, 1878-09-12

TIE LABOR QUESTION.

-. +. Com. Advoca,c.'I
The country is rapidly assuming a
more prosperous condition than mas
for a long time past been IN exist
rncc. Oar merchants state that the
fall trade is opening with marked
Improvement over that ot some lew
wears mast, Our foundries are busy
in their ayocation of casting the va
ried portions of machinery for min
ing, milling and other pursuits III
which mechanism is required tor
their prosecution. Our general IT.
dustries display a renewed activity
and the impression is felt by the
whole community that the depres-
sion is passing away. The leading
causes that have wrought this favor
able condition, and that will contIn
ne to sustain it, are the curtallment
of expenditures and the consequent
reduction in cost Of producing. Man
ufacturers and producers, OF all clsss'
es. have been necessitated to reduce
the price of labor, and this reduction
has lessened the cost Of the articles
produced, and in consequence has
increased their consumption, and
given an accelerated impetus to an
Increased production. So the very
matter which the workingmen com
plained the most bitterly ahout-a
reduction in their wages-has been
in reality to them blessing in dis
guse; for it has made work for all,
and has brought down the cost OF
living to scale that enables them
even at their lower wages to obtain
more for their money than when they
were getting higher rates. The IN
creased consumption has led to an
increased demand for labor to supply
it; and we can find no idle hands, ex'
cept those who are unwilling to work.
We state these facts with pleasure,
for we desire to see employment
given to all who are willing to labor;
we are gratifed to find that the sea
son of want and privation is passing
away; and we point with the con.
seriousness of the truth Of the asser-
ion that we have so consistently IT.
terated to the workingmen, that
their only hope of continued EN-
ployment was in accepting of the
situation of the times, and to take
such price for their labor as they
could obtain, and then there would
be work for all. So long as they
would not listen to oar advice, they
were unemployed; but having &C
cepted it, and now acting upon it,
they appreciate the truthfulness OF
it, and are conscious that we are
their true friends, and told them on
ly what was for their own good. To
still further convince them of the
verify of our advice to accept such
wages as they could obtain, we will
point to the large number OF vacant
houses in this city as an illustration.
why are so many dwelling houses
unoccupied here, now? 1t is be-
cause the landlords have not yet
learned the fact, that an overcharge
keeps away customers. If more is
asked for anything than it is actually
worth, there will be no takers. Those
landlords who are shrewd enough 80
perceive this fact, and who have re-
duced the rents of their buildings,
have tenants in them who are paying
for the use Of their property, while
those who still adhere to high prices
frd the premises unoccupied, and
their property lying idle and unpro'
ductive. Now the workingmen have
gone through just that experience,
and having accepted the issue, and
consented to the reduction, are find.
ing a ready market for their services.