The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-09-19


exactly equal worth, as bullion, in New
York.
TELLS HIS EXPERIENCE
A Baltimore Workingman Tells
About Silver and Wages.
john W. Williams, an old soldier and
who is prominent in Baltimore labor circles
was induced to say few words at meet
Ing of labor association in Baltimore last
Friday night Mr.. Williams believes that
the free coinage of silver will give us good
times again, and gives reason for his be-
lief.
Ascending the platform, he began by
stating that he would relate his personal
experience of money, and Of the effect the
various financial policies had upon the
wages of the workingmen. He said:
lin 1867 and 1868 was employed in
Lower Canada in the trade at which have
always worked, glass blowing. In those
years silver was abundant in Canada, and
the wages of the workingman were better
than at any other time in the history of the
country. The man who started the glass
works in which | was employed was mill
onaire, and he assured me personally that
he had started three or four other indus
tries. in addition to that, just in order to
get the large amount of silver off his hands.
He said it was so cumbersome to hoard he
was actually compelled to put it in circula-
ton. That often struck me since as good
argument to advance against the logic some
of our financial experts, who are all the
time parting about the clumsiness of silver.
| imagine it may be good thing that it is
so, if it becomes announcement to hoard,
ne my millionaire employer said.
'Here in Baltimore got the best wages
| ever earned in II, ~ and 70. In
the last named year, you remember, they
demonetized silver. What was the result
to labor? We had the first strikes and
lockouts in 1874 which we ever experienced
in this country, and they have been on the
increase annually ever since.
Canada was fairly prosperous, as have
said, in 1866, 81 and So. In 1869
silver was demonetized in Canada, and in
1870 thousands of lockedout workmen
paraded the streets in Montreal and Toronto
with their banners, inscribed, Wen Have
Blood or Bread
1.-THE government was compelled to sup
port these men all that winter, opening
souphouses to keep them from starving.
Here in Baltimore, between the years "A
and rs, my wages and the wages of every
workman employed at skilled labor de-
creased 33B per cent. After the Bland
Allison silver act was passed in rs wages
began to go up, and 1880 was the most
prosperous year the country ever saw. In
that wear it was difficult to find man out
of work in any section of the country. |
knew number of glass blowers who had
received tempting offer from a Western
town. They were about to leave here and
90 West, when their employer offered them
500 each as an inducement to stay here,
and they accepted the money and remained.
Now, before that Bland act was passed
in 1878, 1 remember distinctly that the
Baltimore Sun cautioned the public against
the proposed legislation.
q If this cartwheel- dollar act becomes
law, said the Sun, poverty will be spread
broadcast over the land Panics, strikes
and lockouts will follow In other words,
the Sun used the very language then that
it does now.
II heard Pinkney Whyte say on the
stump in that year: If the Bland bill
goes through the workingmen down at
Locust Point will have to get baskets to
haul home their big silver dollars, and when
they 90 to cross Cross-Street Market with
these baskets they won't be able with their
inflated dollar to purchase enough heads
of cabbage to fill the basket That
prophecy of the Senator did not come true.
We went along all right until Cleveland
got in. CA voice-You mean the goldbug
fshingman. Laughter.
''When he got to the White House he
commenced to influence Legislation on be-
half of Wall street. Don't let the gold
bugs scare you, my fellow workmen, with
their gloomy talk of panics. They made
the same evil prophecies before.
s'Rieh men desire gold because con-
traction of the currency drives the middle
men-the smaller fry-out of competition
in every business.
"A millionaire who employed me once
said to inc John, L IN glad the times
are hard and that money is scarce. "
:. Why? | asked, in amazement.
: Don you understand why p he re-
sponded why, the closeness of the
money market will squeeze the little fellows
out and I'll have things all my own way.
I can stand the squeeze.
'.Yote your sentiments, and don't let
your employers intimidate you. A voice:
"Cowen doing it where / work p')
"Well, don't be intimidated Your
right to free ballot is as sacred as Mr.
Cowen' s. (Applause.) don't like to
hear people designate me and other silver
men as Anarchists. | got wounded in the
army when | was not more than 20. |
left job of 5000 month to fight for the
Union for S13 month. | did it for the
country sake, and never regretted it. |
can hardly be patient, though, when some
Wall-street money-lender or silk stocking
aristocrat calls me an Anarchist Cap
plause.
The greatest enthusiasm prevailed dur
ing Mr.. Williams address.