Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-07-25

It. Returning to the attack, MI. hor
said that Mr. Harvey did not care fol
ratio. What he wanted was a cheal
dollar, and the cheapening of tn
emoluments Of labor. That was tn
most prosperous country in which 1t
! workingmen were best paid.
Mr.. Horr said 1t was in 1879 that WI
resumed specie payment, and the onll
money Of final redemption was gold
He asked: "Was distress abroad In thu
land from that on?" The fact is tn
years from 1879 to 1892 found our PEG
pie better employed and at better
wages than in any other same number
Of years since this government wal
formed"
Mr. Harvey: "As to the prosperity
Of this country between 1870 and 1892,
you could not break down great
nation like this In one year. 1t hal
taken short period to bring us to the
bitter cup Of disappointment and
distress" Continuing, Mr. Harvey
asked Mr.. Horr not to refer
to the prosperity" Of the
country from 1873 to 1895. The WORD
tramp was coined in 1873 and the
United States census shows that de-
preston has been increasing at a dis.
proportionate ratio. So has the num-
Der OF penitentiary convicts, persons
confined In aims houses, insane asyluma
and Of suicides. The prosperity that
has built up millionaires and multi.
millionaires and strewn this country
with millions Of tramps and paupers
and men who don't know how they are
going to provide for their families In
the coming year. A change in relative
production had no effect as long as the
minis were open to the two metals"
Mr.. Horr: 81 have never said that
the cheap price Of silver was not on &C.
count Of its over production. Silver
has become cheap in this world just
precisely the same as wheat, and iron,
and zinc, and lead, and other articles
! have been cheapened, just precisely for
the same reason. All Of these articles,
as we'll as gold have been cheapened
by the natural laws which govern the
production Of every substance known
TO the producers Of the world"
This ended the debate for the day,
and questions were submitted from
the audience.
Mr.. Hoar: 'rhis question is put to
me by Mr.. John J. McGrath, treasurer
Of the Bricklayers' and Stonemasons'
union Of Chicago. Is Mr.. McGrath
here? 1 do not know that | quite un.
derstand his question, but | will read 1t.
"'Why Is it that the workingmen's
opportunity does not keep pace with
his increased productiveness; II he pro-
duces five times what he did twenty
years ago, ought he not to get FIVE
times the pay? In other words, what
right has the dollar that its value (pur-
chasing power) should be increased
thereby?'
~ 10 not understand the last line.
un er,tand the import, however, OF
the general question. The trouble
with that question is that Mr.. McGrath
assumes two or three things that may
not be true. why is it that the work.
ingman's opportunity does not keep
pace with his productiveness?' l did
not know but what it did. II he
produced five times what he did
twenty years ago-well don't know
as he does. Do you lay five times as
many brick as you did thirty years ago?
Can man do that? 1t is a fair ques-
tion. ! did not know as you could do
that"
Mr., Harvey; "Dld you not state in
your argument the other day that the
productiveness had increased some
thing like five times as much?"
Mr.. llorr: 81 don't know, but whether
| did or not, would say so now, but
did not say that each laboring man
produced five times as much, by any
means ] stated before, and | will re-
peat it now, every invention that is
made may increase productiveness
twenty times, but not of the man that
works at hand labor l stated
the law this morning, that whenever
such an invention is made, a part Of
the profits should go to increase the !
pay Of the laborers, part OF it should
go to the cheapening Of the substance
for those who consume it and part to
the inventor and manager to pay him |
for his invention and for running the
business. Now MIR, McGrath, how |
much do you get a day for laying
brick?"
Mr.. Harvey: "Mr. McGrath handed
me that question Saturday and asked
me to see that 1t was put TO you"
Mr.. Horr; as there anyone in this
audience who knows what bricklayers
get here to-day for such work2 l would
like to know If these men who are
cheering me or Mr.. Harvey are brick
layers, or II they know how much
bricklayers get now. My friend here
says so cents an hour. That would be
1t the rate Of IS for ten hours. used
to hire bricklayers for So. e5 a day.
They were paid In the currency of the
country. They earn now say "a a day
Ind are paid in gold. Does that show
hat gold has increased in prlce2'
Mr.. Harvey. "They get 1t when
hey work."
The debate was then adjourned till
p. m. to-day.