Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-22
THE BOTTOM FACTS IN THE LABOR
DISrURBANCES.

DISTURBANCES.
A great deal of discussion and great
many reasons are being offered in ex-
PLANTATION Of the rising wave Of indus
trial disturbance now manifest through
out the country.
Many political philosophers are dis
posed to go a great way to find the I'M
DERIVING agencies st work to produce
this state of things, and are referring it
to occult causes more or less dark and
mysterious.
But we greatly mistake if the true ex-
PLANTATION is not very plainly written
upon the surface Of the situation as we
find it to-day. We doubt if there will
be any conflict in the reasons and ex-
plantations furnished by the laboring
men themselves, if they are interro-
gated.
When the mechanic or the labOrer
finds that the price of meat, flour, butter,
clothing and fuel, and the rent he pays
for his tenement are increased, while
his wages are left at the old figures or
cut down, he is naturally disposed to
protest. The problem of life is made
dark and difficult, and he regards with
an unfriendly if not menacing look the
difference between the profits of capital
and his own handiwOrk.
1t is notorious fact, which has come
with great force in the past few months,
to every hOusekeeper and worker for
wages, that the common necessaries OF
the table have unaccOuntably, it is true,
advanced in price from to ~ per cent.
that it costs as much to live
in this prosperous country to-day, rs it
did during the war of the rebellion.
With no corresponding increase in
wages, need we go further to find n sat
islactOry and sufficient explanation of
why labor is dissatisfied, and why the
striking epidemic is spreading 50 rap
idly?.
1t is a good deal easier to find the
cause than a good reason why such
cause should exist. We have looked in
vain for q sufficient reason fOrthe uncOn-
scionable initiation in the prices Of the
necesSaries of life. The country is gen.
orally prosperous; there is no I'M
usually scarcity Of provisions; the crops
give promise of bOuntilul harvest;
money invested in legitimate business
enterprises brings good returns, there is
no financial stringency, and there is
nothing to indicate the advent of a pam
ic or E.lling-otf in the volume of our
products.
These facts sufficiently contradict the
superstition that the prevailing prices
are either necessary or legitimate.
But added to the oppression which
falls upon labor rs the result Of the infta-
ton of prices, is high and unnecessary
taxation. Industry is obliged To pay
into the Treasury of the United States
every year about Sl5O,OOO,O 600 in excess
of the legitimate needs of the Govern
ment. This enormous surplus, with the
cost of its collection, Is deducted from
what ought to be the profits of Labor
and trade. High taxation means high
er prices for necessaries and lower wa
Ses-the two strongest foes of material
prosperity and progress.
While it may not be possible to reach
and eradicate the other causes Mt work
TO make the labOring mans condition
unpleasant and burdensome, this mat
ter of taxation is one open to an easy
and practical solution. Vet the majOri-
ty in Congress seems determined to pre-
vent any action for the reduction of
taxation for years to come. We will
still pay in our $l5O, OO0,O 900 a year sur
plus for the benefit ofjobbers and claim
agents; prices will continue to go up
and wages to 90 down, and we will
have strikes and disturbances and dis
satisfied laborers, and consequently IA
taste of "hard times unless this reduc-
ton is made-unless the people rise up
and demand relief from the unnatural
drain upon their resources which Con-
gress has set itself to perpetuate.