Blue-grass blade. [volume] (Lexington, Ky.) 188?-19??, 1891-01-31
FARMERS! MECHANICS!
HOW AND WHY so CALLED LABOR
PROTECTION FAILS TO PROTECT.

Cheated by Politicians -Dcrrauded by
Law Mskers-Robbed by the Liquor
TrssRc-A class Party No Remedy.
Vote with the Prohibition Party.
II is hoped every farmer and wage
worker in America will read what fol-
lows. They are words of truth aud So
berness.
From various sources we CLEAN the fol.
lowing facts:
According to the census of 1890, we had
over 5O,OOO,OOO people in the United
States, and ga, 842, OOO, 900 in property
more than enough to count $500 to every
individual, or 5000 to a family.
The number Of work people engaged
in American manufactures in 1880 was
2,73O, 900, and they averaged less than u
dollar u day. In the same year we had
S,OOO,OOO of farmers and farm hands;
they received for their labor the average
of &2S9. Taken collectively, the great
mass of American producers received
each about 81 cents per day.
From 1860 to 1870 the wealth Of the
country increased from $4,000, OOO.O 900
to $50, O0O, OOO. 900: in 1880 it amounted
to $43, 642, OOO, 900. Yet, while in ten
years the wealth of the country nearly
doubled, the rate of wages decreased
from all average of little more than 500
to an average of little more than $500
per annum. What share of the wealth
which labor produced has it received!
Mr.. Mcbride, Ohio commissioner of
labor statistics, in his speech in Spring
6eld on Labor Day, gave the following
statistics on labor and capital:
In England the average production for
each employee was *496. OF this the
laborer got 1906, and capital 5000.
In the United States the average pro-
duction for each employe in 1880 was
$40, of which the lahorer got $3i6, and
capital 1914.
| In England the laborer gets more than
/ capital; in America capital gets more
than labor. In England the laborer gets
three-fifths of the products in America
less than one-half.
In 1870 the number of female opera
tives was little over a million and half;
| in 1880. two and one-half millions. Of
children employed between ten and fif-
| teen years of age, there We're in 1870 I'D, :
| 1853; 1880, 1,llS.356.
In 1850 the wages paid to mechanics
and operatives in manufacturing indus
tries represented 90 per cent. of the val
ne of the finished products of those in
dustries Since then the share of labor
in that product has steadily decreased.
It was 20 per cent in 1850, 10 per cent.
in 1870. and II per cent in 1880. The
census of 1890. however dishonest, will
unquestionably show n further decline.
In the reports and statistics compiled
by the chief of the Ohio labor bureau
he states that 1.-The present amount of
wages annually paid does not give the
wage worker comfortable means of sup
port. and enable him to lay by even a
usaderate fund to meet the necessary
oxigencies he is sure to encounter. That
an evil growing out of the condition is
the increase of child labor. and this cam
not be prevented until the head Of the
| family, by his own exer,ion, can earn an
adequate support"
The number of unemployed in this
country at the present SINE is variously
estimated at from four to five hundred
thousand. 1t is computed that every
seventh person in the land is either u
| pauper or the recipient Of charity.
In 1880 the criminal classes il New
York numbered $4,000, and while the
population of the state increased during
the last ten years ~ per cent, crime III
creased 80 per cent.
The census of 1880 states that five mil
lions of our people over 10 years of age
cannot read and six and one-quarter mil
lions cannot write.
Two-fifths of the voters in the United
States are directly engaged in agricult-
ure, and the other three-ffths are as di.
rectly interested in the welfare of the
ag1iculturist. Four-fifths of the taxes
of the nation are paid by the farmer,
and bur interests extend to every county
and township.
| Has his wealth increased in just pro-
portion? No; far from it, In 1850 he
owned 20 per cent. of the property of the
United States; in 1880 80 per cent, and
it is almost certain that the census of
1890 will reduce that to Is or 20 per
cent. Has he been relieved of proper
tionate share of taxes? All, no. In 1860
he paid 80 per cent. and in 1885 ~ per
cent; that is one blessing he enjoys UNI
molested.
In 1850 the total estimated valuation
of property in the United States was
81, 1876, 100000, which was assessed for
taxation at ~, 024 900, 900, while in 1880
it was valued at x43, 643, 200, 900 and tax
ed at $18, 9O2. OOO, 900, of which, i'll both
instances, land paid fully 30 per cent.
leaving the necessary inference that
banking. railroad and corporate wealth
| generally must have evaded taxation.
And people wonder at the general
dissatisfaction and restlessness of labor
while the country is 30 prosperous!
What are you going to do about it:
Before answering study few more
facts.
BY the last census the total banking
capital Of the United States was $7l7,-
10000. The workingman gulps down
the value Of all the banks in nine
months.
The value of all the mines was 81, 100,.
00O, 900. In fourteen months that value
disappears down the workman's throat
in strong drink.
The mills and factories cost $4,000.
100000. In four years and two months
the toilers consume that sum in liquor.
The railroads in 1880 have cost to con-
struct and equip $5,5OO,0OO,OOO. But
even that colossal sum slips down the
liquor laved threats of laborers in three
months less than six years.