Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-05-04
THE QUESTION OF WAGES.

A.
before in the worlds history, ana WIN
still be higher. Active labor is entl-
lied Ia receive more and more OF the
worlds good things, and idle cap'Val
less and less.-Salem Statesman
We wish to call attention to the 'ln-
,ruthfulness Of the above statement
not 70 reflect upon the character OF
tho editor Of the Statesman, but to
nolnt out the fact. The Statesman
edltor at times talks about the gold
monopoly crushing the life out OF Tie
laborer and producer. We wish he
meant what he says. We do not be-
lIeve he does. We do not believe he
helieyes what he says. We could bring
him statistics and authorities OF un-
questionable character to show that
gold is not cheaper, but has appre-
ciated 30 to 40 per cent in the worlds
markets. as tested by the market
value of 100 articles, considered staple.
We all know gold is dearer, Will buy
more than 1t ever would, Is cores
pondingly harder to get, and Is really
at a premium.
When the Statesman says Labor Is
higher than ever before in the worlds
history" what does 1t meanY Surely
not what It says. The publishers OF
the Statesman pretend to speak for
the Republican party. They hold
lucrative offices In the gift OF the
party. They belong to the combina
tlon of goldites and salary-drawers
who are trying to dictate the politics
of Oregon and the nation. They
represent to the people that gold Is
cheap and wages high, thereby endors-
| ing the present financial system. If
they rest their success upon the asser-
tlon that gold Is cheap and wages
high, the facts do not sustain them
and the voters should not. When men
are laborlng on the public works OF
Portland at 80 to 30 cents Il day; and
when potatoes IN the Willamette val
ley sell at 10 cents sack, what be-
comes of the assertion? The States
man is not paying over half the wages
IL was five years ago. Twice as many
could be hired as are wanted. Nc
business Is paying the wages 1t wa'
iiye years ago, except some lines O.
political jobs. In an address before
the Republican league OF Omaha las
Friday night, one OF the ablest men II
the United States-W. II. Harvey o.
Chlcago-said, in reply to the asser
; tlon that wages have not declined;
"Store clerks In the city Of Chicago
In 1873 got $l2 week, about an aver
age OF that. They are now getting ar
average Of about 81 a week.
"Unorganlzed labor has fallen pro
portlonately. IL Is only organized
! labor that held up prices, and 1t ha'
done that In two ways: One is that
organized labor Is among the first
class mechanics, where experts are re
Quired principally, and the supply o
that kind OF workmen Is limited Blu
organized labor holds itself up b,
reason of its unions. They ar
intelligent, They stand together as
brotherhood Of men fighting in com
mon cause. And yet In spite of thei
;, organization labor has had wage
partially reduced. The best answe
! have heard to that was by an Irish
man in Chicago recently, A gold maj
!, was expatlating on the purchasln
power OF gold and saying that wage
had not declined, The Irishman, ,afte
: listening to him awhile, said: "Mlstel
In 1873 was section hand on Tn
railroad and got $3.50 a day; l had
little cottage, good home out her
In the suburbs, where Nora aud IN
babies were happy aud l saved 50
week out of my wages over n living
and paid II on onr home. Now, deb
has taken my cottage, and al
getting 50 cents II day as a sectio
, hand on the same road. II you wi
tell me how can save 80 week O
Is cents a day I'll give you the floor.
. Applause.
"Unorganized labor has declined 3
= per cent, and tens Of thousands ar
= unemployed aud are getting nothin.
" flhlg nlnkaa fran,,,s, A. -,