Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-07-13
WEALTH AND MISERY UNDER
THE WAGE SYSTEM.
Labor Enriching Capital S9,O0O,OOO
per Day-TwO Million Workers
in Idleness-The Labor Tu-
reaus-InfOrmation Which
They Could and Should
Supply-The Com.
ing Eight.HOur
Movement.

1t is stated, on good authority, that
the census to be taken next year will
show a total population in this country
of about G7,000,000 souls, and a total
wealth of 10000 millions of dollars.
This is an increase, for the current
decade, of 1900, 900 inhabitants, and
an addition of $21 1000, 100000 to the
wealth of our capitalist class.
These are stupendous figures, emf
nently suggestive of the multiple, rapid
and complex changes which are now
taking place in the economic conditions
of the world They suggest also, most
obviously, the growing Importance of
statistical information.
Among the mercantile classes the
need and value of such information are
fully comprehended. Hence their eff
forts, individual and corporate, to
promptly obtain the most reliable intel
hgence on all movements likely to affect
them. They know that the adjustment
of their interests to a continually NOV
ing and enlarging environment requires
timely and accurate knowledge of all
the forces at work, and that their Ope-
rations could not otherwise be carried
on safely from week to week, from dav
to day, and in some cases from hour to
hour
Not only, therefore, are Boards of
Trade, Chambers of Commerce, Ex-
changes, Associations of Manufacturers,
and other institutions of like character
established for the purpose Of faciitat-
ing transactions, but they are so organ
lied that one of their chief functions is
to supply their members with all avail
able data necessary to a clear under
standing of the situation. Again, great
commercial agencies, such as Brad
streets, or Dunn, Barlow q Co. are, in
fact. private census offices, permanently
engaged in collecting and revising the
statistics of wealth for the exclusive
benefit of their patrons; while a num-
Der of trade papers," limited in clrcu-
lation but libera.ly supported, present
to their few readers, in Higested form,
all the facts concerning production and
prospects, crops and manufactures, I'M
ports and exports, stocks on hand and
in sight, movements of goods and spe-
Gle, losses by fire and bankruptcy-in
short, all occurrences that may, directly
or indirectly, influence the course of
any particular trade, or of trade in gen
eral Add to this that the wealthiest
firms, whose extensive relations afford
them special opportunities of obtaining
information which they carefully with
hold from their competitors have their
own private statistiCians; and we may
see at a glance how small clique of
millionaire spectators can suddenly
plan corner" combine ''syndicate,'
or organize "trust."
But the advantages derived by capt.
alists from their accurate knowledge of
economic conditions, ever so great in
the handling of products, are greater
still in conflicts with Labor. A gang of
wealthy marauders is apt to meet in the
field of speculation another gang, as
well equipped, as well informed whose
interests lie across its way. Such ille
gitimate raids upon the possessions of
fellow freebooters frequently end in re-
pulse and disaster. Not so, however,
when the unsophisticated public is
alone concerned, and still less so when
the childlike laborer demands an in
crease of pay, or simply objects to re-
duction of wages. Then Capital is one,
whether Labor be united or divided.
Then, also, Capital is exclusively guided
by its superior knowledge of economic
conditions. If, perchance, these condi-
tions be such that more is to be lost
than can be gained by resistance, con-
cessions are quickly made, and Labor is
permitted to boast an easy victory. In
the contrary case Capital is intractable,
and sooner or later proves strongest.
Now, while it must be said, on the
one hand, that the unsuccessful strikes
are for the most part provoked by intol-
cradle injustice. and are, therefore, re-
sorted to with that utter disregard of
consequences which despair or a deep
sense of injury are apt to produce, it
may also be observed, on the other hand
that very freque ntly the successful ones
are not undertaken until the circum-
stances have long been favorable to the
enforcement of the workingmens
claims,
A cursory review of the past ten years