Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-07

Free Silver and Lower Wages.

Free Silver and Lower wages.
When one gets at the root of the de-
sire for free silver among others than
debtors and the silver trust it is found
to be the purpose of cutting down wages
by indirect method. There is no doubt
that before this business depression
came upon us a days work would ex-
change for more of the necessities and
luXuries of life than ever before. If it
were not SO the production, which has
been SO enormously increased by means
of improved machinery, perfection of
methods. increased facilities for trans
pcrtation, etc, would find no adequate
machine, the sewing machine, the ma
chimes for making shoes, in short the
almost innumerable labor saving de-
vices come into general use a certain
amount of labor is no longer necessary.
and unless shorter hours. or increased
wages for the same hours follow. the
working people will not have money to
purchase their share of the increased
production. 1t is eminently desira bic
for all interests that increased con-
sumption keep pace with increased
production.
The tide of affairs has been setting in
this direction. The free silver theorists
propose to turn it back. This however.
is a purpose which in some sections of
the country they, for obvious reasons,
endeavor to conceal. In the East they
declare that silver will be raised to the
price of gold and at the same time in
suit the intelligence by assuming that
prices will rise. In the West, however.
the farmers are told that prices will
rise because they are to have a cheaper
dollar in which to pay their help This
is no inconsiderable item with the wheat
growing barons, who till hundreds of
acres and employ laborers to perform
all the manual toll But even they
but temporary, as their market will be
contracted with the reduction in the
consuming capacity of the wage work
ers OF the country, and cheaper help
will encourage increased wheat acreage
and consequently increased production
and sharper competition. The eastern
farmer performs, usually, except in a
few instances,a large share of the man.
ual toll Anything which lessons the
amount of comforts and necessities for
which days labor will exchange hurts
him and if he employees but one laborer
the year round the reduction in the
purchasing power of his labor will
nearly offset the benefit he might de-
rive from the reduction in the wages of
his hired man. Moreover the eastern
farmer will experience more quickly
than the western wheat grower, the
evils resulting from reducing the coun-
try's capacity for consumption, for the
former derives much of his profit from
the luxuries of the table of the wage
worker. He gets fancy prices for the
freshest and best dairy products. The
wage worker with sound money wages
and relieved of the incubus of the
Democratic tariff can afford to be par
ticular about the quality of his but
ter. the age of the eggs he eats and can
pay we'll for the early spring lamb and
chickens. If his wages are cut in
two as they would be by the applica-
ton of the principles laid down in that
chicago platform, he could not afford
TO pay the high prices for those luxur
les and would be lucky if he could pro-
vide his family, especially if it be a
large one. with the staples of life.
| When one stops to consider that tho
consumption of wheat per capita in
TINS country fell from six bushels in
the prosperous year of 1892 to less than
three and a half bushels in the, de-
pressed conditions of 1894: also that
bread is considered the staff Of ,;f.
the last item among the FURNISHINGS Of
'he lar6er to be reduced, it is easy To
see that the loss to those who nroy;a.
the luxuries of the table must he
greater
we feel sure that farmers both West
and East have NOT forpo+ta,, ~,