The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists [163]
he knows that his children are often not so well fed as are the pet dogs and cats of his `betters', he tries to bluff his neighbours into thinking that he has some mysterious private means of which they know nothing, and conceals his poverty as if it were a crime. Most of this class of men would rather starve than beg. Consequently not more than a quarter of the men in the procession were skilled artisans; the majority were labourers.
There was also a sprinkling of those unfortunate outcasts of society - tramps and destitute, drunken loafers. If the self-righteous hypocrites who despise these poor wretches had been subjected to the same conditions, the majority of them would inevitably have become the same as these.
Haggard and pale, shabbily or raggedly dressed, their boots broken and down at heel, they slouched past. Some of them stared about with a dazed or half-wild expression, but most of them walked with downcast eyes or staring blankly straight in front of them. They appeared utterly broken-spirited, hopeless and ashamed ...
`Anyone can see what THEY are,' sneered Crass, `there isn't fifty genuine tradesmen in the whole crowd, and most of 'em wouldn't work if they 'ad the offer of it.'
`That's just what I was thinkin',' agreed Sawkins with a laugh.
`There will be plenty of time to say that when they have been offered work and have refused to do it,' said Owen.
`This sort of thing does the town a lot of 'arm,' remarked Slyme; `it oughtn't to be allowed; the police ought to stop it. It's enough to drive all the gentry out of the place!'
`Bloody disgraceful, I call it,' said Crass, `marchin' along the Grand Parade on a beautiful day like this, just at the very time when most of the gentry is out enjoyin' the fresh hair.'
`I suppose you think they ought to stay at home and starve quietly,' said Owen. `I don't see why these men should care what harm they do to the town; the town doesn't seem to care much what becomes of THEM.'
`Do you believe in this sort of thing, then?' asked Slyme.
`No; certainly not. I don't believe in begging as a favour for what one is entitled to demand as a right from the thieves who have robbed them and who are now enjoying the fruits of their labour. From the look of shame on their faces you might think that they were the criminals instead of being the victims.'
`Well you must admit that most of them is very inferior men,' said Crass with a self-satisfied air. `There's very few mechanics amongst em.'
`What about it if they are? What difference does that make?' replied Owen. `They're human beings, and they have as much right to live as anyone else. What is called unskilled labour is just as necessary and useful as yours or mine. I am no more capable of doing the "unskilled" labour that most of these men do than most of them would be capable of doing my work.'
`Well, if they was skilled tradesmen, they might find it easier to get a job,' said Crass.
Owen laughed offensively.
`Do you mean to say you think that if all these men could be transformed into skilled carpenters, plasterers, bricklayers, and painters, that it would be easier for all those other chaps whom we passed a little while ago to get work? Is it possible that you or any other sane man can believe anything so silly as that?'
Crass did not reply.
`If there is not enough work to employ all the mechanics whom we see standing idle about the streets, how would it help these labourers in the procession if they could all become skilled workmen?'
Still Crass did not answer, and neither Slyme nor Sawkins came to his assistance.
`If that could be done,' continued Owen, `it would simply make things worse for those who are already skilled mechanics. A greater number of skilled workers - keener competition for skilled workmen's jobs - a larger number of mechanics out of employment, and consequently, improved opportunities for employers to reduce wages. That is probably the reason why the Liberal Party - which consists for the most part of exploiters of labour - procured the
There was also a sprinkling of those unfortunate outcasts of society - tramps and destitute, drunken loafers. If the self-righteous hypocrites who despise these poor wretches had been subjected to the same conditions, the majority of them would inevitably have become the same as these.
Haggard and pale, shabbily or raggedly dressed, their boots broken and down at heel, they slouched past. Some of them stared about with a dazed or half-wild expression, but most of them walked with downcast eyes or staring blankly straight in front of them. They appeared utterly broken-spirited, hopeless and ashamed ...
`Anyone can see what THEY are,' sneered Crass, `there isn't fifty genuine tradesmen in the whole crowd, and most of 'em wouldn't work if they 'ad the offer of it.'
`That's just what I was thinkin',' agreed Sawkins with a laugh.
`There will be plenty of time to say that when they have been offered work and have refused to do it,' said Owen.
`This sort of thing does the town a lot of 'arm,' remarked Slyme; `it oughtn't to be allowed; the police ought to stop it. It's enough to drive all the gentry out of the place!'
`Bloody disgraceful, I call it,' said Crass, `marchin' along the Grand Parade on a beautiful day like this, just at the very time when most of the gentry is out enjoyin' the fresh hair.'
`I suppose you think they ought to stay at home and starve quietly,' said Owen. `I don't see why these men should care what harm they do to the town; the town doesn't seem to care much what becomes of THEM.'
`Do you believe in this sort of thing, then?' asked Slyme.
`No; certainly not. I don't believe in begging as a favour for what one is entitled to demand as a right from the thieves who have robbed them and who are now enjoying the fruits of their labour. From the look of shame on their faces you might think that they were the criminals instead of being the victims.'
`Well you must admit that most of them is very inferior men,' said Crass with a self-satisfied air. `There's very few mechanics amongst em.'
`What about it if they are? What difference does that make?' replied Owen. `They're human beings, and they have as much right to live as anyone else. What is called unskilled labour is just as necessary and useful as yours or mine. I am no more capable of doing the "unskilled" labour that most of these men do than most of them would be capable of doing my work.'
`Well, if they was skilled tradesmen, they might find it easier to get a job,' said Crass.
Owen laughed offensively.
`Do you mean to say you think that if all these men could be transformed into skilled carpenters, plasterers, bricklayers, and painters, that it would be easier for all those other chaps whom we passed a little while ago to get work? Is it possible that you or any other sane man can believe anything so silly as that?'
Crass did not reply.
`If there is not enough work to employ all the mechanics whom we see standing idle about the streets, how would it help these labourers in the procession if they could all become skilled workmen?'
Still Crass did not answer, and neither Slyme nor Sawkins came to his assistance.
`If that could be done,' continued Owen, `it would simply make things worse for those who are already skilled mechanics. A greater number of skilled workers - keener competition for skilled workmen's jobs - a larger number of mechanics out of employment, and consequently, improved opportunities for employers to reduce wages. That is probably the reason why the Liberal Party - which consists for the most part of exploiters of labour - procured the