The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-02-17

For a that and a. that
Our tolls obscure and a. that,
The rank Is but the guinea stamp.
The mans the gowd (goldJ for a. that
Burns.
In December last large reduction or
cut was made in the wages of labor
ers in the shops of G.. Aultman q Co., a
cut ranging from 10 to 50 per cent. This
terrible blow which depTiVes the work
men Of from One-tenth to One-half of the
wages heretofore received by them,
| came at the end of very successful
year for that establishment. In fact,
these shops last year produced vastly
more products than any year before, and
this year manufacture on a much
grander scale than last year. Hence, 1t
cannot be urged in Justification of this
terrible blow to the wOTkingmen that
any dullness or depression in their bust
ness necessitated or demanded a reduc-
tiOn in wages.
Nor can It be said that the wages of
the employees were too high considering
the selling price of their machines OF
the profits of the prOpTietOrs. On the
contrary, the difference between the
selling price and the actual cost in
wages and materials of their machines
is simply astounding. For instance the
actual cost in wages and material of
their mower, which is sold to the farm
eTs for $50, is certainly not more than
$20, and we learn that stock in their
establishment at Akron lately sold at
Akron at premium Of 80 per cent.
Stock of 100000 selling for $3.50 600.
Nor can 1t be said in extenuatiOn Of
this cut that the living expenses of the
wOrkmen are less than formerly. On
the contrary, though numerous cuts
preceded this last one, in the last few
years, yet nothing is more certain than
| z Fknaf lUNyf
creased in the last few years. In an able
and elaborate review of the trade, fin
ances and condition of the country by
ex-Secretary Upton, published in Apple
| tons (American) annual CyclODedia
vol. q, it is stated that 800 would have,
in 1878, purchased an equal amount of
the commodities constituting living ex-
penses that $136.69 would have in 1881;
and 1t is certain chat living expenses
are at least as high now as in 1881. Yet
here, when living expenses have, ac-
| cOrding to Secretary Upton, increased
| 3635 per cent, this enormous cut comes;
/ comes right in the midst of the rigOrS
of winter, unannOuneed, is quietly sub
mitted to without protest, without
ripple of excitement, unnOticed by the
public, and suppressed or ignored by the
newspapers.
Now, the fact that such a large reduc-
| tiOn in the wages of these wOrkmen at
the present time is necessary, or even
possible, is a significant and alarming
indication of the tendency of the times,
and still more significant is the fact
that this cut fails to attract the atten-
tiOn of, or arouse inquiry on the part of
the public,is unnOticed by the press and
even ignored by the canting herd of pO-
lltical pharisees who howl so loud for
protection to American labor just before
elections.
Where now, whilst these poor labor
ers in great distress are considering
with anxious heart how to reduce their
expenses and still support their wives
and little ones, is the crew Of loud
mOuthed hypOcrites who are so cOnspieu-
GUS for their zeal for the cause of Ameri-
can labor just before elecliOnsp Where
is the Repository; why does 1t not in
thunder tones, and under huge head
lines, record its protest.
Ali so little is the real interest of
these false friends of labOTers in the
cause of labor, that not a soul Of the
miserable crew had even the decency
to sham or pretend to have a spark OF
sympathy for the poor laboTers in their
distress. Jealous, indeed, and beyond
measure, in the cause of labor when the
votes of the labOrers can be made to
subserve the interest of capital and mo-
nOpOlles, the horrld crew Is silent as the
grave When capital despOils the labor
ers of the fruit of their labOrs. And
| while, before elections, the rights and
dignity of American labor are made to
| loom up in such grand proportions;
| after elections the labOTeT becomes, In
their eyes, a ohattel or slave, to be held
in subjectiOn to capital by a standing
/ army; and the poor labOrers, instead Of
comforts or sympathy in their distress,
read in the dispatches from Washington
that on January Sd in Congress, "UpsOn
made twenty minutes speech, showing
the necessity of keeping the army in
| tact, saying that the widening breach
between capital and labor causes fear
that there may be need for an army in
suppressing internal stTifer' Such is
| the feast that American labor is invited
tOl And when this apostle of American
labor, Upson, intimated the fetters and
| chains that were being forged for
| American labOreTs, Boss Mckinley, the
champion of American labor, was there,
\ but the eye of capital and monopoly was
upon him. and this great champion OF
| labOrers, when their votes are needed in
| the interest of capital and monopoly,
instead of protesting, like cur before
his masters whip, sought refuge in
| ignominiOus silence.
| A standing army, fOrsOOth, to hold in
| subsection labOrersl Ii that day ever
comes, when capital and monopoly, fall-
ing to carry the labOrer's vote, under
take in freAzied madness, to intimldate
or subiugate American labOreDs by the
bayOnets of a standing army, then woe
to capital and monopoly
But enough of this. It is too fright
ful to contemplate. This large reduc-
tiOn in wages deserves the consideration
of all honest men. The prosperity ui
the community depends upon the prus-
| perlsy OF the labOrers. We hear great
deal about the growth of this city. But
now, how many less lots Will be sold /;
4 how many less houses built; how many
homes now h,Itit cannot bp paid furp
Aside from this, everything W. have con
trlbuting To tue necessitlps, cOnvenien-
ees, comforts aud luXuries of life, is the
prOduct of labor. Should not then, in
all fairness, the labOrer, the produce of
| all. have a Mheral share OF the nrnd u,l 4