LABOR'S MARTYRS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 64, 31 May 1912, Page 2

LABOR'S MARTYRS.

Tho striker, without music to cheer Jul campaign or prayers to bless bis progress, risking his existence to l>otter bis life, and, incidentally, to lift up his fellow worker, for a century past has struck at this social system—capitalism. While the university has ignored social injustice and tho preachers have exhorted souls in rage, tho striker has seen and felt the outrageous brutality of tho robber class. Ho has felt the pain of "looped and windowed raggednoss," tho helplessness of poverty, the despair born of want, tho envy of a superior opportunity of which he has been deprived, and tho tears and the sighs of breaking hearts md wrecked lives. Tho striker lays down his f-ools, chances his existence —and that of his family—(o war upon society which makes home a mere commodity to be bought and sold. He knows of the iron market, the hog market, and the labor market —and he revolts nt tho classification which the social order has fixed for him. He appeals to the only weapon he Booms to know, and it helps some, and for the little it helps may he forever bo victorious. The striker is opposed by society, by his masters, by tho law, by (he police, by press and pulpit, the professor and politician. ALL, ALT are against him, and his greatest enemies are his placid,

spineless, spiritless, apologising, compromising friends. Submission is lawful, poverty is blessed, wage slavery is sanctified by capitalism and ever blessed by gamblers of trade and commerce. The workers are on strike. They are hungry. Their masters are at tho grand opera shedding their hypocritical tears over the forlorn Mimi in "La Boheme." Tears for the unfortunate character of the play—nnd a wine supper afterwards.— Seymour Stcdinan.