Wichita eagle., 1890-02-25
THE LABOR QUESTION IN POLITICS

1t is gratifying to read a rational arti
Gle on the subject Of industrial and com
mercial depression like that of DIR. c.
Wood Davis in the EAGLE of the 18th
instant. Dir. Davis states the facts in
relation to agricultural overproduction
IN an exceedingly coherent form, yet il
Is not easy to coincide with him IN all
his conclusions. That there is agricul.
tural oyerproduction there may be nc
question, but that the present depres-
sion is wholly and purely agricultural
there may be grave doubts.
Taking Mr.. Davis own statement OF
the facts, and the relation of cause and
effect does not appear closely enough be-
tween agricultural overproduction and
industrial and commercial depression to
justify his conclusions. Mr.. Davis says:
''Ten years after the close of the civil
war we had 93-100 of an acre of corn for
each inhabitant OF the United States and
a per capita production of 24.4 bushels.
| Now we have one and one-fourth acres
for each person and per capita produc-
ton of 800 bushelf. OF wheat we
had : per capita product of
6.42 bushels, and now 7.4
bushels per capita" This probably
shows an unhealthful fuctuation in pro-
duction, but does it altogether explain
the ''hard times" Is it not fact that
while production has increased since
1875 in a greater ratio than has popula-
ten. there is more prosperity now than
there was in 1865?
| Again. Mr.. Davis says: "In the period
from 1874 to 1879, with an average popu-
| lation nearly 20000,000 less than now,
we added 47,500,000 acres to the lands
employed in growing the ten great aeri-
cultural staples, being more than $780,
600 acres per annum. Now, however,
with two-tifths more people to
supply, We are adding ac-
tually less than 100000 acres
yearly to this cultivated area when, but
for the surplus of cultivated acres eX-
isting in 1884 and since, We should need
to add about 5000, 900 of such cultivated
acres each year TO meet the requirements
OF the annual increase IN population. !"
Contrast our commercial and industrial
condition of the period between 1875 and
1880 with that of the period between 1884
and 1890 and see if the fact OF over pro-
duction is sufficient to Justify the con-
cluslOn that 1.-THE present depression IS
wholly and purely agricultural Our
production is attended by certain evils,
but Mr.. Davis magnities them, just as
everyone who evolves a truth magnifieS
the importance of his accomplishment.
However, let us concur with Mr.. Davis
in the hope that when domestic con-
sumption shall overtake the production
of food stuffs the farmer will again be
prosperous.
Il must be admitted that there is "gla-
cial grind toward the level of times and
things before the war;" and even toward
the condition of the monopoly ridden
communities of the old world. To my
mind the basic cause Of commercial dis
aster and industrial depression is obvi-
Gus. 1t is that the non-prOducer IS con-
suming the fruits Of toll. 1t one man
shall produce what two men consume,
and the non producer shall consume
three-fourths of the total product, the
producer must content himself with
being half fed, half clothed, and with a
corresponding proportion of the luxuries,
privileges and pleasures of lite. This
proposition may seem SO general as to be
of no practical value. But let us con-
slider the various ways in which wealth
is accumulated without labor. By the
advancement of the paper currency of
our government from value OF IS
cents per dollar to a value of
100 cents per dollar, and by the
advancement of government bonds from
a value of 80 cents per dollar to a value
of 130 cents per dollar, untold millions of
wealth has been accumulated without
labor. Every farthing of this wealth
has been contributed by the laborer
without shadow of compensation. Be
ing a Republican l do not intend this
statement as criticism of our financial
policy. The currency and bonds of our
government were reduced in value by
the unavoidable calamity of war, and
their value could not be restored with
out giving to their fortunate holders the
benefit of their appreciation. But fiuc-
tuation in the value of the governments
notes and bonds is no longer disturbing
element in the distribution of wealth.
Again. wealth is accumulated without
labor by real estate speculations, by
"board of trade" manipulations, by
watering Stocks" by combines" and
monoplies of every description. But as
means of accommodating wealth with
out labor, the rental value is by far the
most prolific. This Is well illustrated by
the following article taken from one of
the New York papers:
"Why doesn't somebody improve that
lot?' is question asked over and over
every day by the throngs that parade up
and down Broadway and Fifth avenue.
The question rises to their lips. says the
New York World, when they look ct the
insignificant old brick building On the
famous tongue that separates Broadway
and Fifth avenue at Twenty-5hird street.
The tip of the tongue has for years been
used by the Erie railroad company. y
fashionable flower store occupies another
section, and Lows uptown steamship Of
fees ran through overhead from street TO
street. The entire building is owned by
John c. Emo, aud the reason he doesn't
improve it. real estate men say, by build
ing a magnificent office building there, is
the fact that he receives, as the building
stands today. in reut, $4,000 more each
year than the lot and building together
cost him originally. The original cost OF
building, etc, is said TO have been $50 O90,
while the rentals Mr.. Emo receives are now
$4,000 When property pays that way,
and the owner is ricn besides and advanced
in wears. what's the use of improving it2
From the above article we gather that
the improvements on the famous
tongue" do not exceed in value $50, 600,
while the rental value Of the property,
the land and its improvements, is $40
GOO per annum. Allowing $4,000 per
annum as a reasonable income for the
use of the Improvements, the remainder,
$4,000, represents the annual rental
value of the land on which the im
provements are situated-it represents
draft ON labor for go. 900 bushels of