The times., 1897-12-06
HUMANITY MEYER SO CHEAP
So Argues an Occupant of the
Peoples Church Pulpit.
Refers to Problems Presented by
the Introduo tion of Labor
Saving Machines

Mr. Ralph Beaumont spoke at The Peoples
Church yesterday on the subject of the
Labor Exchange. He was introduced by
Rev. Alexander Kent, who said that he had
invited MIR. Beaumont to tell the story of
the labor exchange to the congregation
OF the Peoples Church because it was an
interesting snd Instructive story. One of the
gravest problems OF the age was that OF
supplying employment tu the unemployed
millions.
Mr.. BEAUMONT said THAI there is a great
deal of Involuntary dieness. A great num-
Der of people We're tranping the highways
who would not be had they the opportunity
10 labor.
Fifty years ago man who had learned
his trade as a shoemaker, with $50 worth
OF tools could start out and make IA living.
The opportunity was open. Now it wouldle
necessary for him 10 seek employment
frouu a man WHO ran shoe factory ana
controlled the opportunities of labor. a
nan could corner the land and thus lock
w all opportunities If a farmer desired
To work the land he might do ii on shares
that is, about onehaif. He would haze TO
work six months of the year TO pay the
land owner for the privilege of exercising
that right which nature gave hiin-the
right 70 live. Mr. Beaumont gSed the
quotation from Shakespeare, He who
takes from me the means whereby I live,
takes from me my life.''
He told the story of an old negro who
boastcd that tie voted nothing but the Re
publican ticket.
Were you ever sold when you were
slave?" asked Mr.. Bea aumont.
Yes. indeed, WAS" How much did sou
bring them" Gre time LTore ht II go"
How much would you bring now?" " Nell,
Boss. Ireckon d bring about fifteen cents.
Mr. Bee umont urged that huma nifty ne, er
was So cheap as it is tCday, and that
he cheapest OF all commodities is la hor. The
invention ofIabor-sa yin g machinery, hesa.d,
Is going steadily forward ana the import It
problem is what to do with he IeCple
thrown cut of employment
Mr.. beaumont spoke Of tie Iower IF i.
Pierpont Morgan TO exact tribute from tie
people as being unequaled by that OF Car
The Morgan interests controlled 81 600
miles or railrOa d ard tie two great electric
it was but the question of 4 little tine
when railroad trains would be run by
electric power. and tie skilled engineers
| Of the country wo1:ld hay e to ;ake to the
road
Then the speaker told Of the operations
| OF the labor exchange. The purposes of this
system was not 10 furnish employment, but
TO furnish the opportunity for employ
4
ment, and said that its membership had
| doubled in the last year, and that it
| would continue tG grow.
The plan of the exchange is To accept
| the valuable products of labor from the
| producer, and 10 issue a certificate of
| deposit, good as a draft on any other
material III stock az that exchange or At
any otter. For every dollar OF this ecfip
| that existed, there was a dollar in value
with which to redeem il. The labor eX-
| change invited q run. The speaker com
pare.l this condition with that Of tue banks
| OF the country, which, he said. according
| 10 the report OF the Comptroller OF the Cur
rency, had l cents on deposit for every
| 100 cents in outstanding promises to re-
| deem, He compared the present national
! banking system with a keno bank. which
| took a certain ''rake-off'' from every
body who dealt with it. The certificates
| OF deposit were to all intentS and pur s1bscs
| legal tender, though the exchange did not
| fall within the limits Of the law, which
! had taxed the circuIa ton of state bank
! % per cent, and had thus driven then
| out OF business. The labor exchange wa,
simply a great clearing house for labor.
| Many questions were asked Mr.. Beau
mont G. ncening the details OF tae plan, and
| so MECH interest was manifested in the
matter that IT was decided To arrange foi
a public meeting, to be addressed by Me-
| Rea Juloft