People's voice., 1900-09-27


Advance In Merchandise.
when, however the farmer attempts to
use his income in the purchase Of the ne
cessaries Of life he finds that the trusts
nave raised prices. He must pay more
LOT lumber, nails, wire, harness, hardware,
stoves and agricultural implements. More,
also Tor oil. sugar. clothing, furniture,
ETC. and In addition to these drains upon
MS income he must meet an increase in
federal taxation.
Let the parent calculate how long It
VIII take a farmer to become independent
under present conditions; let him con-
trast the lot of the farmer with the lot
OF the man who profits by governmental
favoritism and grows rich by the exploit
atioh OF his countrymen through the in
sIumentality Of monopoly, and then
Iet MN answer the question, rs the
young man, Absalom, safe? Has the
FARMER son, or the farmer himself any
reason Tor giving support to the Re-
publican party?
Next 10 the farmer in point Of num-
Oers ana Importance come the wage-earn-
ers' what is the trust doing to increase
the wages, shorten the hours, improve
the condition, or protect the rights of
lhe iaooring man? Is his present prospect
an inviting one? Is he receiving a fair
snare OF the proceeds Of his toll? And, II
not, why not? Republicans assert that
the working man has a Full Dinner
pali' l ask, in the first place, whether
tull dinner pail is all that laboring
man needs? II is an insult to the wage
Garner TO say that his thoughts are en-
Ireiy centered upon his physical wants.
republican speakers and editors assume
ina .mat the laboring man is all stomach.
Ihey act upon the theory that he COM
pains only when he is hungry, and is
happy whenever his hunger is appeased.
The Full Dinner Pail.
II full dinner pail were the only thing
desired, and If every laboring man had
plenty to eat, It would still be necessary
Ior the Republican party to show some
connection between Republican policies
ana the laboring mans food supply. II
oountiful crops come to the farmer he
does not thank Republican administra-
tion. If a famine abroad raises the price
OF farm products here the farmer does
not thank the Republican party for bring
ing the famine. II an unexpected and an
unpromised Increase in the gold supply
gives any respite from financial string
ency can the Republican party claim
credlt! The question is not whether
the laboring man is able to exist under
present conditions, but whether he Is en-
)oying his share Of the blessings OF the
country and Of the protection Of the gov
ernment. Compare the laboring man
with the trust magnate, and see which
tares the best at the hands OF the Re-
publican party. Enquire also whether
the laboring mans income has increased
as rapidly as his living expenses.
But even If every laboring man was
prosperous, and even If that prosperity
could be traced to Republican legislation,
sui the laboring man is a citizen, and
must look at political questions from the
citizens standpoint He cannot afford
to barter away future security: he can
not afford to sleep while his Industrial
independence is being destroyed. Neither
can he be enticed into an imperiallstic
trap, no matter how well the trap may
be bated with food.
During the last campaign laboring men
were threatened with idleness by en-
ployers who desired TO coerce them into
the support Of the Republican ticket.
Many Of them were told not to return to
work unless the Republicans were sue
cessful at the polls. After the election
some OF these employers closed down their
shops and others reduced wages. II ad-
vances have been made in any branch of
industry since 1896 remember that some
advance was necessary to compensate for
the reductions which occurred after the
last election.
Coercion In 1896.
A firm in the City Of Washington an
nounced shortly before the election in
1895 that 1t would not be able to continue
In business II / was elected. II went
into bankruptcy Immediately after elec-
ton Notwithstanding the fact that its
candidate was successful at the polls
There are indications that this attempt at
intimidation may be resorted TO again
this fall. II business man feels justi-
fled In holding out the prospect Of his
own bankruptcy in order to influence
voters he cannot complain II his credit
ors take steps to collect their accounts
before the election in order to avoid a
possible loss
The Chicago-Times Herald of Septem-
Der contained a special dispatch from
indianapolis setting forth the complaint
made by the anthracite coal miners. In
the dispatch l read the following state
ment made by one Of the miners: at Is
merely question whether the men would
starve to death at work or starve in idle
ness" The dispatch also contains the
following figures in regard to wages. said
to have been furnished by a member of
the national beard Of the United Mine
workers Of America, viz: Average daily
wages received by miners, sl.35: average
wage OF day men at mines. 30 cents" And
IN the statement TO the public giving his
reasons for calling out the miners. Presi-
dent Mitchell OF the United Mine Work.
ers says: The average wages Of the
anthracite miners for many years has
been less than $3.50 annually" Let
the parent calculate the annual income
of a miner. and figure out, II he can.
how the miner is going to keep himself,
and support his family under present con-
ditions; and then let the parent ask him
self whether he is willing to have his |
son take his chances with the miners. Is |
1t due to natural or to human laws that
the producer OF wealth fares so poorly |
while the man at the head Of monopoly
secures so much.
All Monopolles Are Bad.
Those who attempt to divide private
monopolies into good monopolles and bad |
monopolies will never make any progress |
toward the overthrow OF the trusts. There |
is no good monopoly in private hands:
there never was, and never will be. |
With all the advancement in civilization |
man Is still too selfish to be trusted with |
the absolute control with that which his
fellows must have. The Republican party |
has no remedy for the trusts Publicity |
is good, but publicity alone Is not sufi- |
cient. The practices Of the trusts must
not only be made known, they must be
prevented. The Democratic platform
contains a demand for legislation which
will place trust made articles on the free
list. There is no doubt that such law
would protect the people from much Of
the extortion which is practiced under
cover Of high tariff laws. II a tariff
dutv arcludae tha forafgu nroduot ~vhfia |