitates. 
 
 It is all very true that the feeling for such a 
 course towaa-ds labor reform is yet in its Initial 
 stage and that the road to success is strewn with 
 difiicultie^; bu't there is not, nor 'bas there ever 
 been, any movemient started which did not carry 
 with it a higih percentage of 'honest fervor and fix- 
 ity of purpose attached to those men wfho have been 
 (and are today) imbued wit that courageousness 
 which eventually must win, while others miss tihe 
 grand aim in their eagerness for prominence as a 
 matter of course. 
 
 Since my last letter appeared in the coluimns of 
 our paper a great change has taken place among 
 Tihe labor leaders of this country towards political 
 activity, and why? Simply because those leaders 
 have met with another legislative reverse, inflicted 
 by Speaker Cannon and others, and to use our 
 own phrase, Mr, Gompers and his lieutenante are 
 going to ap'peail to the consciences of the workers 
 of America to make up for los-t ground or pasft 
 inactivity. 
 
 My first question is: Why not hoist tihe flag of 
 labor and form what /m-ight be unquestionably call- 
 
-i'^ POEAiS AND ESSAYS 
 
 ed a naiiioiial labon' party? And tliuswise inake an 
 inkiative but sincere attempt to amalgamate the 
 rorces cf lalooir foa- practical legislative purposes. 
 This •'parcih-up" policy of t^he A. F. of L. is only a 
 deterrent to those of us in earnest and s'pells Aveak- 
 ness or linEincen.y at the outset. 
 
 Anyone, even with an elementary knowledge of 
 the rottenness whiich prevails in o'ur political, ju- 
 dicial, sociial, economic and industrial systems, 
 must know tihat sucih palliative nostrums are only 
 weigihed 'in tihe scales of common sense for what 
 T'hey are v/orth; therefore our duty (as ibona fide 
 members of free organizations) is to form a work- 
 ers' party, free from political bias, to co-operate 
 with or act independent of either of tihe exisiting 
 orthodox parties. It is all very well to talk about 
 certain politicians being friendly to labor, and may 
 suffice so far and so long, accordinig to how the 
 units of ilabor imay poliitically discern; but to one 
 who ihas taken an interest for years in poilitircal 
 action throug*h a trades union medium, myi argu- 
 jnent is that the woirkers' best friend is himself, 
 and not till ihe takes an intelligent interest in him- 
 sieif ari'd the future of his offspring will Ms own 
 condition be much better. 
 
 The firsit great part to be played in the "drama 
 of progress," politicaWy, is education. Train the 
 minds of our half servile brothers up to that point 
 where servility ends and progress begins, and pre- 
 pa.re them intellectually to utilize their suffrage 
 zs men and citizens. 
 
 No structure, so to speak, in the material sense, 
 can ever ibe built upon a snow bill, and less so can 
 anything be escalblisihed, intellectuailly, wihich is 
 obscure and incomplete. 
 
 Tinkening at labor and social reform has served 
 its day, and the sooner the workingmen of America 
 realize thiis the better it will be for those of us 
 v.iho toiid today and the millions wiho are expected 
 to take cur places in years to co^me. Just to phil- 
 osophize a little: There are only two courses open 
 to us as workingmen — either go on as we are doing 
 with the dangers of degeneracy to combat, or co- 
 operate as trades unionists by poliitica)! activity, 
 with tihe glorious privileges aihead of social, polit- 
 ical and industrial emancipation. Fool he woulti 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 
 
 be W'lio could even venture to thinlv tliat tihe pres- 
 ent system can last and that t'he people (tJhe work- 
 ing people I mean) will always be satisfied with 
 their lot. Just as sure as that great orb in the 
 heavens Idghts up tihe eastern seaboard at dawn, 
 jusit so suire will the orb of intelliigence burst fortn 
 and enliglhten the inteHeicts of workingmen and 
 pronounce the "dawn of freedom" from California 
 to Maine and from Wasihington to Florida. Of all 
 the countries whose legislators directly represent 
 labor I beMeve those of Great Britain ilead the van. 
 At the last election between fifty and sixty niem- 
 'bers were returned in the interests of the workers, 
 eaoh of wihom had to rise by siheer dint of hard 
 work and earnestness and are therefore in a po- 
 sition to know exactly the wants and wishes of the 
 man of toil. Furtheimore, it must 'be borne in 
 mind that Great Britain has not yet attempted to 
 pay its natJional representatives, which goes to 
 prove that such a course in Aimiei"<ica wou/ld be much 
 easier than in Great Britain. 
 
 The Britiisih workingman not only pays election 
 expenses out of this union funds, but also main- 
 tains those workingmen parliamentarians all the 
 year round with a salary of £3 50 ($1,750) and all 
 reasonable expenses. How much eas<ier it wouild 
 be for such a course in this country' to form a na- 
 tional labor party, thereby being enabled to pro- 
 mote the interests and welfare of every wage work- 
 er witlhin tihe confines of tbis much talked of free 
 country and its dependencies? 
 
 In America the national exchequer takes over 
 the finanolal responsibiility of paying its legislatoirs, 
 but the British workman takes it out of his earn- 
 ings; itherefore, surely with this big advantage the 
 course to social and labor reform is considerably 
 enhanced. Wihat lis wanted is ihonest, earnep*t 
 and progressive co-^operation among the trades 
 union officials in this country, and no matter wihat 
 their personal politicail opinions may ibe. such opin- 
 ions must not in the slightest be a drawback to 
 that which aims at the greatest good for the great- 
 est number. 
 
 Mv last suggestion under this head would be for 
 the International Miners' Union, and all other un- 
 ions, to take a ballot vote of its members on the 
 
4 8 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 question of paying a smalil sum per capita per year 
 to meer the election expenses and propaganda work 
 of returning bona fide labor meanbers to the states 
 and national legiislatures. it is perfectly true that 
 the American Federation of Labor has lissued clr- 
 cuilairs soliciitinig financial assistance for the pur- 
 poses I (have quoted, but if the meimbers of the 
 different unions were to get a. short course of in- 
 struction, through their officials, on this great sub- 
 ject of labor reform and itihis progressive step of 
 the American Federation of Labor, I am convinced 
 that a ballot vote would unquestionafbly end satis- 
 factorily to all parties. Unless we can carrj^ ©very 
 brother along with us, or, at least, the majority 
 thereof, we run the risk of disintegrating a har- 
 monious whole; and according to the make-up of 
 our organizations (politically) would have a ten- 
 dency to set back the ihands of the clock o-f pro- 
 gress for years to come. 
 
 In concilusion, I am satisfied to t^ink that so far 
 la;bor was successful at the last election. With 
 men like Wilson and Nicholils in the national con- 
 gress we can rest assured in them we (have two 
 champions worthj^v and well qualified in labor's 
 cause, and I hope that the workers \\"ill not forsake 
 a cause so irig'h'teous at every opportunity. 
 
 Fraternallv yours, 
 
 b. B. ROBB. 
 Rose Farm, Ohio, Jan. 21, 190 7. 
 
 CX>-OPERATIVE BANKING. 
 
 Editor Mine Workers' Journal: 
 
 I observed in the coilumns of The Journal a state- 
 ment of facts pertadning to the failure of that hank 
 in Spning Valley, 111. I helieve I express the feel- 
 ing of your readers when I say that we all deplore 
 the heavy loss sustained hy our national President, 
 John Mitchell, and the vest of the working men 
 wiho were diepoeiitore in that institution. The very 
 fact of these men becoming victimsi of one among 
 the many bankiing catastrop-hes in this country is. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 49 
 
 to say the least, enough to make thinking men 
 think and arouse the Indlifferent to a sense of rheir 
 duty. 
 
 W'hen a man becomes a member of an organiza- 
 tion (trades union or benevolent) the mere fact 
 of his becoming a memher does not end there; his 
 initiation as a financial unlit of a great whole cai- 
 ries with it (his proportionate sihare of the respons- 
 ibidity; therefore, as a unit of the United iMine 
 Workers of America, the scope and magnitude of 
 whicth has a continental influence in mining and 
 other industries, I beg leave to submit my opinion 
 as to ihow those bank failures might serve as an 
 education for those of us who have been giifted with 
 a silight favor of intelligence, who care to learn. 
 and how far tihat intelligence might he utilized in 
 the education oif those less fortunate. 
 
 Now, in tihe first place. I do not claim to be in 
 any way conversant with the banking laws of this 
 country: nor is it my purpose to try and educate 
 the miners on any technical question wlhich re- 
 quires years of study to become proficient: but it 
 is my duty as a miner, and an active member of 
 our organization, to take more than a passive in- 
 terest in this financial disaster to our fellow-orafts- 
 •nien. 
 
 If my authority — the daiily press — can be reiied 
 u])on — and I have no general reasons for doubt — 
 there is ihardly a week in the year, and sometimes 
 hardly a day in the week, but some bank some- 
 where closes its doors. Bank failures, financial 
 frauds, muniaipal graft, corporation swindles, etc.. 
 etc., are the rule insitead of being an exceptional 
 ooourrence. Why s'hould it be thus? There is a 
 screw loose somewhere in the nation's financial 
 auxiliaries. I do not infer that there is any spec- 
 ial defect (if I except the Legislaiure) : the defect 
 is general. 
 
 Dank failures within recent years have become 
 a chronic nuisance in this country, and consequent- 
 ly a public danger. 
 
 Is there no immediate reremdy that could be ap- 
 plied to purge the nation of those stock-jobbing 
 freebooters? Couild the whip of Congress (the peo- 
 ple's ihouse) not be applied with lightning effect 
 as a means of correction toward an honest end? 
 
50 POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 If this state of affairs be allowed to continue What 
 mora,! or material effect can it have on tihis, the 
 greateisit of all modern rep uib lies? Are the people 
 of free America so lethargic as to allow it to con- 
 tinue without raising its sovereign voice in protest? 
 Surely not. In my opinion the day is not far dis- 
 tant (and that day sooner than those least affected 
 are aware of) when tihe peopile of this country will 
 rise as a unit, ibut with greater force than the pro- 
 verbiail tidal wave, and cleanse this falir land of 
 enthroned rascality. 
 
 Having regard to the question as it stands, and 
 in the absence of any iimimediate legisilative inter- 
 ference, is there no other remedy that could be 
 applied to safeguard the surplus funds of frugal 
 wage-eairners, of states, municipalities, trades or 
 benevolent organizations? There is, and the time 
 is more than opportune for some suc'h remedy, by 
 either one of the above named bodies, and the 
 United Mine Workers of America appeal to me, 
 first, most, and ail the time. 
 
 We are all agreeatoile to and self-conscious of the 
 fact tihat the present officials of the miners' organ- 
 ization are supremely capabile of wresiing (from the 
 captains of the mining industry a fair and equit- 
 able share of the profits accruing therefrom. That 
 granted, is it not as reasonafole to thinly; that these 
 same officials aire just as capable of inaugurating 
 a banking systetm of our own whereby the funds 
 of our organization and the economic surplus of 
 our members would be entirely safe. If banking 
 be a profitable business for a surplus capital surely 
 rihe real owners oif such capitafl, or their tried and 
 trusted officials at least, are just as capable and 
 trustworthy as can be found elsewhere. States and 
 munidpaliities the world over (have each their quota 
 — ^more or less — of working men's intelligence in 
 the counsels af sucih. Then, again, tlhere is the 
 great co-operative movement — 'the greatest eco- 
 nomic force of the age — it, in itself, is enoug'h to 
 convince the average man what can be attained by 
 an active people. 
 
 Co-operation is the outcome of working men's 
 intelligence, and today (ev^n by those opposed to 
 the doctrine of organized labor) it is pronounced 
 an unqualified success. Then why not a trades 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 51 
 
 banking system? Banking, in my opinion, is no 
 more complex a subject than the responsibility of 
 victualing, at a profit, a whole nation of wage-earn- 
 ers. Banking; by a trades union, wouid be only a 
 new 'brancih of progressive thought fo<r working 
 mien's sons, and the sires of today, by giving it our 
 hearty support, our sons wiW be able to make it 
 more perfect for future generations to come. 
 
 In conolusion I shall ask tihe readers of our pa- 
 l.^er what fix would we find ourselves in if tO'morrow 
 we were face to face with some great industrial 
 difficulty and applied at the hank for O'ur money 
 (our war material), only to find that t<hat same 
 day oir the day previous this bank had become in- 
 solvent throug'h wiild sipeculation by the directorate 
 or individual dishonesty. The effect would be 
 most liiumiiliating and tihe consequences disastrous 
 in the extreme. We would then attempt to stem 
 the tide at scihedu^le time, oir like many who have 
 fallen in tihe old rut, become wise after the event. 
 
 Hoping I ihave not transgressed on my license a^ 
 an organized miner, I remain. Yours fraternally, 
 
 DAVID B. ROBB. 
 
 Ro.e Farm, Obio, July 31. 1905. 
 
 (X)-OPERATION. 
 
 FeIlow-v>^orkers, in attempting to write an arti- 
 cle on the co-operative movement, I feel within 
 myself that it is only an attempt by one wholly un- 
 fitteJd for such a huge undertaking, but if zeal for 
 the cause of progress be taken as my credentials, 
 to promote the interests af the wage earners of this 
 country, I shall try my 'best to enlighten (if only 
 in t'he outline) those who are not acquainted with 
 the benefits of this working man's movement. I do 
 not intend to exhaust every principle within the 
 co-operative plan, nor am I capable of giving fig- 
 ures which may be construed as being minute or 
 up to date; but enough to convince every one that 
 through the medium of co-operation lies the salva- 
 tion of the workers, and if I learn that this article 
 is being read by the class to which I 'belong, and is 
 
POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 rhe means of causing some to think and act, I shall 
 consider I have effected something without regard 
 for reward or praise. As Shakespeare puts it: 
 
 "He lives most who thinks most. 
 Feels the noblest — -Acts the best." 
 
 The Cause of Co-Operation. 
 
 There is no new movement since man emerged 
 from the depths of barbarisim and ignorance, 
 neither political, religious nor social, but what had 
 some cau:-e for its adoption, and while co-opera- 
 tion, in different forms throughout the ages, has 
 been practiced — such as barter or exchange — there 
 was ample cause in Great Britain (where it was 
 started) for starling some new form of distribution 
 which would l>e beneficial to the working classes of 
 that country. 
 
 Co-operation, like trades unionism, has learned 
 its lessons from the opposing force or cause of its 
 existence; and for proof of this statement one onl\- 
 needs to casually glance at the existing economic 
 arrangements in whatever country he is located. 
 Very little explanation is necessary to point at the 
 chief cause of this advanced movement further than 
 this, "that private trading and unrestrained monoj)- 
 oly" was and is the sole cause why it should be 
 adopted by the workers. 
 
 The founder of true co-operation was Robert 
 Owen, an employer of 'labor in New Lanark. Scot- 
 land, and it is to his everlasting credit that he 
 ■'showed the way, the truth, and the light" to his 
 workers, and made it possible for them to purchase 
 direct "the best articles of food at the lowest possi- 
 ble cost," or cost of production to put it plainly. 
 
 Herein lies the secret and governing principle of 
 co-operative progress, and not till the working men 
 of this country realize its true value will their con- 
 dition of living be much better. To be plain with 
 you — iwhere co-operation does not exist and until if 
 becomes a counteracting force you will always be 
 the victims of private monopoly and wholesale rob- 
 bery. 
 
 There is no trade or grade in this country, in the 
 ordinary sense, but what the wages of those en- 
 gaged tlierein are liaible to change from time to 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 
 
 time, the result of which is a hardship in conse- 
 quence. To begin with, when an advance takes 
 place, and in many instances long before it becomes 
 a fact, the people wiho ihold the keys of food sup- 
 ply and other articles necessary to human comfort, 
 herald the tidings throughout the length and 
 breadth of America, and the result is a correspond- 
 ing advance in the cos.t of living, and instead of the 
 man, who risks life and health for an existence, get- 
 ting the benefit of that advance in the price of 
 labor lit goes into the pockets of the storekeeper — 
 company or private. 
 
 One may ask why it is that the provision mer- 
 chant so regulates the price of the necessaries of 
 life to an extent incompatible with justice? But 
 the answer is not far to seek. The private store- 
 keeper has no oipposition, he holds the keys of dis- 
 tribution, and you, in your helpless state must pay 
 whatever price he cares to exact. 
 
 When a reduction in wages takes place, is the 
 effect so ipronounced? Is there a corresponding 
 reduction in the price of food? Certainly not! 
 With the advent of trade prosipenty, victualing (as 
 I already stated) takes a gradual rise, but trade 
 depression, generally speaking, has never brought 
 the price of food down in conformity with the al- 
 tered condition of things, and instead of the work- 
 ers' position becoming easier and more comfort- 
 able, according to society evolution, they are as 
 much entrammeled as ever. 
 
 Having regard to the "company store" business, 
 which is a great institution in this country, it, in 
 itself, is another form of profit-mongering and pri- 
 vate enterprise. By supporting this form of distri- 
 bution, the workers generally, and the miners par- 
 ticularly, have become tools in the hands of big 
 syndicates and corporations, and I am not going 
 too far when I say that the work, or, if you will, 
 the wages of the workers of such huge companies, 
 is regulated according to the "house rent" or 
 "store bill, ' and a corresponding regulation in the 
 price of food according to trade. Company stores 
 were never started (in any country) for the work- 
 ers' benefit. In some cases they were, and are con- 
 venient, but never 'philanthropic, and just so long as 
 they are supported will they continue. 
 
POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 iHundreds of families in this country, the heads 
 of whi'ch are the wage earners, seldom ever see 
 current co".n of the realm, or at least handle so 
 little of it to provlide for outside expenses, that it 
 is almost impossible for some to puit anything past 
 for a rainy day. This being so, the toiler becomes 
 an easy prey to exploiting capital and commercial 
 intrigue, and 'when he is called upon to defend his 
 trade or his interests, lor wages or conditions of 
 
 employment ihe has either to take it "laying down" 
 or face a bitter contest with his employer without 
 visible means of support, if we except outside 
 charity. When pay day comes the people who are 
 attached and bound to company stores have very 
 little trouble with money or its true value in an 
 open competitive market. A "statement" is pro- 
 duced, and alongside the owners' labor value is his 
 food or household expenses, termed merchandise, 
 and he is lucky if he has much more coming to him 
 than his statement, which with his signature ends 
 the transaction. How long are the workers of 
 America going to tolerate such a state of things? 
 Americans in general are credited with being a 
 hard-headed people, (but can we honestly credit the 
 American working man so far, when he allows 
 himself to be robbed to such an extent? He ac- 
 cepts the smile of the storekeeper (either company 
 or private) as a matter of course, as tangible 
 l)aunty for his custom, but the question of self pres- 
 ervation he never gives five minutes' consideration, 
 and the private trader is still safe within the con- 
 fines of unrestricted profit-making robbery and 
 greed. I must conclude this part of my sketch by 
 reminding my readers, that sooner or later the 
 laiboring classes of this country will have to turn 
 their attention towards a remedy. In times of 
 prosperity the pinoh is not so much felt as in times 
 of traJde depression. As the old proverb reads. 
 "Make hay while the sun shines." my advice to you 
 is to strengthen your position while you have work- 
 able means; because the day may not be far distant 
 when you will be powerless to resist the onslaughts 
 of dominant caipital, at a time when low wages and 
 trade depression is a ruling factor in your midst. 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 55 
 
 Effect of Co-Operatioii. 
 
 A brief sketch will suffice to show the effect 
 which the co-operative movement has had on the 
 twentieth century working men in those countries 
 where i't has been adopted. In France, Germany, 
 Belgium and the mainland of Europe a marked 
 amount of progress has been made on co-operative 
 lines, and there are very few towns in these coun- 
 tries but what has its standing memorial of what 
 can be attained by oneness of spirit and united 
 effort. 
 
 In England and Scotland (and especially the lat- 
 ter) I am better able to give you an opinion of 
 what has been done by working men. Fifty or 
 sixty years ago the conditions of labor and the 
 wages were at such a low eibb that the working 
 classes In England and Scotland were compelled to 
 try something to make life worth living, and, "ne- 
 cessity 'being the mother of invention" at all times, 
 and more especially extreme cases such as this, it 
 was either reform or revolu-tion. A few of the most 
 courageous among the workers banded themselves 
 together, and, with what money they could spare, 
 or borrow from those who were friendly to the 
 moveTnent, they started co-operation on practical 
 lines, and while I must admit that some of those 
 attempts were failures, either through want of suj)- 
 port or courage on the part of the promoters, those 
 failures through time proved of immense value, and 
 were stepping stones to success. What says Confu- 
 cius on this point: : 
 
 "Our greatest glory is not in never failing. l)at 
 rising every time we fall." 
 
 Today in Britain the public generally and the 
 laiboring classes in papti'cular, would ])e without 
 their friend if co-operative stores were non-existent. 
 The pioneers of co-operation had a hard uphill fight 
 against the private trader for a considerable time, 
 but today the memljers and managing officials are 
 universally respected. 
 
 WMthin the last thirty years the members of co- 
 operative stores in Britain have earned in profits 
 over $500,000,000 dollars, not to speak of the 
 amount of good it has done in charitable and other 
 directions. A glorious example to the workei^ of 
 
 L OF C. 
 
POEMS AND ESSAYS 
 
 other countries, well worthy of imitation. 
 
 In Scotland, with a comlbination of small societies, 
 they started, several years ago, what is known as 
 the "Scottish Co-Operative Wholesale Society,'" to 
 purchase in the open market direct articles of food, 
 clothing, etc., etc. This move in itself has proved 
 the greatest economic success of modern times. The 
 turnover of money for the first year of its existence 
 was a little over $400,000. Today it exceeds $25 - 
 000,000, and the directors are forceful, active com- 
 petitors in the food markets of the world. 
 
 While this is all true about the marketing and 
 distributive qualities of the Scottish Co-Operaitive 
 Society, it does not end here. The means of pro- 
 duction have also been acquired, and today the co- 
 operators of that country are rivals in almost all 
 of its markets. They own flour mills, dairies and 
 preserve factories: factories for the mnnufacturo 
 of tobacco, soap, boots and shoes, clothing, etc., 
 and the medium through which its mem')crs are 
 enaJbleld to ipur-chase firecoal, furniture' and articles 
 of general household utility. Nor yet does its in- 
 flueu'ce end here, its members have built quite :i 
 number of workmen's houses in different i)arts of 
 the country, and handed them over to members at 
 the cost of production, a fact which could not have 
 taken place unless for the help which co-operation 
 affords. 
 
 It is also true that they are in possession of un- 
 disputed ground rights; but the latest achievement 
 far outstiretclhes anything yet recorded in their his- 
 tory, especially is it so in a country where ground 
 ownership is only sacred to the few at the expense 
 of the many. They have purchased an estate ex- 
 tending to fully 1,100 acres, which, with its fix- 
 tures (a castle no less) cosit them $175,000 dollars, 
 for farming 'purposes — a glorious feat to be sure. 
 but only in keeping with twentieth century progress. 
 
 BuvSiness Qualities of the Maiiajj;onient. 
 
 It may be asked by some about the business qual- 
 ities of working men in such a colossal movement, 
 but I don't need to refer you to men outside of the 
 United iStates for an answer. 
 
 You have your trades union leaders in every part 
 of the country. Have they failed in their purpose 
 
FOR THE WORKERS 57 
 
 to effect good? Are they not always capable of 
 carrying out your instructions in whatever course 
 your views tend? 
 
 Have they n6t proven time and again worthy of 
 every trust you have reposed in them? Certainly 
 so! Then if they are capable of wringing from the 
 operajtors a share of the fruits of your labor, surely 
 the best seilection of the same class are as capable 
 of seeing to it, that you get the best value in food 
 stuffs, etc., for your hard-earned money. It is all 
 very well to talk of business qualities and commer- 
 cial training, and that these are essential to suc- 
 cess, 'but opportunity, confidence and honesty are 
 the greatest of all essentials, and I am safe in say- 
 ing that if some of your fellow workers were given 
 that opportunity they would be just as successful 
 and more to your advantage, as T have already 
 S'hown. 
 
 In conclusion, fellow workers, I may say that 
 these are some of my views and reasons for advis- 
 ing you to start co-operation at the earliest con- 
 venient date. Faith in yourselves and one great, 
 set purpose is all that is necessary. Only a be- 
 ginning on strictly business lines, and T am con- 
 vinced it will prove of widespread advantage and 
 worthy of imitation by others, as Ruskin says, "A 
 little leaven leaveneth the whole lump," and 
 while you may not all survive the full fruits of 
 your efforts, you will bestow a blessing on your 
 offspring, and leave the world better than you found 
 it. Co-operation is as simple as it is far reaching. 
 It brightens the lives and exalts the status of the 
 workers. Its tendencies are enlightening. In 
 short, it is the friend of the working man. 
 
 DAVID B. ROBB. 
 

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