﻿BONEYARD
By T-bone Slim

Since it has been proven and reproven that “Labor is not getting his” we must conclude that a labor union is primarily to secure his needs and to secure him from further inroads being made upon what he already has, such as that what he is wearing and what he is chewing upon—very illusionary things. The mere fact that Labor, almost to a man, dies without a nickel can be held as evidence that “he didn’t get his” or that he’s an awful profligate (is that word right) and that same fact throws light on the why for of Labor unions as well as indicating strongly—too strongly—that all these years Labor has been working for a living wage. True, he is given a respectable funeral by his son or daughter, now old enough bo work— not that there is any credit due the boy or girl: because they in turn will enjoy the same privilege a little later—not exactly an ideal way to do it, getting trusted for the last bed, putting the planting expense on each coming generation—it’s carrying the credit system one day too far, if not more.
What of it if vou did “dig down” to lay your father to rest— it’s a burial on tick, nevertheless.
Because why?
Because someone, too shiftless to organize, started it—that was the original sin.
That man did not combine with his fellow worker to demand a greater share of the output to, at least cover funeral incidentals— Tough luck! Mebbe he didn’t givadam whether he got buried or not?
Mebbe, really, he didn’t Intend to beat his children out of the fare to Eternals. But he did—and established a custom.