The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-01
A QUESTION OF WAGES.

QUESTION OF WAGES.
Aside from the larger issues Of the
campaign, which have already been
SO extensively discussed that we need
dwell on them no more, the only prae-
tical question for the wage Garner to
consider before he goes to the polls is
the effect upon him personally of the
adoption Of the financial policy in
dorsed and proposed to be put In OPP
GRAFTON by the Demo-Populists. At
last, 1t admits of no question that the
effect of this upon the laboring man
will be to reduce his wages That much
is asserted by every advocate of the
sound money cause. That much is
now confessed in set terms by Mr..
Bryan himself. He says, in answer to
question that has been put to him,
published in the paper which is most
ardently supporting his cause, that
the purchasing power of the dollar
will be lessened." That is the only
material point. Of course, Mr.. Bryan
adds to it that this disadvantage. will
will find employment, he says: but
how, pray? Employment can come
only by the enlargement and multiple
cation of industries. What industry
Will know any such experience save
that of silver mining, one of the least
important, as far as labor is con-
! cerned, in the whole list. Will there
be more boots and shoes made. more
cloth woven, more manufactures of
iron and wool and steel and other
Fabrics carried on, more newspapers
printed, more railroads built after free
coinage than before? We all know
better. We all know that the move
ment will be in the other direction.
For all such enterprises, before they
can engage labor, must secure capital
WhereWith the wages of that labor
shall be paid. And capital has already
said, emphatically and unequivocaIly,
that 1t has gone out of business until
this cheap money craze has passed
There will not be, therefore, under
for labor but less. The promise to the
workingman of more work in the event
OF free coinage is more delusive and
farcical even than the promise of pro-
lection, that the employer will share
voluntarily his unearned profit,
through taxation, with his employe.
There, at least, the profit is in sight.
and the workingman can fight for his
share Of it. But here there is no profit:
only loss to be divided amongst the
people. The question is so simple that
we are satisfied to put it in plain terms
before the workingman and to leave
1t there. It now stands admitted on
all sides by Mr.. Bryan, as we'll as by
the sound money advocates, that un-
der free coinage the purchasing power
of the dollar will be lessened. This
means that your wages will be de-
creased by that much Do YOU want
less wages? Do you want to receive
the same number of dollars that you
now do in money and find that you
nave to pay out twice as many of
them for the same comforts of life that
you now enjoy? Are you satisfied to
make this confessed and certain sacri-
flee for the sake Of a rainbow promise
made to you by a few selfishly inter
ested politicians, but denied to be even
a possibility by all history, by expert
ence, by the best thought and con-
science Of our time? Whatever any
other man may think about his duty
or his interest in this campaign, to the
laborer all must, it seems to us, be
clear. If he votes for free silver. he
votes for reduction of wages and loss
of employment. Will he do it?