The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-09-04
PHILADELPHIA SOCIAL SCI
ENCE ASSOCIATION.
\ Plea for Better Distribution.
ny CiIAs. M. Du pTY.
continued from last 1reek.)

L
"In one beautiful little silk weav-
/ ing town, 80 out OF 35 mills are ut a
stand, and OF the remaining five,
some are working short time, while
In two other towns engaged In the
sane industry, tho suffering from
lack OF employment, and from the
miserable wages earned by those
who arc employed, Is extensive and
severe. In one OF the three towns,
workmen's houses, which used to let
at Is. per week, are standing empty
In rows, or are let at IL. I'd. per week
to save them from being untcnanted.'
I'm tho pottcries ut Stoke, and
even ut Stafford, the closing Of the
American Market by the imposition
OF prohibitive duties In British
crockcry, has produced q serious
displacement OF labor, while the
gradual impoverishment OF the high
ly educated and well-to-do classes,
has SO told upon the higher branch
es or industry there, that firms Of
world wide renown for artistic work
have, for the first time in twenty
years, been compelled to diminish
the number OF their hands, and to
give others only intermittent en-
ployment."
"The wave Of depression touches
Sheffield. In the cutlery trade,
houses strong In energy, In expert
ence, in old and extensive business
connections, and with an accumulated
capital which represents the thrift
and patient industry OF three genera
tons, find themselves face to face
with the very unwelcome novelty OF
profits pared down to a vanishing
quantity, and OF work-people reduc-
ed to short time"
We need not, however, go to Eu-
rope to find these strange and grow
ing contrasts, for we have them at
our very doors. To-day we have in
America Overlooking 2raneries and
furnishing people Merchandise is
vended ut less than the cost to pro-
duce ii amid q multitude Of half-clad
and destitute, who, while they need,
are unable to buy. Here. and every
where throughout the whole world
ut the present time, the power OF
consumption is limited by a too re-
stricted ability to produce, and these
conditions react upon each other,
causing defective distribution and
Il stagnation OF markets.
Truly, the Nation" need not look
to the Savagery OF Africa for con-
snmers. In every civilized nation
on earth, the hungry, the destitute
and the homeless, are beseeching to
be allowed to contribute their share
to the general social welfare, through
greater activity to industry, that
will give to each larger purchasing
power through larger earnings,
through a better distribution.
Amid all the suffering, they who
derive surplus from vested securi-
ties, are ever seeking better chan
nels for more profitable investments
They overlook the while, that IN
creating these channels, the worlds
future labor is more and more mort
gagged to meet these enlarging debts
These vast cnlargements oil
income securities, under true eco.
nomic conditions, should call for a
REIMBURSEMENT of the ways Of produc.
ing wealth. Industry should be
quickened to produce wealth In
larger volumes through better dis
trihution, SO as to etasure the future
prompt payment Of the income in
veStmants.
Now. capital Mt intervals. 70 ofte,
stops the production Of mines ane
factories. regardless Of the fate L.
| dependents In order. by aivan'stt.
/ prices. 10 se@ltf. ii return aH initiates
investments. The purchasing pow
er Of the people who must be de
pended upon to consume these pro
| ductions, Is thus seriously lessenea
| III order TO maintain incomes iron
watered Railroad Securities up to ;
maximum standard, the services o
employees are often reduced to tn.
lowest living limit, Oh the one side
while on the other excessive traf1i,
rates are. as far as possible, exacte,
on transportation. All this draws
too heavy drafts on production
While it may Till the pockets OF Il few
security holders, it limits the pur
chasing power OF the multitude, Il
whom we must look to dispose @
these vast and growing automati'
productions An intelligent infusion
Of Treasury money, can alone cor
rect the evil, by disarming the undue
power OF concentrating capital
through better system OF distribu
ton.
| The creditor class would limit, o
rather, abolish legal tender Treas
ury money bearing no interest. les
contracts should be impaired. The,
fail to realize that the most import
ant tool of production and trade Il
order to earn dividends and income
Is sufficient volumes of money, Il
moderate cost. II the money is to
high priced. or in too small a vol
/ ume, industry being compelled t
, pay too large IA share Of its profit
for the use OF money is strangle
and perisles!
ITO be continued merit aceek,)
IN ~