The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-11-21
and those who have failed and will

and those who have failed and will
in the attempt.
In our eagerness to proclaim the
advantages derivable from our
greenback currency we should be
careful uot to arrogate for it the dis
tinction of a grand panacea that ought
to be universally adopted; this is
simply imposSible; we must confne
ourselves to demonstrating that
greenbacks are in an eminent degree
the best suited for a people in a
certain geographical position and
progressive condition, and that we,
if no others, fulfill these require
mentS.
WILLIAM HOWARD.
FROM THE P-STONE TOTHE
LEDGER.
j. III. Walker, Worcester shoe
manufacturer, was before the
Hewitt committee in New York
city. He said that the losses to
the manufacturers since 1878 by
shrinkage Of values in the sole
leather business, reached the sum
S6,OO0,OOO, and the boot and shoe
trade would show similar loss.
There is now no profit for a
capitalist in the boot and shoe
trade. Manufacturers keep supply
orders in anticipation Of coming
prosperity. Of the workingmen,
.he statistics and his own memory
showed that in 1910 they got one
dollar per day for thirteen hours
labor, and in 1860 two dollars per
day At the present time the
wages average two per day, with
ten hours labor. The introduce
tiou Of machinery has enabled the
men to produce about Il per cent.
more work, and Of better quality.
The working people, he thought,
were so per cent. better Oft than
in 1910 in their ability to enjoy a
higher civilization in every way.
Mr.. Hewit-Can, or do, the men
work up from the rams!
Ayes. In 1910 there were
four firms in Worcester, composed
of seven individuals, with an
annual production of $500 cases
of boots, employing 225 people,
AID making S25O,OOO. The pay
was one dollar per day. Not a
single descendant of those seven is
in the trade, and only one died in
comfortable circumstances. In
1880 there were eighteen men
making boots and only one retired
with any capital. In 1860 twenty
one firms were in, and only two
have gone out of business with
money There was not one who
was the son of capitalist. To-
day there are twenty one firms Ii
Worcester, including forty men
and making 10000 cases OF boot:
a year-a value of S5,OOO,OOO
The average wages are S2.l5 fol
ten hours work OF these forty
men only five are sons of manufac
turers, and / know of only one who
was not wage-worker or Journey.
man. | don't believe there was
ever time when a man with fail
ideas could not rise to be an EN-
plover: and the chance was never
so good as to-day, certainly III oul
trade. In granting credit, oul
first requirement is character; thel
the fact that the man haC
been journeyman, and lastly
capital. The hard times haC
fallen most severely on the skilled
workmen who would not tax
| lower wages. and upon the EN-
,, plovers. | have never known
workman, honest and frugal, VIII
was not in comfortable circum
stances. unless some calamity over
took him. I don't think a ma
can be useful citizen unless b
has desire TO acquire properly
) The capitalists are rsady to q
anything to lift the whole class
anybody can-Irom any evil
under which they are suffering.
, Mr.. Hewit-who do You thin
works the INDEPENDENTLY ----to
day. workmen or employers !
A.---W ell, / would give 70
. $4,000 . year if l could 90 N
/, pre-. ent business and work Il
. harder than | did on the bench.
WAGES AND TaE COST or LIVING