Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-08-03
PRAYING FOR DISASTER.


not ready for it and didn't want it,.
They had asserted that it could not
take place under the present tariff or
until their party should have revised
it, and now they cannot explain why
their predictions have not been fulfill
ed. Senator Lexow in a New York Tri-
bune interview thus expressed his views
about increases of wages:
This matter of reported increase of
wages Do various directions is "a temporary
thing. W it ls otherwise we are all wrong
ana have been in tho wrong all the time. %
And Mr. John Sabine Smith made
the following remarks 10 the Tribune
on the same subject:
"I cannot explain the increase of wages
reported from various localities recently,
but let us wait ana See If the increase is
permanent
Mr. Smith was apprehensive of the
injurious effect Of prosperity upon his
pary's tariff issue, especially if it be
prosperity Of the overlooking kind.
He is impressed by the magnitude Of
the crops. and he says:
"The danger. if any should arise. to be
guarded against VIII Doe that of an over
flowing prosperity. wherein the issue
born of the last TWO years may be forgot
ten."
This issue is, Of course, the restora-
ton Of McKinleyism, with its restric-
ton Of trade and high taxes on the peo-
pie and industry. Prosperity and in
creases of wages, which he cannot ex-
plain. threaten 20 kill this issue, he
thinks. As the New York Times re-
marks, he can ascertain by careful in
quiry that they have killed it. Is not
a Republican statesman or politician
in a curious and uuenviable frame of
mind when he asserts that overflow
Ing" national prosperity is something
dangerous and to be guarded against"
by his party? According 10 Mr.. Smith,
who speaks frankly if not with discre-
ton. such prosperity is dangerous to
the Republicans because it viii make
people contented and comfortable and
prevent them from listening to poll
ticians who tell them that nothing but
the re-enacment Of the Mckinley tariff
viii save them from ruin.
The New York Times notes that not
one Of these statesmen ventures to say
that the published reports of wage in
creases are false. They profess inabil-
ity to explain the increases, or say THAI
the movement is only a temporary
thing" It was admitted several
weeks ago by the Tribune that the num-
Der Of employees whose wages had been
increased up TO that time (since the
latter part of March, was not less than
100000, and everybody knows that a
great number Of increases have been
made since. The leading Republican
paper Of Chicago admits that as many
as 100000 employees have thus been
benefited. The upward movement has
not been checked. Are there any indi-
cations that the increases are only
temporary" and will soon be resc!nd-
ed? If Mr.. Lexow has observed any
may be De Will point them out. He
must know. indeed, that some Of the
most important increases will be in
force for at least a year to come, by
the terms Of the agreements.
Attention is invited to the words
by which this representative Republi-
can elects to stand or fan. so far as the
tariff is concerned, with this wage
movement. If it is not "a temporary
thing then. be admits. Eve are all
wroug, and have been in the wrong all
the time
They are wrong, and have been
wrong. Republican politicians and or
gans have continually asserted that the
panic was due to a Democratic victory
az the polls, 10 the promise of tariff re-
vision. and TO the direct effect Of the
provisions Of the new tariff. That was
false. as is proven by this great re-
vivaL taking place under a Democratic
Administration and under the new tar
if, although it is admitted that this
tariff must be in force for at least two
years more. They continually asserted
until the force Of the revival could no
longer be ignored. that no revival could
take place and that wages could not be
increased so long as the present tariff
should be in operation. Republican
leaders and organs were wrong. Every
body now sees and knows that they
We're wrong.
Wha, is The attitude Of the Republi-
can leaders at the present time? They
declare the increase Of wages are "only
temporary" Tina, is, they hope they
viii De only temporary" in order that
ensuing depression and tard times may
serve as they think, their political pur-
poses, This return of confidence and
activity. with its numberless benefits
to the wage-workers and 10 the people
generally, its vast improvement of the
condition of the country. annoys them
and they actually hope that prosperity
will leave the land and be followed by