The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-10-31
LABOR'S
OPPORTUNITY.
Silver Means an Era CT
Higher Prices.
And Rising and Well Sus-
tanned Wages.
While Gold Means Cheap
Commodities.
With Less Work and Dirnin-
ished Pay.

One of Detroit's largest manufactur-
ers assures The Tribune that his COM
pany makes nothing by keeping its
works III operation, but simply holds
its trade together, hoping for better
times. Suppose times do not improve,
as reason teaches they cannot if present
monetary conditions continue, but, on
the other hand, grow worse from year
to year, how long can manufacturers be
expected to carry on their works at q
loss?
Will the time not come when wages
will be cut to the level Of the "pauper
labor of the gold standard countries Of
Europe? How can it be otherwise?
How much will the workingmen
then be benefited by the cheapness of
commodities if their wages are cut pro-
! portlonately with the prices of the fruits
OF their labor? The gold advocates de-
ight TO harp upon the great purchasing
power OF the workman s wages under
the gold standard. but how long will it
be ere that great purchasing power will
apply to wages as we'll as to everything
oise: The workingman is better off with
a nigh scale Of wages, even if the cost
or food aud clothing also be high, as by
prudence and economy he can manage
TO save something out of high wage
where he cannot out of lower one.
silver means an era of higher prices and
Weii sustained wages, while gold means
cheap commodities, precariously en-
ployed labor and sooner or later dimin-
ished wages.
Men may be satisfied with their pres
ont condition, but how long will it last
II things go from bad to worse, as thev
threaten to do If the present monetary
status is perpetuated? The interest of
the workingman, no less than that of
his employer. lies in such acondition of
general prosperity that his labor be-
comes profitable to the employer
lhe goldltes are profuse in assurances
that wages will not advance under a
silver basis, although they are ready
enough to admit that all products of la
Dor will 60 up Why should wages not
advance If there is profit to the en-
ployer warranting it? That they will
not is pure assumption, without any
basis Of reason. When EMPLOYERS are
making money, they are not likely to
qulbhle about wages and incur the haz-
ard of strikes. 1t is impossible now
adays that they can be prosperous and
their employees not share in the pros
perity.
Employers may and very often do as
sure their men that the gold standard is
f,,,
ests In many cases they are no don BIT
mncere, but in more they associate the
SILVER movement with labor aggression
and oppose silver to keep labor down.
6ut IN any case the Judgment of the av-
erase employer is not necessarily any
more to be relied upon than that of one
OF his workmen. The average business
man Is not student. He knows moth
ing OF the philosophy of the money aues-
non. lie gets his cue from his banker,
who i'll turn is inspired by the Morgans,
i3elmonfs and Rothschilds, the money
llhRs, whose consent even the czar of
Russia has to ask before he can perform
10 plain an act of sovereignty as to die
tate war. The advice of the employer is
hence, not always disinterested and rep
Iescntative of his own we'll considered
views
The average workingman is fully as
ompetent to form an intelligent opin-
ion on the issues of the day as any bank
n or manufacturer. 1t is his duty as "a
2ltlzen to vote on his own best judp-
nent, and it is not at all Improbable
hat ere many months have elapsed his
amployer may thank him for disregard.
ng his ante-electi6n advice Detroit
Tribune.