The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-02-21
capital and to aid in massing it in large
quantities in the hands Of but compare
tivo1v fouy yoo0p1o

| QuduIlIleS III Iu6 uAuUS OI UuC COIuQe2r6-
lively few people.
There have been some noble exceptions
among manufacturers in the sharing of
profits. but no matter how generously
these men may be inclined they are after
all obliged to do largely as the majority
do or become bankrupt.
While society has gained materially by
the many labor saving devices, it has
lost much socially. That bond of broth
erhood that existed when every man had
to be master of his trade has vanished
and men now regard each other with
suspicion, as the machine has made it
possible for the veriest novice to turn out
satisfactory work with it, making the
knowledge of the trained mechanic of
little use to him, and so reducing him to
the ranks of the ordinary laborer.
Men who engaged in manufacturing
20 or more years ago have in most in
stances become rich, and their success is
due chiefly to two causes: First, they
were the first in the field and had for a
time the monopoly of the goods in their
line and chance to establish themselves
without being harassed by any very great
competition; second, the enactment Of
a high protective policy very materially
increased their profits. What are the
chances of men with small capital who
wish to engage in business today?
The experience of most of those who
have gone into business during the last
five years is that they have almost wor-
ried themselves into the lunatic asylum,
lived meanly and forced their families
to do the same, and often, after few
years of struggling, they were forced to
give up and lose all they ever had. To
say that these men failed for the want
of ability is in most cases far from the
truth. And those who pride themselves
on their success might do we'll to in
quire into the cause Of these mems fail
ures, and in finding it they might dis
cover that the very element necessary
for the continuance of their success is
fast vanishing. Riches blind men to
everything but dollars and cents, and
thus it often happens that good meas
ure for the welfare of all is defeated
just because dollars and cents are not
seen in it from the first.
Very few people take time for Sec
ond thought, and where their minds are
constantly scheming to make money they
are apt to conceive one sided ideas-ideas
that are in opposition to other interests
and so they not infrequently meet with
such violent opposition, against which
no government can protect them-such
as riots and pillage.
Some may say, What can the govern
ment do to remedy these mattersp Much,
think, in every way. Let them remove
the first cause-that is, idleness-by max
ing it possible for every man that wants
work to find it, and this can be done by
shortening the hours in which the ma
chinery Of the country may be run.
This would compel capitalists to en-
large their plant and employ more help
to do the same amount of work they did
when working 10 hours, and as men
earned they would buy, and so stimulate
trade and spread the money that now
lies in heaps in some places throughout
the country. and call into the ranks of
the laboring class many who are now
trying hard to make a living as mer-
chants and tradesmen. Some may ques-
ton the right of the government to in
terfere with the running of business
run by private capital by shortening the
hours Of labor, but governments do in
terfere in other ways with commerce by
imposing duties, internal revenue tax,
regulating the rates of interest on loans,
etc. 1t is only during the last few years
that wheat has become drug in the
market Such thing wasnever known
in the history of the world. How was
this brought about? By the almost per-
feet agricultural machinery and the
superabundance of laborers.
A horse with blemish might as well
be shot, for no one wants it. A good COW
will bring more than an ordinary horse.
Electricity and the bicycle are displacing
them. What is the farmer to have as
substitute for his loss of means to get
a living? The storehouses of the land
are full from cellar to garnet with all
kinds of manufactured goods. In con-
sequence there is but little use for the
mechanic at the present time.
The stability of a nation depends on
CuC prosperity VI WIG AAulVAetudlS COlIl-
prising it. This being so, it becomes a
question of vital Importance with the
government to know how to regulate
the commerce Of the country so that all
can get a comfortable living, and in this
way keep the people in good humor. A
large portion of the people take no inter
est in legislation and are perfectly con-
tent to let the government do as it likes
as long as they can get a comfortable
living. I am inclined to think that if
the masses knew how past and present
legislation affects them, and of the pres
ent legislation that might be introduced
for their good, they would soon cease
from being the "dumb driven cattle of
the party boss, and at present the most
of them are in woeful ignorance of this.
If America had not been discovered,
and the many inventions had been intro
duced just in the same quantity as they
have, there would have been eruptions
in every country in Europe long before
this, the outcome of which would be
hard to describe, but America has acted
as a safety valve and put off theevil day.
The furnishing of new continent gave