The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-11-07
the woRkIMenAM's CONDITION.

4 Forcibls EIposurs 81 Sons nlasass
No.seass and Issansrabss Dsnasoe-
cry In . Recsss Editorial Of the Oh ariosss
Observer.
For The Caucasian
CHARLOTTE, n. C., Nov. s.-That
avOwed advocate Of goldbugism, the
Charlotte Observer, speaking editori-
ally In the issue of the ind inst, quote.
Carroll ID. Wright, United states Com.
missioner Of Labor, aud Secretary
Carlisle IS saying that the Iaborine
classes are better OF to-day than At
any time in the past. This editorial.
which BY the way, is headed 1.-The Con-
dition of the LabOring Glasses" should
be awarded the 500 offered for the
most successful distortion Of the truth.
l feel sure that il would v in the prize
or come very near 1t. Ii begins thus
I'VE constantly hear the statement
made by the deluded or the designing
that the workingman is ground
down and that his condition is un-
As matter of fact he
has more privileges and is better off
than at anytime in the past" Next.
Commissioner Wright saws:
The cotton mill and factory TODAY
breathing space for each Operative
than does the House of Representa-
tives, for its members, and are far more
healthy places in which to work. This
Is the age of machinery, and the in
PRODUCTION OF machinery has elevated
the wage-worxers, morally. mentally
and physically. The condi.
lions of the poorest are improved un-
lows IAN impressive paragraph from
Boston,"
The great body of our producers.
the laboring people of this country
are receiving as high wages AZ tbev
ever received at any period in our his
tory, ana the money in which they are
PAID will purchase in the markets
more Of the comforts than ever he
lore. The constant tendency In this
country is to give the labOrer more
and capital less out of the proceeds Of
their joint product"
The sapient individual who writes
this editorial now exhibits an almost
assinine ignorance of ordinary. every
day economic facts by concluding
with this comment:
"WOrkingmen to-day are better
housed than their fOrefat hers. and their
children have better opportunities. by
reason of the constantly imnrovin1
condition of public schools, to rise in
the world. 1t is only the demaeoeue
or the unususpecting victim Of The
demagOgue who tell the laborine classes
to-day that they are dOwntrodden and
thus breed discomfort in them.n
Statements of this kind all hear tho
gold standard" brand and while they
may serve to mislead some, will cut no
figure with any enc possessing anv
knowledge of reform Questions. The
class most interested in the mainte-
nance of standard identical with fall
ling prices and cheaper labor. are over
moving with such arguments, The
enlightenment of the working man
means to this class that they will be
out OF job unless they work for them
selves. The fast increasing recruits
TO reform ranks are the shadows of
the coming events, and those who
ADOPT the unearned increment are be-
ginning. to realize the actual situa-
ZION. Even the assertion that the
WORKING man is better off to-day than
before is an open question. The con-
tentlon that machinery has benefited
tne wage-worker, and has elevated
MIN morally, mentally and physically
is concluslvely disprOved by the fact
that at no time in the worlds history
mas the Wage-earners condition been
SO pitiable as during the last so wears.
winch period about covers the general
use OF machinery. True, machinery
mas lowered the cost of manufacturing
out It's advantages have hurt the wage
Garner more than benefited him. I'm.
der ethical economical conditions diff
1erent would have been the results.
II, as Commissioner Wright puts it ::
Ihe conditions of the poorest are i'm
proved under the present system" he
mas settled very interesting question.
and many would like to hear on what
grounds. If crime is any criterion as
10 poverty the census of 80 shows an
increase prOpOrtiOnately of 400 per
cent. in the last 80 years.
l imagine in spite of the unhealthy
House of Representatives that manv \
cotton mill or factory hand. and many
others for that matter, would be will
ing to run the risk for the position of
congressman. have yet to hear of a
congressman who would like to chs n De
jobs with q mill hand.
AS to the impressive paragraph, of
secretary Carlisle's, one can see the
aosurdity of it. Does any laborine
man or wage-earner rise to endorse
the reference to the constant tendan-
cy" ETC.?
But the Observer says in effect !:
W Orklngmen, you live in better bouses
than your forefathers and your chill
dren can go to the Constantly i'm
proving" public schools. If anybody
tells you you are producing all the
ting IL per cent of it Omitted States
COMMISSIONER he is a demagoRue and
Is trying to fool you. You are not
downtrodden; you have better houses
ana better wages than ever before.
Inere Is nobody unemployed and we
are prOspering.
Does the wOrkingman believe itp
JNo. G. WINGATk.