Was not the last Irish
rising largely composed of those who were economically neglected and
oppressed? Society bears a heavier burden for its indifference than it
would bear if it accepted responsibility for the organization of labor
in its own defense. The State in these islands recommends farmers to
organize for the protection of their interests and assists in the
organization, and leaves the organized farmers free to use their
organizations as they will. As good a case could be made for the State
aiding in the organization of labor for the protection of its own
interests. A ministry of labor should seek out all wage-earners; where
there is no trade union one should be organized, and, where one exists,
all workers should be pressed to join it. Such a ministry ought to be
the city of refuge for the proletarian, and the Minister be the Father
of Labor, fighting its battles for an entry into humanity and its
rightful place in civilization.
If we consider the problem of representation, it should not be
impossible to devise a system of which the foundation might be the
County Councils, where there would be as sub-divisions, committees for
local government, agriculture, and technical instruction or trade to
deal with local administration in these matters.
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