Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-01-27
WHISKY A TAX-MAKER.
The Relations of Labor and LIQUOR
The Saloon the Worst Enemy
of Workingmeno
Speech Of John Lloyd Thomas, of Mary.
land, at the National Prohibition
Conference.

Speech OF John Lloyd Thomas, Of Mary
land, at the National Prohibition
Conference.
Clamorous labor with myriad hands is
knocking at the gates of justice Wearied
with the large professions and little deeds
OF old political parties, labor seeks new
allies in the endeavor to secure the two
rights without which there can be no pros
per1ty, with which labor's progress from
poverty is assured. mean the right to do
good work for bread and the right to
GET GOOD BREAD FOR WORK.
unmitigated hostility to these essential
rights. The liquor traffic robs labor of the
right to do good work for bread by absorb
ing and misdirecting capital. Generally
speaking, capital is the friend of labor-its
necessary ally in the production of wealth.
But capital invested in the manufacture of
alcoholic liquors does not make lucrative
demand for labor. Compared with other
industries which would be Immediately
stimulated into activity by the prohibition
Of the liquor traffic, it will be seen that
labor's share of liquor capital is small and
surate with the investment. The liquor
industry on a capital of $11S,O37, 100 EN-
ploys 3d. $50 workers for $15.97s,579. In
vested in necessary industries, the same
capital must employ 16S,445 workers and
pay wages $60,314, 200. Clearly this mall
investment of capital robs labor of the
right to work for bread.
The liquor traffic robs labor of the bene-
tits of "labor-saving" inventions by max
ing them simply cash-saving and time
saving inventions. The wives and
n, Ir0vN nf oVN1S1
the labor market, and they in turn force
adult labor away unemployed. Instead,
therefore, of benefting labor to the extent
they. should, in tightening work, shorten
ing hours, and cultivating skill, inventions
are operated by women and children for
lower wages. This in turn results in the
ignorance of the working classes, and the
liquor traffic robs labor of the right to do
good work for bread.
It deprives children of the education
which would tit them for higher duties and
enlighten them as to the true worth of
their labor. This is robbery in more ways
than one. The desires of educated men
are more varied and more extended than
those of the ignorant. Beecher, in his IA
nous Liverpool speech, said: "The things
required for prosperous labor, prosperous
manufactures and prosperous commerce,
are three. First, liberty; second, liberty;
third, liberty. Liberty 10 produce, liberty
to distribute, liberty to consume" And the
greatest Of these is the liberty to consume.
The rum wrought ignorance of the masses
thwarts this liberty of consumption, and
the liquor traffic robs labor of the right to
do good work.
! 1t creates an under consumption of
labor's product, and consequently curtails
the demand for labors skill and industry.
| The effect upon labor of the wasteful ex
penditure for alcoholic liquors is shown in
the following table:
Ono hundred dollars spent for
Liquors gives labor for wages. IS .:
| Boots and shoes gives labor for wages. 25 y;
Furniture gives labor for wages. ......... % As
Oarpenterng and building gives labor for
Bricks ana brickiayng gives labor for ~ '
Carpets gives labor Tor wages -
Clothing gives labor for wages ............ u s.
Cotton goods gives labor for wagos....... 81 A
Woolens gives labor for wages. ........... 16 o
Meat gives labor for wages ................ 81 4
| Sewing machines gives labor for wages. 81 3
Printing gives labor for wages .......... 33 6
Worsted gives labor for wages. ........... IL 4
Bakeries gives labor for wages. ......... Is 4
Flour gives labor for wages. .............. 81 0
At the average daily wages paid for the
above labor in 1880. counting 300 days t.
the working year, 500 spent for
Liquor gives one man work for ....... A. day
Boots and shoes gives one man work
Furniture gives one man work for ~ 81 day
Carpentering and building gives one
man work for. Observation-Disclosures. III. day!
Bricks and bricklnyins gives one man
cn M1st 1e Gives one man work day. day.
Clothing gives one man work for. % day.
Cotton goods sivos one man work for.26 day!
Woolens gives one man Mork for. .16 days
Sewing machines gives one man work
for. .......................2Il days
Books and papers gives one man work
Worsted gives one nun work for .i6 s. days
Bakers bread gives one man work
Flour 1f gives one man work for day. day.
Clearly, the liquor traffic robs labor OF
the right to do good work for bread. MOI
content with this, liquor also robs labor OF
the right to get good bread for work. BY
the non productive investment of capital
and labor. The immense capital and the
large number of operatives engaged in
manufacturing and distributing liquors
adds not a dime to the aggregate of the
nation wealth, therefore robs labor of its
share of the common good which must ac-
crue from proper and productive invest
ment of this capital and labor. 1t also de-
stroys raw material which, properly manip-
ulated, would produce wealth. 1t burdens
labor with useless taxes to shelter rum
cursed invalids, succor rum-born paupers,
and punish rum inspired criminals.
The George theory looks to the collec-
ton Of taxes in the least burdensome man
ner. The prohibition theory will inevita-
bly, result in removing from the people the
unnecessary taxes heaped upon labor by
liquor. Whether the tax comes in the
shape of tariff or an import or single
tax on land values, the consumer pays the
bill sooner or later. Liquor is a tax-mak-
er. therefore a labor-robber. The liquor
traffic also induces insolvencies which la
Dor must sooner or later make good. No
fact is better known, no system more close
ly followed in commercial circles than that
the paying customer must make good the
losses incurred through defaulting pur-
chasers. Most of the defalcations in ordi-
nary commerce are caused directly or in
directly through liquor. 1t corrupts poll
tics and influences legislation adverse to
the interests of labor. AS long as one
Congressional chamber is house of
purses. and the other house of saloono-
Gratis, lobbied and manipulated ina man
ner satisfactory to Louis Schade, labor
will never secure laws benefcially oper-
alive.
| I,inuor keens the people from the land