The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-03-03
1--we QUESTIONS.
"a Series OF Articles Contributed by
Advanced Thinkers.
lLlusTRATaoNs OF PROFIT SHARING.
BIZ \. o. NELSON.

written much on the subject since his
return to Paris. In paper published
IN The Yale Review for August, on the
Standard Of Living Of American Work
ingmen." he arrives at the conclusion
that the average rate Of wages in this
country is about double the French rate.
The cost Of food is about two-thirds, Of
clothing about equal, and of rent consid-
erably higher, with more and better
room. He finds the American standard
uf living much higher and also more
wasteful. He overlooks two important
factrs-while the American rate OF
wages is much higher, employment is
Ear more unsteady and the number OF
unemployed very much greater. # the
comparison was made between the aver
age income year in and year ont OF the
entire number of workers in France and
the United States, the difference be-
tween the two would be greatly reduced.
he also falls into the error Of taking his
basis from the wages Of the highly paid
mechanical trades. His averagepf 81. OF
per day cannot include the total OF shoe
workers, clothing makers, laborers and
the great mass Of manufacturing IN
which wages are not held mp by Unions. /
One Of the most interesting. side
shows of the English cooperative move
ment is the annual flower festival. It
started 10 or 10 years agoat Crystal
palace, in the outskirts of London. It
has grown year BY year until now 1t IS
made the occasion for 9 grand gathering
.of CO operators from ali over the British
island The attendance numbers hun
dredsof thousands The English climate
is especially lysadapted TO the cultivation
1of flowers. being moist and Of much
more even temperature than. that of Che
Bni1ad States paeisdiid beds of flowers
in front yards and pot flowers in the
windows are, almost universally found
ia cities Of moderate size and villages.
The display of flowers at the festival is
something wonderful. Then there IS
music. including chorus OF more than
8 GOO voices The festival iasts several
days. Speeches ara made by eminent
men and by prominent cooperative
leaders. The great success Of this CEN
srai festlVai mas eacoutasso ..ne pae'ys
slnces, ana now tne ocottlsn co-opelas9ls
nave tnea.s, ana also .sa, xalloas suDu1s
tilcIs o1 1l'g as'i'u s'hss.9e'eta'a''.
tabu5ated rssnrded debf5sef saN sorts in
the United States The bonded debt Of
railroads, stTaet Srai roads telephone
conpanies, telegraph companies, pri-
vats Watersrom4saniies gasscompanies,
electro: light sana pewsr Companies and
other transportation companies amounts
to So, 900, 600, ,000 The mortgages on.
farms amount to 81. 209, 200, ,O00 and on
city property to $3.50, GOO, 600. The
United States, state, county, city and
school debts amount to $a,D2s, 600, 900,
,oans on crop liens $3.50, 000, 900. bank
aeans IS, OFT, 900, 600. A reasonableSes
innate Of bank deposits. mercantile
debts, retail store accounts and other,
personal debts would carry the total
debts Of the United States. public and
,criyate. TO probably. sac, 000, 000, 00G;
or an average Of So, 40 to each house
hold of FIVE persons. It is easy to see
,,-ese;ons = s , ar;se and the anestion Is nat
,,ral1v raised whether credit is a bless
ins, ~ = cnrse
The st. Louis co-operauve store IS
showing q steady and healthy CROWN
in membership andin sales. Within the
past IL months the sales have doubled.
a regular dividend OF 8 per cent on
members purchases and 8 pez cent on
nonmemhe-s is paid. An exceiientiy
equipped bakery has Just been acquired.
The managers and workers are al &C,