The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-10-11


~ Cs~aiss"as Cnass whish Last Lssss |
nay w.s Celebrated Were More fsvos-
sisis-
The firss Mondaysn September i OBJ
served In a large number 81 states -
Labor day. n holiday in honor 81 the
men and women who work IN factory,
mill. or mine. The conditions uader
which the day was celebrated this year
ditrer 80 widely from those OF recent
years. that il j. not surprising that
press reports should show that unus-
uaIly large numbers Of workers joined
ia the pa4ades. games picnics. etc.
with which il is customary TO honor
labor'~ holiday.
There j. good reason why the work
inr.nen and women should have this
wear observed Labor day with sports
aud rnerry-making Only a year ago
the country was still in the shallow OF
the Mckinley panic. which under the
operation % the highest protective
tariff ever adopted had spread ruin.
banxruptev and poverty all over the
land. For three wears the record had
been one Of closed factories. idle mills
and furnaces. shut down coal and iron
mines. and of wage reductions and I'M
successful strikes The trade-restrict-
ing theories If the republican party
had brought lower wages or idleness
- millions Of American workers, and
filled the country with Coxey armies
and rramps In this ondition OF trade
Z sta-nation and industrial despair the
Wilson tariff became law For years the
hired servants of protected trusts and
r,ouopolies had been warning the peo-
ple that anv reduction in tarir taxa
tom would injuriously affect all
branches ~ india try and reduce wages
hut the result was exactly the reverse
OF the prOtectionist assertions As
SON as the new tariff went into opera
ton business began To revive. the num-
her OF failures decreased "a II by magic,
Factories. mills and furnaces started
M. and instead of the muttering OF
Coxevites the hum Of renewed prosper
irv was heard all over the country In
few months IL became evident that
there was a growing demand for work
fr-nen. and instead OF wage re'iuc'
lions. which were the rule under Me-
Kinlevisrn. there began a series OF
ware advances in the leading indus
tries of the country. The influence O.
returning good times was first felt Il
, the wooden industry. which free raw
material had greatly stimulated. Their
quickly followed the cotton mills th'
rreat iron and steel works, the Goa
!. and iron mines. pottery trades. win
! dow Glass works and various other 10
! dustries- employing in all at least l.
!. son. 900 workers. all of whom have ma
! their wages increased from 10 ID an
= in ~0rne eases % per cent
Nor is there anv reason 10 believ
that this unequaled trade revival an
advance in wa-c> j. a temporary spur
which will soon lose Is force On tn
= contrary. each dav brings news Of ne'
II factories started which Of course NEAR
= more enpioynent. and of either 70
untarv wage advances or snceessf'
strikes The CARPET weavers Of Phil
deIphia and the 5000 clothing make
~ New York citv. who have Just we
NJ -F~uat victories are the latest eviden'
cf the continued good results OF dem
cratsc prosperity. In view OF =
change in one year from enforced idl
.tesS and low wages TO abundant wo
y. and higher pay. and with the pro>pe
81 skill greater prosperity In the
rure. the American workers had aou
iant reasons for joyful ob>ervan
Of this annual holiday
- BYRON W. HoLT.