Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-04-28

or months even. The depression under
which all kinds of industry struggled
during the late days of the Cleveland
administration, was not brought about
in brief space of time, and it is hardly
reasonable to suppose that the remedy
will be effective in minute. The legislation
suggested in this memorial, is i'm
portant, but it must be considered of
secondary Importance, when compared
with the real cause of the terrible depres
sion which has borne 80 heavily upon
labor, and in fact all classes and kinds OF
industry since 1890.
The first demand made in this memorial
is stricter enforcement of the eight hour
law. 1t is hardly to be supposed that
this in itself would bring prosperity.
Under an active demand for labor, it
would of course assure the employment
of greater number OF men to do given
amount of work, but this would not affect
the latent causes from which activity or
depression spring.
The second demand refers to remodel
ing of our immigration laws. This is
even more important than the first de-
mand and deserves much wider reoogni-
ton. Especially is this subject of inter-
est to labor, for our policy of unrestriot-
ed legislation tends to overcrowd the
labor market, and force down wages to a
starvation level.
The third demand goes still nearer to
the cause of existing difficulties and is as
follows:
"Reform in the national banking sys-
tenn and in the issuance of the currency
of the United States, to secure the people
from the possibilities and disasters OF
financial crisis"
Everybody admits that there should be
reform in the currency, but as to what
form this read justment should take, is by
no means question of easy settlement.
Concerning liberal appropriations for
public works and buildings, which is the
fourth demand in the memorial, no one
can reasonably deny that they are not
already being made. 1t is the opinion of
great many sound legislators and Others,
that in view of the condition of our
finances too many such appropriations
are made.
Congress is spending from $400,0o0,o00
to $5O0,oOo,oOo annually, which is pretty
fair expenditure considering the condi-
tion of the treasury. Tt might be better
If such expenditures were decreased in
stead of increased, for labor, and all other
interests of the country.
1t is doubtful if this memorial will do
any good. Existing defects are too we'll
known at the national capital, to need
review at the hands of any labor or other
organization. As to return of prosper
ity; he must be poor observer indeed
who does not recognize decided change
for the better since the inauguration of
Mr.. Mckinley. There Is very general
expression of renewed confidence all
around, and nowhere else is 1t more mani
fest than in labor circles. If anyone ex.
pects that all the unemployed in the
country are going to be put to work in
two or three months, it is feared that they
will be doomed to disappointment, but
that much better conditions prevail is
fact not to be successfully disputed. They
will grow still better right along. Pres
ident Mckinley has never proved un-
faithful to the cause of labor, and he may
be fully trusted to redeem every pledge
made.