Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-07-07
BLIND LABOR LEADERS.
False Guides Who Seek to aIisiead Work
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 Messrs. J. R. Sovereign, Samuel Gompers, E. " Debs., F. NJ. Arthur, John Mcbride and several other officials of labor organizations have united in an address to the workingmen of the United States, in which they declare their belief in the free coinage of silver at 1e to 1, and urge the election of 8 congress which will overthrow our pres ent financial system and establish one based on the cheaper metal. This at tempt to commit organized labor to the cause of silverism is justified, on the ground that the gold standard causes distress, widespread suffering and un- happiness among those who create the wealth of the country.
 There has been disposition on the part of most Americans to regard labor organizations as beneficial to their mem bers, not so much on account of possible increases in wages to be secured through their agency, but as educational institu- tions through which the workers might get better understanding of matters affecting their interests. Judging by their attitude on the silver question, the educational benefits of the principal la bor associations have been very limited. The address which the so called labor leaders" have signed is merely rehash of the old delusions and fallaeies which the cheap money advocates have been repeating for years. In itself it is only worthy of notice because the official po- sition of the men issuing it may lead some misguided workingmen into voting for free coinage candidates.
 Among other unfounded assertions in which the address abounds is the claim that the country is now suffering from currency contraction caused by the al. legged characterization of silver in 1873, and that this contraction has thrown hundreds of thousands of operatives out of work and has forced wages down. To this it need only be replied that where. as we had less than $50, 900, 900 of sil- yer money and less tksSn $100, 900, 900 of gold in 1873, we now have $626, ,000,- 900 in silver and over $500, 900, 900 in gold With men who call that great in- crease contraction" 1t would be use- less to argue.
 AS remedy for low prices and hard times American workingmen are told by these Headers" that 8 16 to i law would greatly increase the volume of money and bring higher wages and pros- perity. Neither assertion is true. Free coinage would not give us more money, nor would it raise wages. Mexico has free silver, and the volume Of money is less than $5 per capita. China, another silver country, has $2. 08 per capita India, with the silver standard, has $3 B per capita. And in all these silver using countries wages are far lower and the people far poorer than i'll the gold standard United States. If free coinage will raise wages. why has it not done so where it has been in force for many years?
 There is no evidence that any consid- erable number of American workmen are worrying because their wages are paid in dollars which have high pur- chasing power. But if any of them should be inclined to follow their blind leaders into the swamp of financial dis aster and bankruptcy they have only to ask, What is the condition of the work CTS i'll silver standard countries as com- pared with those of the United States?"