Article October 31, 1903 Issue

A Traveler's Opportunity

R. J. MC LAUGHLIN.

As I was returning from the center of the city to-day, my thought drifted to the evidences I saw everywhere of the labor troubles, and it recalled to my mind a conversation I had several weeks ago, while on return trip from California.

I was sitting in a Pullman car waiting for my berth to be made up, and had encroached somewhat upon the generosity of a fellow-passenger by occupying another's seat, and thereby became a listener to a very interesting conversation between two gentlemen occupying the section upon which I had temporarily intruded. They were speculating as to the best and quickest means of preventing these labor conflicts, and I was the more interested in their views when I learned that they were men of considerable prominence in the government of our country at the present time, and were in a position to give an unbiased opinion from a knowledge of conditions.

They noticed that I was interested in their conversation and invited me to join in the discussion. I told them that I could not enter into the argument, for the reason that I could not accept their premises, and instead of viewing these disturbed conditions as unnatural, I looked upon them as most natural, considered in connection with prevailing beliefs as to the Creator and His creations; that strikes, famines, panics, and other violent disturbances emanated from the same source and were just as natural as sin, disease, and death, and that either the testimony of the physical senses or the existence of an infinitely good God is an illusion. A little explanation of this statement served to make my friends think that I was more rational than they had at first supposed.

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