The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-25
THE POOR MANS CONDITION.

THE POOR MANS tONDfttONs
The saying that the rich are growing
richer and the poor are growing poorer"
has been repeated so often by politicians
that many people have come to believe
II and that belief IS the cause OF much
OF the discomfort that exists at the pres
ent time among the people OF this coun-
try.
Mr.. Carroll D. Wright Commissioner
OF Labor. whose sympathies are with the
workingmsn and who Is peculiarly the
representative IN the Federal Govern
ment of the workingman, has published
in the current issue OF the Atlantic
Monthly an article on this subject, IN
which he produces facts and figures 10
nrove that the assertion is absolutely
untrue. Mr.. Wright has made a careful
study OF the question, and while 1t Is
impossible to give exact figures In the
main. his statements are entirely re-
liable.
lie starts out by saying that It cannot
be disputed that there are more rich
that their aggregate wealth Is greater
but on the other hand he shows that
the accumulations Of the poor have also
been growing, and that while the rich
are richer. the poor are also richer.
Taking the true valuation OF the real
and personal property Of this country
for each decade beginning with 1870 Mr..
Wright declares that the total wealth
was as follows: In 1880. S,1S5 7sO.22s or
sos per capita: in 1860 sl6,159 sl6,O6S. or
s514 per capita; in 1870 sSO.O6s 5lS'5o'' or
$50 per capita: in 1850 $40, 100000 or
$50 per capital and in 1890. S65,OSl OBJ ~
or 81 O86 per capita. This shows that the
aggregate wealth Of the country is con-
stantlv increasing, that there has been
more and more 10 divide, and while the
rich man is getting more than his share
figures show that the poor man has not
been degenerating. but has been con-
stantly improving his condition.
Mr.. Wright takes up the question OF
bread winning, and shows how the num-
Der OF persons engaged in supporting
themselves has constantly increased with
each decade In 1870 the whole number
OF persons thus engaged was l2,505,s23, or
about 80 per cent. OF the whole popula-
ton: I'm 1890 this number had Increased
TO q. 735. GGl, or more than So per cent. OF
the whole population. These he sub
divides into four different groups, and
while we will not go into the figures, for
statistics are always duh, we will say
I'm general terms that he shows there
from that the number engaged in the
lowest walks OF life is decreasing in pro-
portion TO population, while those who
are in the higher walks Of life are in
creasing relatively to the whole popula-
ton. In other words, the average earn
ing Of all classes Of bread winners has
steadily increased. In 1850 the average
annual earnings Of each employe engaged
in manufacturing and mechanical pur-
suits, including men. women and children,
was s247; in 1850, $3.50; in 1870, 1902; in 1850.
SS47. and in 1890. $ii5 1t must be remem-
bered too, that during all this time there
has been a constant decrease in the price
Of such things as are necessary to sus-
tain life as well as Of the Injuries Of
life, and never have they been cheaper
than they are to-day.
Mr.. Wright next contrasts the condi-
ton of the workingman Of this age with
his condition generation ago, when the
so-caled iron law Of wages prevailed. At
that time. he says. a man was paid only
enough to give him food, shelter and
clothing in sufficient quantities to keep
him in good working order. But in this
dav that is not considered enough. and
the workingman demands and receives
not only enough to give him the necessa-
ries of life. but also its comforts, and
some Of its Injuries TO which he is justly
entitled
we would that every Disconnected man
in this country might read Mr.. Wrights
article. We have not reproduced as much
OF it as we would like, but we think we
have given enough to show that the con-
dition OF the bread winners Of this coun-
trv is nothing like so bad as calamity
bowlers and professional politicians would
make It appear. and. as compared with
the bread winners Of other nations and
other times, they have much TO be thank
fpl for.
The Times does not pretend TO say that
the bread winners Of this country get all
that they are entitled TO. But they have
much for which 10 be thankful. and
writers like Mr.. Wright are more to be
commended and encouraged than those
who, for selfish reasons. preach the gos-
pei Of discomfort
The Fredericksburg Star says that we