Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-05-28
WAGES MUSTGO DOWN
ELKINS SAYS so, AND HE is
ON INSIDE.
He Admits That tho Glorious Victory
for High Wages Cannot Maintain
Wages on the Gold Basis =. What
Sound" Money Really Means.

"Wages must go down." says Senator
Elkins in a recent interview published
in the Cincinnati Enquirer. Wage
earners," continued the senator, do
pot wish to see it or believe 1t, but 1t
Is So" And again he said: Wages in
herica stand against any revival OF
business"
He was discussing the coal trade. He
tells us that I'VE do not export coal to
Europe, because we have wages against
us, and that is the whole kernel of the
coal trade" The senator complained
of the Supreme Court decision which
makes railroad pooling impossible.
That would seem to benefit the coal
trade at the expense Of the railroads;
but SO strong is the sympathy between
capital invested in different directions,
yet acting together, that the great COM
binations, like those between the rail-
roads and coal mines, see no way to
relieve their own diminishing revenues
except the cutting of the wages of Ia
Dor. No man has presented this fact
with the terrible bluntness of the SEN
ator from West Virginia. He has not
minced words. He appears to have
sought the publication of his views.
As prices decline and values shrink,
those who battle with the food Of con-
traction each reach out for the plank
which will not sustain all.
No limitation on the output of coal
can counteract the influance of con-
traction, which is steadily reducing the
price Of all other commodities, includ-
ing coal. And since the price must go
Senator Elkins unhesitatingly declares
that the railroads cannot be expected
to suffer, nor yet the coal mine owners.
1t is the laborer who must stand and
deliver at the bidding of those who
make money so scarce that coal is
cheap and transportation cheaper
Mr.. Elkins has met the logic of the
situation. What he says is the natural
result flowing from the policy which the
money power has forced upon his party.
Wages must go down." wages in
America stand against any revival Of
business" Senator Elkins has a good
business head on his shoulders, and he
must know that the men who have
bought and taken possession Of the
Republican organization and who have
created the present national admins
tration would, if they could, abolish
wages altogether-but not abolish ln-
Dor. They do not believe that men,
horses, cattle or dogs have any natural
right to compensation for their labor
or any right to any more food and
clothing and shelter for the night than
will keep them in good working con-
dition. We do not charge upon Sen
ator Elkins that he is one of this class,
but we credit him with clear view of
the facts as they exist, and with the
courage to state them. If the present
system of gold contraction which he
favors is to continue-if the supply Of
money is to remain stationary, and the
uses for it are to increase, then it is
absolutely true that wages in America
stand against any revival of business"
In the co-partnership between capital
and labor there can be no dividends for
the workingmen under the present con-
ditions.
But Senator Elkins overlooks one
fact, and that is that our masters, who
dictate the gold standard to all the gov
srnments Of the world, have no bowels
Of compassion for the owners of other
property than gold money, and no re-
morse about shifting down coal mine
owners and railroad companies and en-
Shaving them as they do their working
men. Mr.. Elkins is not one of the roy
al family of usuerers and money lend
ers. He is only a capitalist. and Shy
lock laughs at him as grimly as he
does at the spendthrift whom he is
running, or the idle workman whom he
drives from his door. If wages go
down, capital must go down. When on
ly score of men can ride in their car
riages, they too will be forced to walk
by force which they cannot resist.