The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-03

and even its Injuries have become cheap
er, while by reason of various influences
wages have risen. In 1870 the average
wages paid to laborers was 1902 per year.
In 1880 these had increased to $4S5, more
than 80 per cent, while during the same
period the prices of commodities had fall
en-, the silverites tell us, from % TO 40 per
cent. Under the operation of a gold stand
ard, therefore, no matter what its injuries
NAY have been to other classes of citizens,
the laborer is at least IS per cent. better
off than he was in 1870. Does he wish to
wages and higher cost of living? / think
these facts have only to be presented to
vince them that any grievances winch
they may be persuaded they have. cannot
be cured by the humbug remedies pre-
Ecribed by DR.. Bryan.
There are some classes of employees who
would be especially affected by a silver
standard. / refer particularly to the 100000
men who get their wages from steam and
street surface railroads. Most of the money
invested in these enterprises Is represented
n bonds whose principal and interest are
payable in gold. The annual payments re-
ouired by these obligations of Indebtedness
are hundreds of millions of dollars. II gold
goes to a premium, the holders of these
bonds insist that their terms shall be full
filled, and the interest payable in gold, 1t
means that the railroads, have got to raise
that amount of gold or the mortgages will
be foreclosed and the properties sold. Ev-
cry railroad employee knows what that
means-a cutting down of expenses. dis
organization. uncertain employment. III the
companies have to pay a hundred cents
premium on gold to satisfy their interest
demands, it means doubling their fixed
charges, and this in the case of nine rail-
roads out of ten means bankruptcy
they cannot increase their rate of fares,
for that the Legislatures will not permit.
They cannot exact paymen of fares in
gold. Therefore. they must repudfate their
obligations or cut down wageS-they GER
tainly cannot increase wages. Whichever
horn of the dilemma they choose, there
fore-a reputation of obligation or a re-
duction of wages-the employe is no gain er,
Tor even were there no reduction of wages
under the free coinage of 50-cent dollars.
he ought to receive twice as muah wages
as he did before, in order to put him on en-
equality with previous conditions. The
purchasing power of his wages, If the late
one-half.
Against such threatened calamities we
have met as Democrats, and as patriots
TO protest. Our purpose is too serious to
permit dlfferences on minor matters or
or weaken our influence. We have come
here as Democrats to exert such influence
as we may have among Democrats for the
good OF our country and the preservation
of usefulness. Renouncing as un-Demo-
cratic the work, of the party organization
at Chicago, let uS be true to every Demo-
cratic instinct at Indianapolis. Let no
mar say that in this convention any false
note of Democracy was sounded.
We stand for all that should inspire good
citizenship-for honest money, enforcement
of law and order. respect for authority.
the preservation of the national credit, the
just payment of debts. the dignity and
name of America. United in such a cause
we can go forward with the American flag
as our banner and the words National
democrat inscribed on its folds. We
rtand behind the broad shiall of patti otism
and in that sign re shall conquer.