San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-11
WHAT THE MATTER 2

WHAT is THE MATTER?
The recent c. B. and Q. strike, though
not primarily caused by q question OF
wages, per sc, was actually caused
thereby, as the methods pursued by the
G. b. and @. management In scheduling
runs and grading engineers did cut
down wages. The road for years has
paid less for it's locomotive engineer
work per mile or per head than any road
OF it's class In the same section. Thus
the question is virtually one Of wages.
So also are almost ALL II not all, Of the
difficulties existing In the past or in the
present. between labor and capital,
directly or indirectly owing to the Ques-
ton OF wages. 1t is therefore with no
little concern that one looks thought
fully out upon the great trade centers
and sees securities Of all kinds, stocks,
great staples as iron, wool and cotton,
all declining. For II these all decline 1t
ia Inevitable that wages themselves
must also drop. There is no reason In
the condition of things, naturally con-
sldered, why this should be so. Popu-
latiOn is increasing, home markets are
multiply ing, large investments are be-
ing made, great areas OF country are
being opened up, new enterprises con-
tinually undertaken. There is nothing
In all this necessitating hard times. .
depression Of securities, a decrease in
values, a lowering Of wages. True, the
tariff tinkering has unsettled . few
things, but there is no general stagna-
ton of industry or unsettling OF trade
conditions on that account, because the
country does not believe that tariff
measures looking toward the destruc-
ton OF American industries can pass.
The trouble lies In another direction.
The evil is one complained Of three
years ago, and for the correction OF
which the democratic party was re-
stored to power upon it's own promises
to apply a remedy. The three years and
more of democratic rule that have
passed, have only augmented the evil.
The little finger" of republican mis-
MANAGEMENT has become IMAM q
loins" Of democratic laundering. The
real difficulty lies in the fact that the
government has withdrawn the cir
culating medium from the country and
locked it up in the vaults of the national
treasury. Nearly $2OO, OOO,0 900 OF money,
once in active use is boarded there, and
it is lust so much drained from the life
blood of the peoples industries. That is
what's the matter. Release that &C
oumulation and distribute it throughout
the country and the trouble will come
to an end. The issues OF the national
banks are curtailed nearly $780,
100000 millions because the same
war tax Is imposed upon the bonds now
drawing 2! per cent, as was levied when
the bonds paid per cent. As it is upon
these bonds that national bank circula-
ton Ia predIcated the issue of national
currency is decreased. If the national
bank tax were removed and the surplus
in the treasury applied to purchasing
bonds there would be an end to this
stringenoy. The country is all right
business all right, enterprises multiply.
ing, trade charging it's volume, immigra-
ton swelling its tide, railroads stretching
new lines over ten thousand miles of ter
ritory-no reason why there should be
stagnation, or scarcity of money...if gov
ernment would second nature and give
natural conditions a chance. Buy uE
the outstanding bonds, retire them
settle the debt, reduce interest, increase
the volume of the circulating medium
and wages will keep up and taxes stand
ing as at present will not be burden
some: resdjust them. and let taxation
be according to incomes. Do this anC
there will be no trouble. Relief will
come naturally easily, but will not come
under democratic Encouragement and
reputation OF all promises.