The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-02
What Democracy Has Done.

What Democracy Has Done.
Reports received by the American
Economist from 800 different employers
of labor say that these employers are
this year only able to find work for
2O,S0O fewer hands than in 1892. They
paid almost SS,OOOOOO less money for
wages and their output, or the amount
of business which they transacted, was
nearly one-half less than during the
first six months of 1892. The average
earnings of each wage-earner between
JAN l and June so, 1892, was $3.50. The
average earnings of each wage-earner
during the corresponding six months of
this year was $195. Thus there was a
loss to every one of these individuals
who were employed.
The Mckinley census that was taken
by the American Protective Tariff
league in 1892 showed that over $40, ,OOO,-
900 of money had been invested in new
or enlarged industries within two years.
Also that work had been provided for
1926 additional hands. Now, says the
Economist, commenting on this exhibit
I'VE are under the painful necessity of
showing that 20,S00 people have been de-
prived of work in 800 different indus
tries. Also that those who were at
work have received nearly $4,000, 900 less
money within six months than they did
two years ago. 1t is further shown
that the amount of business was but &C
per cent. of that transacted in 1892.
"A year ago this month we published
the results OF our industrial census
This showed that there had been de-
crease in business within twelve months
of Az per cent, a decrease in wages
earned of GO per cent. and decrease in
the number of persons employed in fac
tories of about COZ per cent. We now
have to report shrinkage of 30 pei
cent. in the number of persons en-
ployed a loss of 45 per cent. in the
amount of wages earned and of A pei
cent. in the output of industrial estab'
lishments. A year ago the average de.
crease was recorded as $235 per week
in the wages of each employe, or SCI, II
for the half years work. We now re-
cord loss of $55 for each person for the
first six months work this year as com
pared with the money which he earned
during the same period in 1892.
IF we look back still further ant
compare present results with the censu!
of 1890 we find on the basis Of the re
ports that we have received that ther,
were as many as 1,413,55 idle persons il
the country this year who were activel!
employed in 1890. We further find tha
there was more than $1,000, 100000 les
wages earned than in 1892. We furthe
| find that the value of the product of th
factories has decreased by more thai
S., 900, 900, 900. Also that $4,000, O00, 900 les
money has been paid for material to b.
used in manufactures"
Because these hard facts belle th
glowing promises made two years ag'
by Democratic orators and editors, ant
render no less than just the presen
Republican effort to hold these falls
political prophets to a rigid accounta
bility for their almost incalculable cost
ly deceptions, Mr.. Singerly and othe
Democratic leaders today have tn
audacity to accuse us of calamity cry
ing If there is calamity in telling tn
simple truth-and every voter in Penn
sylvania, down in the depth of his rea
consciousness, knows, of truth, tha
business has dwindled that wages hav
fallen and that industry has grow
stagnant during these Democratic time
let it no longer be calamity to tn
wage-earners of America, but to tn
party and the party leaders who hav
so greatly deceived the people, and VIII
are now actively engaged in trying t
repeat their bold bunco game.