The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1892-03-08
HON. w. j. STONE.
His Arrangement of PrOte cti0n-
lists and Other Able Argu-
mentS Last Night is
Taken Suddenly
Ill.

In response to an invitation ex-
tended him by the democratic club Of
Sedalls, Hon. w. j. Stone of Nevada,
candidate for gubernatorial nomina-
tion, spoke at the court house Tues
day night to large audience of rep
resentative democrats.
At the outset of his speech, Mr..
Stone stated that he was just recover
ing from a violent attack of Ia grippe
and was still suffering, a fact ev:-
denced when. after speaking about AL
hour, he was compelled t, desist and
stagger to a chair. He was conducted
to Sicher's Hotel, supported on either
side by fri, nls, and at once retired.
Notwithstanding this unfortunate
circumstance Mr.. Some made an able
speech, commanding rapt attention
from start to abrupt finish.
Referring to the fact, by
way of apology that he was
afflicted with the grippe the speaker
said that it was an imported disease
and came simultaneously with Car
Reeds succession to the speakership
two years ago. "Strange" said he,
''that with their accustomed inclina-
ton to levy a tax on all lmportations
that the republicans ignored the al
vent of such an important article
81 don't want you to get brighten.
ed" said the speaker is he laid heap
of statistical reports on the table,
merely bring thee along to substanti
ate any statement might make that
should be impes ched, | Want TO talk
to you seriously and candidly on one
or two great public questions around
which the thought of the people in.
tense'y centers. l want to talk in
plain ard homely fashion.
There was convention in st. Louis
the other day composed of representa-
tives from all the industrial Organiza-
tions of the country, local, state
and national-all semi-poiitical, most
of them positively and aggres<ively
so. From this convention complaints
were made:
They complained "that the wealth
of the country was in the hands of
few; that there was a. alarming ten
dency to concentrate the wealth pro-
dueed by all the laboring industries of
the country: that wage esrners were
able to make but a bare living; that
they were unable to get surplus for
homes; complaints frum rural homes
of all the states of America that the
agricultural industries of the country
were in a disastrous condition.
We are producing on farms in the
United States more than ever before
in our history. In 1891 there was a
surplus of one hundred and ninety-two
millions bushels of wheat; and yet
with the capacities of our grareries
filed to their utmost, still the fact re.
mains unquestioned, for tits q patent
truth to every mind that farming
classes are disturbed, uneasy, discon-
tented. There is a cloud over the |
farmers head which golden sunbesms
cannot disseminate.
Again, l have taken the pains to
compile from our own state labor
commissioners report few examples
of expense and wage statistics. Out
of the more than one hundred cases
that might quote, not in single IL
stance do laborers get enough salary
to leave surplus a, the end of the
year. In Mass .chusetts there are an
equal number of instances where the
lsborer's wages are $40. 90 while his
foot up $4,000. Nor is
this state Of affairs confined to these
two commonwealth mentioned, but
the same appalling statistics are no
in a large maj rity of the
states. And yet Andrew j. Carne-
gle, president of the American
Steel and Iron Association,
who claims to be labor champion r.
ceives as his share of earnings one
million five hundred thousand per
year or nearly three dollars per min
ute.
What is the cause of this evil
more than the protection
given trusts, combines, monopolies or
whatever you choose to call them,
which are supported by the monied ,
of public oppression.
With fearful eyes Carnegie and his ,
lawning horde of satellites go to
and p'ead that for the /
AXE of the poor laborer manufactur-
ng industries be protected.
Let it be suggested though that 6
he poor mans wages be increased
md Carnegie's tears dry up or
freeze as though he had been
struck by an arctic whirlwind.'
The speaker here quoted statistics