The Louisiana populist., 1897-07-02
WAGES MUSTGO DOWN
ELKINS SAYS SO, AND HE is
ON INSIDE.
He Admits That the Glorious Victory
for High Wages Cannot Maintain
Wages on the Gold Basis -- What
Sound" Money Really Means.

wages on the Gold Basis -- What
"sound' Money Really Means.
Wages must 80 down." says Senator
Elklns In a recent interview published
in the Cincinnati Enquirer. Wage
earners," continued the senator, "dc
not wish to see it or believe it, but it
is So" And again he said: wages In
merica 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;
out so strong is the sympathy between
capital invested in different directions,
yet acting together, that the great COM
b1nations, 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 la
Dor. No man has presented this fact
with the terrible bluntness OF the sem
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 infuance Of con-
traction. which is steadily reducing the
price OF all other commodities, includ-
Ing coal. And since the price must 90
down, and since somebody must lose,
Senator Elkins unhesitatingly declares
tnat the railroads cannot be expected
TO sufer, nor yet the coal mine owners.
II is the labofer who must stand and
deliver at the bidding of those who
make money SO scarce that coal is
cneap and transportation cheaper.
Mr.. Elkins has met sthe 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 60 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, il they could, abolish
wages altogether-but not abolish 10.
bor. They do hot 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 Elkfnb that he is one of this class.
out we credit him with q clear view Of
the facts as they exist, and with the
courage to state them. II the present
system OF gold contraction which ho
favors is to continue-if the supply Of
money is to remain stationary, and the
uses for 1t are to increase, then It ia
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
tho 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 goy-
ernments of the world, have no bowels
Of compassion for the owners of other
than gold money, and no re.
morse about shifting down coal mine
owners and railroad companies and t1,.
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 capitalist. and Shv-
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. II wages 20
down, capital must go down. When on
ly a score of men can ride in their car
riages, they too will be forced to walk
by force which they cannot resist.