LABOUR'S DECALOGUE

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 40, 16 August 1919, Page 10

LABOUR'S DECALOGUE

ECHOES OF 'FORTY-EIGHT

GERMANY OF OTHER DAYS.

Vorwaerts, weary of horrors of Gearman proletariat Labour leaders, thinks something might be accomplished by showing Labour "Ten Commandments of Labour" —1848 Revolution ! Then was no sharp. differentiation of society into strong capitalistic class arid powerful, self-conscious proletariat, Germany characteristically land of small burghers, lacking, economic knowledge. Vorwaerts, unknowing which way to turn, thinks "Ten Commandments of Labour," when thoroughly worked out, ought to be "the basis of the theory of Labour." Author of this 1848 gospel unknown. He gospelled thus wise : — 1. Thou shalt work, for unless a man work, neither shall he eat. So it is written. Let, the many who eat without working hear and obey. 2. Thou shalt not suffer idlers. When thou seest an idler, thou must say to him, "Brother, if thou art idle, I must do thy share of work, which is unjust." 3. Thou shalt not suffer slave-labour. All men axe born free and equal.

4. Thou shalt receive fair wages for thy work, and if men telt thee that there are hard times in the market, and the wages must be lowered, thou shalt say that they who create and not they who sell must fix the price of work. 5. Thou shalt not endure hunger. No sparrow falls from the eaves from hunger. Only a fool will work for another, and go hungry himself. 6. Thou shalt not go in rags.^ The flowers in the meadows, the roses in the gardens, have shining.raiment; the birds of the air rejoice in bright feathers, ahd the pelt of the bear is thick and warm. Hast thou not prepared the flax .and spun the yarn; hast thou not woven ■the royal -purple of kings? And shalt thou go in rags!

7, Thou shalt enjoy thy life, for men are given life to be happy. Thou hast done all that is needful to preserve and beautify the life of men, thou hast drawn food from the soil, and hast given to the spirit its wings, and therefore must thou and all thy brethren be happy.

8. Thou shalt walk in honour. None shall say unto thee, "Labourer, poor labourer, witless labourer." No, for only the idle are dishonourable.

9. Thou shalt close thine ear- to the voice of the priests. The tree of knowledge is the tree of life. The priests who do not work, and would yet live on the fat of the land, try tb keep you from tho tree of knowledge. 10. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.