﻿“They Toil Not Neither Do They Spin” 
By T-BONE SLIM 
 
Today I went to the zoo so as to compare the social intercourse of the so-called wild animals to their contemoraries, men. I did not find them wild, but cool, collected and contented, from pensive to clear-eyed, only one fight, two monkeys. The sea lions gave us the Bronx cheer: 
Squirrels and pigeons at liberty were clean and fat; something to begrudge. Sparrows were clean, tame and in good feather. Quite a difference between these and the hollow-yed sovereign citizen of the industrial harrasment. The birds and beasts have no such economic averration as have the human beings. 

“National labor referendum be reported to, was demanded by labor leaders of southwest, if CIO-AFL peace conference fails. 
An idea—how about holding unofficial referendums on all wars? 

Djibouti? 
Things must be pretty tough in Tunisia I see where the folks there are “willing to die for France”—I suppose a feller does get unstrung that way and is willing to commit harikari for South Chicago, Union Stock yards or dear old Yale. Stranger things have happened. 
If I were to commit harikari it wouldn’t be for dear old Ashtabula Harbor. It would be purely a personal matter of improving my lot. And I am such a stinker that I’d make it a point to put the funeral expenses (and costs of cleaning up the blood) upon my sorrowing countrymen. Yes—I would say with the last dying death rattle in my throat ::Gentlemen, I’m sore because I have not more blood to spill on the carpet.” 

“Mercy Angel Ordered to Die.”— Bumping okey by State. 
Hm, Clearly a case of trespass—an infringement upon her prerogative; that of taking her own life; even prevented her from doing so. Law sure has come into evil days. 
She isn’t allowed to kill herself, and along comes a perfect stranger (oh, so perfect!) and bumps her off. 
One killing is as correct as the other—both are unethical. State has the power to be unethical, if it so desires, but I think it would go farther if it looked after its ethics more and power less. The jury went by the template, the court by precedent, the governor had a free hand—he’s the only one that exposed his true nature. 
Capital punishment is the apeing of prehistoric glory-killers; sanctifies all killings by setting an example—but its real offense is the confession of the T-type of brain and philosophy so antiquated the oldest inhabitant can’t remember. 
State, however, doesn’t accomplish as many killings as its faithful and loyal subjects but they do say “State does a cleanre job.” Ohm Hell the people will learn after a while. 

Hitler’s falling for American tap-dancers is merely for the purpose of picking pointers on how to make Chamberlain two step. Such is our sorry belief- 

In smaller things as well as things upon national scale it seems human welfare depends on calamity. What a commentary upon human ingenuity and civilization! 
In order for a man to get a job, a job holder must first die or get sick—very sick. In order for a nation to prosper there must be war elsewhere. Thus it follows social economics are based on death, disease and destruction—for these are the determining factors. 
Therefor, if nations bestir themselves to stir up wars among other nations it is logical to conclude the unemployed have a hand, however slight, in a workers indisposition that accelerates his early demise. Brutal am I, hey? H’m. We have practically decided human welfare depends on human calamity. 
That will not do. Us sensible workers must organize and change all that—human welfare must depend on human production, not human destruction. Nations must not fight wars to well the larders of their neighbor nations who, in all probability, instigated the war. Workers must not be sabotaged, sickened or murdered just to get jobs for unemployed workers. Opinion may differ as to the extent of these functions but enough is self-evident to prove we have here something more than a straw math. 

France never learned the great American game of poker ans when Italy called in her citizens in France, a mere handful, the Chambers of Deputes went into hysterics and a huddle, “It means war.” 
Can it be France takes the position: “Governments love their nationals so much that they remove them from war’s path.” 
We also have Casino and Old Maid players in Washington and every time Japan tries to sell us a package of blue-steel blades they throw a [fir] and legislate $300,000,000 for new battleships. And the hell of it is there’s no way to cool them down except by growing a beard.