WARY 26, 1900
3
iiman Beings Sold at Auction in New York
An Object Lesson of Conditions Prevailing Among Workingmen
The Commoner.
Kg newspapers of America at least those
did not deliberately suppress it printed in
issue of February 13 the following Asso-
id Press dispatch:
lew York, February 12. An auction of
te men on Lincoln's birthday was the snec-
I that drew thousands of persons to the
csido Presbyterian church in Flatbush to-
it. The auction was in reality an object
m of the conditions prevailing among work
people and served to jet jobs for a number
mien. The church was crowded when Rev.
in E. Long began an address in which he out-
sd the pitiable condition of many a man who
is willing to work, but unable to secure a posl-
i. Outside the church a crowd of 3,000 per
ls clamored and struggled to get into the al-
idy crowded house of worship.
r'Rev. Mr. Long introduced Rev. Edward
PLaughlln, who was to conduct the auction.
KFLaughlin outlined his plan to which the men
jresent had agreed. This was to offer them, as
were, on the block to the person who would
Ive them a job through which they could earn
Subsistence and a few dollars besides if possible.
.he money end, however, was an after consider-
l9Ktion, as the men who had. come to him wanted
Wood and shelter principally.
Mr. O'Laughlin then led on to the platform
pjfty men, young and old, all more or less shab-
niy garueu anu displaying in tneir ways me
pinch of want. All of the men wore black masks
(so as to conceal their identity to all purchasers.
Each man was numbered and so they were put
on the block.
"No. 10 was the first man presented. He was
Idescribed as an ironworker and molder, long
tout of work and in want and willing to work at
inything.
"Several men in the audience walked to the
)latform, and as in slavery days, critically sur
veyed the subject; One man went so far as to
feel of the man's limbs and muscles. It was
finally announced that the man had been 'sold'
(to W. F. Copeland, who would give him employ
ment in an industrial association in New York.
The terms were not announced.
"No. 21 was the next put up. He was de-
pBQribed as a man who had taken part in the
KBoer war and had seen service in tne united
States army in the Philippines. He was an elec-
trician by trade. No. 21 went to a Flatbush
Eamily, the name of which. was withhold by re-
Jhuest. It was announced that the family would
give him $55 a month and board.
"No. 23, a painter, went to a Newark, N. J.,
lan, who promised him $10 a week, while No.
114, a gray-haired man, was taken avay by a
lyoung man who said he would give him a home
md work at once.
"Thus six men in all were disposed of when,
las the hour was waxing late, the spectators,
lany of whom felt the pcenes they had wit-
tessed, formed themselves into a committee,
took chaTge of the remaining forty-four men and
)romised to find homes and jobs for them.
Rev. Mr. Long and several others then ad-
dressed the people outside the church, telling
Iwhat had been done and asking aid for the many
unemployed in Greater New York.
"John D. Rockefeller, who had been Invited
Ito bo present, sent a telegram regretting his
inability to attend."
PLAIN TALK
The following letter is a sample of many such
Betters received by The Commoner and referring
to the New York sale, It is plain talk to be sure,
but does not the situation call for plain talk?
Colorado Springs, Colo., February 12, 1909.
f Editor Commoner: I herewith enclose a news
paper clipping that ought to make every true
American blush for shame, regardless of -party
affiliation; but especially Theodore Roosevelt,
; William II. Taft and Andrew Carnegie, all of
whom set up a howl in the last presidential
campaign that could be heard in Timbuctoo to
the effect that if "William J. Bryan was elected
'president the laboring man would starve to
death forthwith. But if William H. Taft is
I elected, Oh, my! Oh, me! what a picnic would
these hungry sons of toll have, beginning on the
4th of November, 1908, and continuing hence
forth. Mr. Carnegie was especially vindictive,
fc laying about November 1 that William J. Bryan's
election would bo nothing short of a "national
calamity."
I wonder what the first great commoner in
American politics would say to the three chiefs
of the Annanias Club, if he could have heard
the siren songs of these soothsayers, on the
hustings last fall; then rose from the tomb and
appeared on his natal day in Flatbush, New
York, and witnessed the "sale" of negroes? No!
Not so. No! Not "black savages," but white
"artisans," skilled mechanics!
Oh, ye gods! Methinks I could have heard
him moaning in travail and sorrow, and saying:
"And has it come to this? Was my life's work,
yea, my very life itself, laid as a ransom on my
country's altar, that human slavery might never
more exist in the homes of the bravo and the
land of the free? But what do I see transpiring
in less than fifty years? A repetition of a sys
tem I gave my life together with millions of
other bravo patriots, to wipe out! Sons of
America's illustrious sires, who is responsible
for this crowning infamy of tho twentieth cen
tury? This human mart again selling human
beings! Who has held the reins of my country
and administered its government since 1805?
Can it be tho legitimate successors of myself?
Could such a condition arise under the guidance
of those who claimed allegiance to my princi
ples? Equal justice to all, special privileges
to none."
"Can this vision in Flatbush, New York, bo a
reality? Do my senses deceive me, or am I again
dreaming, as in days of yoro, while yet in my
mortal body? No, no, no, not so, my country
men, it can not be!" Come, oh, shades of my
fallen comrades! Look ye upon this infamous
sight, You who 'died with me, to set men
free.' Reach forth thy guiding hand and let
me grasp it, lest my faltering spirit forever
perish, and sink back into wakeless oblivion, as
I seem to have both lived and died in vain." .
Think of it, Theodore Roosevelt, W. H. Taft
and the sage of "Skibo" castle Andrew Car
negie -all this comes to pass under the reign
of Lincoln's successors in office tho apostles of -prosperity,
the bearers of glad tidings of great
joy of the proverbial "full dinner pail" "spool
ers," fellows that are fairly "rooking" with
good promises before election, so-called repub
licans but in reality tories, federalists. Back,
"harkers" to the inquisition of the suppression
of free speech chief enemies of a republican
rform of government, haters of human liberty
free speech and free thought. Apostles of tho
"square deal" "I don't think." For shame,
you who are directly responsible for this sale
of human beings, in the center of enlighten
ment, not in a benighted land, but under the
very light of the Goddess of Liberty the hub
of America New York.
As tho boys used to say in Kentucky,
"wouldn't that start you down the pike?" Yes,
sold to the "highest bidder," having their limbs
felt of and examined to see if they're "sound"
in wind and limb. Precisely as the slave buyers
used to do en tho block in the south, when buy
ing negroes. Oh, ye gods and little fishes, where
will this prosperity that Theodore, William H.,
and "Andy" told us about last fall, finally land
us? Yes, marked thus: "Cold to W. F. Cope
4and; sold to N. J. Man," etc., and so on. And
so they were led from the platform with black
caps over their heads, like a condemned mur
derer to the gallows. Sold for bread.
Where Is your boasted prosperity when men
sell themselves that they may obtain food to
sustain human life? For shame, for shame on
your empty campaign promises, empty, mean
ingless, promulgated to deceive! May God have
mercy on you, as you'll need it before you die.
Do you think tho American people will not re
sent this blot upon their fair civilization and
love of fair play? Wait and see.
ISAAC N. SHEELY,
803 E. Kiowa Street, Colorado Springs, Colo.
MEN WHO CAN'T GET WORK
At least one service has been done by the
sensationally named "auction of white slaves"
in a Flatbush church. Whatever the motive may
have been, the incident has called vividly to
public attention the fact that there are many
men willing and able to work who can find no
work to do. Heretofore that statement was
disputed by the optimists or the incredulous like
Commissioner of Charities Hebbord, but no man
is going to offer his services for board and cloth
ing if ho can find better remuneration.
Tho fact that forty such mon appearod behind
masks and wore willing to endure an Indefinito
period of servitude can not well bo denied. It
is significant of a social and industrial condition
which must bo dealt with by tho mon who form
our constructive statesmanship. This auctioneer
failed signally to moot tho evil which ho brought
so forcibly to public attention, becauso bidders
could bo found for only flvo among 'his lot of
fort'. Brooklyn Eagle.
THAT FISH PROBLEM
Tho Commoner has received a number of re- .
plies to tho "fish problem" printed In Current
Topics, Ishuo of February 12.
Mrs. Maria Ferguson, Jacksonville, Cal. Tho
answer Is 111 fish.
J. B. Fashant, Annandalo, Minn. 111 fish.
Wm. R. Leshcr, White Deer, Pa. 111 fish.
S. E. Wilklson, Roseville, 111. Number of
books in Old Testament, 39; number in Now
Testament, 27; total GO. Multiply by 3, num
ber of apostles at transfiguration, making 198.
Divide by 2, number of books written by Luko,
makes 99. Subtract 13, tho numbor of tirae3
tho Israelites marched around Jericho, loaves
86. Multiply by 30, tho numbor of pieces of
silver Judas received, equals 2,580. Dlvldo by
12, tho numbor of spies sent Into Canaan, equals
215. Add 7, the number of letters In Jericho,
equals 222. Divide by 3, tho number of apos
tles called tho "Sons of Thunder," equals 74,
which represents tho numbor of fish caught by , '
Charley. '-
Mrs. W. Cartwrlght, Wilber, Neb. Sends an v'
answer, which is exactly like Mr. S. E. Wilki
son's, giving tho result as 74.
Paul V. Arbaugh, Portland, Ind. I see In
your issue of February 12 a problem handed you
by J. N, Taylor, of Geneva, Neb. I herewith in-
close the question I huvo worked ft ns I under
stand It. My result Is 111, that being tho num
ber of fish Charley caught. Please state correct
answer in next issue and oblige a boy thirteen
years old.
Myron DeFouht, a fourteen-year-old boy liv
ing at Percival, la., writes: "I read about the
fish problem In Tho Commoner of February 12,
and my solution is 111 fish. Hero is tho way
I have worked it out: (Master DeFount gives
the same answer as given by Master Paul V.
Arbaugh, 111.)
This problem was copied by Tho Commoner
from the Geneva (Neb.) Gazette. It was origi
nally printed, it seems, In tho Adams County
Record, published at West Union, O. It seems
that the number of fish caught by Charley would
equal 39, plus 27, times 3, divided by 2, minus
13, times 30, divided by 12, plus 7, divided by
2, or 111.
There seems to be some disagreement as to
the number of apostles called the "Sons of
Thunder." Some have sent In their solution
giving three as the number. If they will care
fully read Mark 3:17, they will find tho apostles
were James, the son of Zebedee, and John, the
brother of James.
Mrs. W. Cartwrlght, Wilber, Neb., writes:
The number of fish Christ used in feeding the
five thousand may be figured thus: Add
to the number of let era in the name
of the first Christian martyr the num
bor of the chapter in the book of Isaiah
that the Ethiopian eunuch was reading when
Philip went up in his chariot; substract the
number of letters in tho name of the mountain
on which Moses died; divide by number of let
ters in the name of the woman who was ono
of the fifteen judges- of Israel; multiply by tho
number of letters of th first king of the di- '
video" kingdom of Judah; add the number of
letters In the name of the man who built the
first temple; subtract the number of letters in
the name of the man who led tho Israelites
across the Red Sea; add the. number of pieces of
furniture found In tho court of the tabernacle,
and subtract the number of books In the Bible; .
this will give the numbor of fishes Christ used
In feeding tho five thousand.
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