The record-union., 1899-11-22

u = = =
accurately records the number of the
voter, and counts each ballot exactly
as 1T is deposited and totals the whole,
SO that there is nothing for the inside
officers to do after the polls close ex-
cept to make out the tally sheets and
give the results to the public. The en-
ployment of these machines, too, should
dispense with the services of clerks of
election, and thus make a considerable
saving in expenses.
REAL PROSPERITY.
Los Angeles Express: 1t is almost i'm
possible to realize the general prosper
ity prevailing throughout the country
Wages everywhere are better, and more
men employed than at any time for
years past Of course some trades and
lines of business do better than others,
but from all reports the steel and iron
Industry stands at the head of the list
Beginning January LIST steel rail work.
erS in the South Chicago mills of the
Illinois Steel Company will receive rec
ord-breaking wages. Owing to the in
creased price of the finished product
the men, some 800 in number, will be
able to earn from $3.50 to $500 month
This unusual condition is due to the
fact that the company failed to read
just the sliding scale of wages last
June, and under the contracts the new
scale cannot be arranged before June
l, 1900, and cannot go into effect for six
months after that date. The sliding
scale, as arranged, is based upon
minimum price for steel rails of SIS per
ton and a maximum of $34. At the
minimum figure the workers earn be-
tween $15 and $3.50 per month. The
company now has contracts for 5OO,UOO
tons Of steel rails at $50 a ton, and
work will begin upon these contracts
on January LIST. The workers will ac-
cordingly have to be paid at the maxi
mum rate of $34, which no one ever
dreamed would be reached when the
sliding scale was arranged. There is
great rejoicing among the workmen,
who expect the company will stand by
the scale and pay wages which have
never before been approached in the
making of steel rails. The nearest APP
proach to these wages was in 1892,
when the price Of steel rails reached
they will yet go higher before they go
lower. Real prosperity is where the la
boring classes are employed, and this
is the situation in the United States to-
day.
THE SWAP WITH SPAIN.
Los Angeles Herald: 1t is odd to
note how the United States and Spain
sw'apped places, as the result of the
late war. Before that issue was deter
mined Spain had colonies; she had i'm
perialistic ideas as to foreign territory,
and considered herself a child of des-
tiny and a world power; she was also
engaged in the beneficent work of
spreading civilization according to her
own peculiar ideas of what civilization
means. 1t is true that her colonies were
always a source of tribulation and an
expense which kept the Government
on the verge Of bankruptcy all the time,
but a so-called sense of duty to the
world and stubborn pride in Spanish
prestige induced her to hang on. q
few Span sh grandees made money from
exploiting the colonies.
As a result of the war and much to
her chagrin, Spain was shorn Of her
colonies. By way of consolation Uncle
Sam gave her S20,0OO,O0O to put Into
her depleted treasury, and then gra-
ciously stepped into her place. That
brought about another change of policy
for Spain. Duke d'Arcos, the new
Spanish Minister, thus announces the
new order of things:
THE political future of Spain exists in
her interior home politics, in the devel-
opment of her home resources and in
leaving foreign politics alone"
Now note how completely the situa-
tons have been reversed: Before the
conclusion of the late war the United
States, under the advice of the fathers
and following century old traditions,
had found her prosperity in paying
strict attention to home policies, in de-
veloping her internal resources and in
leaving foreign politics alone.
ATHLETIC TRAINING FOR WO-
MEN.
San Jose Mercury: President Seelye
of Smiths College is an ardent advo-
cate of athletic training for women and
in his annual address this year places
athletic exercises upon an equality with
the intellectual training and dwelt
strongly upon the value Of bicycling,
swimming, skating, tennis, golf, basket
ball, boating, etc, as strengtheners of
female physique. To this also he at
tributed the improved health and iiImer
nerves the American woman is begin
ming to show. President Seelye empha-
sized another point which is undoubted-
| ly good-namely: That the athletics
Of female colleges are of more value
than those practiced in male colleges,
because they are more rational. Their
gymnastic practice and athletics are
not carried to excess, consequently the
| young woman stand in no danger of i'm
pairing their health, crippling them
selves or endangering life. In this re-
spect the young men have something
| to learn from the young women.