Letters to Editor August 31 1895.

*THE WORKER*

BRISBANE, AUGUST 31, 1895.

Mail Bag.

Wanted – (to prepare the way for Socialism in our Time)

One Adult One Vote.

Land Tax.

Income Tax.

State Bank.

Shops and Factories Act.

Eight hours day where practicable.

Referendum and Initiative.

Taxation of every person according to ability to pay.

The State to find work for unemployment.

The State to fix a minimum wage.

Free railways.

Free administration of Justice.

The WORKER does not hold itself responsible for the opinions of its correspondents.

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C.Y., Clermont – Afraid not this year. Thanks.

G.W. Considers A.C. A nigger driver more fit to be over kanakas on a sugar plantation than over white men.

FAIR PLAY doesn't consider fair play was given to all the applicants for the posts of matron and wardsman to the Cunnamulla Hospital.

JEMMY THE MOO complains that there is some suspicion attached to the manner in which rabbit-proof fencing work is let in the Birdsville district.

JOHN BEAMISH writes in defence of the foul-mouthed agitator. Mr Beamish is not an advocate of foul language, but he considers the use of vile talk an effect of evil surroundings and irritation at the action of “scabs.”

QUIBBLER – THE WORKER wishes you to point out in what issue any writer in this paper ever stated we expected to establish a Collectivist state in our time. Socialism in our time means that we are going to fight for Socialism reforms in our day and generation. All reforms that have taken place in the last century are Socialistic, and we want more of them.

TOMMY DUCKS – Your letter in reference to a fat squater marrying -------- hotel, the widow and kids thrown in, is somewhat dangerous. The squatter in question may employ a “chow,” also “a scab” it may be necessary for these employ'es to eat out their wages in kill me dead rum; and it may be true that the baker had to sue for the price of the wedding cake – but there's a Libel late. Correspondents who send letters of the above description will please make a note that any statement holding any man up to ridicule or contempt is libelous, unless it can be proved in the first place that the statement is true, and in the second that it is publised for the public good – a pretty big order.

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ED WORKER – I would like to call the attention of the union men now shearing in the Bulloo district to the fact that, although the Thargomindah Hospital Committee admit shearers on their union tickets to the benefits of the institution, the appeal for subscriptions at the various sheds have seldom or ever met with anything like response. It is hardly fair, especially when other hospitals gave a positive refusal when asked to gave like terms. - E. J. HANRAHAN, Thargomindah, 10 August.

ED. WORKER – Re the recent murders of missionaries in China, and “May day's” note in your issue of the 24^th instant about the “quiet, medieval monks” who stayed at home among the poor and never risked their lives in China or any other barbarous country. An authority says; “It is to the two mendicant orders {Dominican and Franciscan}, but especially to the Franciscan's, that we owe a vast amount of information about medieval Asis, and among other things the just mention of Cathy.” Again, John of Monte Corvino, a Franciscan, when already some 50 years of age, went to China, and “plunged single-handed into the great ocean of Paganism to preach the Gospel according to his lights.” He died Archdishop of Peking, with many mission aries under him. These things happened between 1245 and 1328. Foreign missions are not “ the latest craze in religion.” - SEEDTIME.

ED. WORKER – The annoucement by Mr. W. Salkeld, ex-M.P. For Fassifern, of his intention to stand in the interests of “H.M. Constitutional Opposition” is the subject of much discussion in Labour circles. It was thought by Mr. Salkeld's friends at the by-election that he would join the Ipswich Workers' Organisation, especially after the very prominent part he took with respect to Labour Member Wilkinson's campaign. However, the W.P.O. Have a constitution from which they cannot deviate, whether to please themselves or anybody else. The signs of the times – particularly for twelve months past – warrant the officials and members of evry Workers' Organisation in Queensland to close up the ranks and prepare for a straight-out political battle between desotic capitalism and organised labour. Anybody standing between the contending forms will (like a buffer state) have a bad time of it – NO TRIMMING, Ipswich, Q.