Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-06-18

was the whole trouble with the masses.
After that wanted to be food re-
former. but it finally appeared to me
that the economic question was the
real root of the troubles OF the masses,
and that even excessive drinking was
largely an outcome of poverty, done to
| drown it's miseries.
| To-day I'm in the business myself
and trying to earn an honest living
until the time comes"
are now on the crest of the wave of
| prosperity in England and America,
possibly just a little over the crest
I'VE are literally rolling in good
trade he said, and when men are
relatively contented there is little slim
illus for work toward changed condi-
| tions. Now, it isn't safe for any man
to prophesy, but it may be safe to make
simply an estimate. l figure that in
| England the Conservative party. bar
ring accidents. will have one years
good run yet, and in America the COL
onial development and general opening
out of trade ought to hold the good
times for year. In the following year
indications of decline will come, and
at the end of the second year from
now the industrial decline will become
definite and steady, according to my
estimates
THE surest sign of the beginning of
an industrial fall is generally to be
found in decline in ocean freights.
indicating that sfipbuiiding has been
overdone. We can begin to look then
for signs of industrial difficulties and
financial crises resulting from over
speculation or roguery. By that year
the hard times will begin to pinch. It
will probably take about four years to
reach bottom, to get from the crest of
the wave to the trough, and in the
| ordinary course of events we shall he
IN that trough for a year or more. In
that time there will be large proper
ton of unemployed and powerful de-
mand for new conditions.
REGULATING COMPETITION.
Then is the time for us to see if
We have any men among us; then is
the time to work for constructive leg
lslatlon. 1t seems to me that we should
look first to the Radical element in
Parliament. If they put forth the
cailed-for democratic measures such
as old age pensions, raising the age at
which children may be employed, and
IN other ways tending toward the SUI
preston of monOpolistic control by
the peoples interests, the establish
ment OF orderly corporations in place
CT disorderly competition, then we
snail have nothing to do except to fur
Their these measures. If the capitalis-
tic element fails to offer the legislation
for which there will be such a demand
by that time, then we must see what
we can do to secure such legislation.
Nothing is further from our plans
than violence; we wouldn't cut the
throat of a fly. l believe the ideal con-
dition for which we are working is
coming about as rapidly as it ought to;
We are in no hurry to force things. We
only want to be ready for the time
when the people shall say, We have
had enough of this industrial chaos,
and begin constructive legislation in a
collectivist direction.
POLITICAL PROGRAMME
There has been a noteworthy change of
view in the trades unions in the last TWEEN
~ years, although they do not yet con-
tain a majority for the doctrin6,; of col
lectivism. l should say that about 80
per cent. now endorse those doctrines
The rest vote for whatsoever has the most
money. In these times of prosperity even
the minority is split up into factions
There is Hyndman at the head of the
Social Democratic Federation There is
Kerr Hardy at the head of the Independ-
ent Labor party. There is John Burns,
whom l believe to be a Socialist yet, but
| rather more conservative than he used TO
be. They are all strong and able and
thoughtful men. but Hyndman can't work
with hardy and Burns; Burns can't work
with Hyndman and Hardy. and Hardy
can't work with Burns and Hyndman
When we get off the crest of prosperity
and down into the trough you may be
sure that the petty differences between
| these elements will disappear The
| groups would coaesce and form a defini-
tive party in the House of Commons.
which will grow united. Instead of haN<
| ing Conservatives and Liberals we will
have a capitalist party and workman s
| party. | don't expect that however, in
the next period of depression There will
| be another period of the same sort six
or seven years later, but their lengths
! grow shorter and shorter. until presently
! they will succeed each other so fast that
| you can hardly tell which is which
| About that time the people will say
l We're tired of that sort of thing; let's do