Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-08-14

r when, however the FARMER attempts to
use ais income in the purchase OF the me-
cessaries of life he finds that the trnsts
nave raiaad prices. H0 must pay more
Tor 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 1t
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
1ayor1tism and grows rich by the exploits
auon or mis- countrymen through the in
stfuInentality Of monopoly. and then
let him answer the question, rs the
young man, Absalom. Safe7 Has the
farmers son, or the farmer himself any
reason for giving support to the Re-
publican party?
Next to the farmer in point of NUM-
bers and Importance come the wage-earTi-
ers. What is the trust doing to Increase
the wages, shorten the hours, improve
the condition. or protect the rights of
the labortnG man? Is his present prospect
an inviting one2 Is he receiving a fair
snare OF the proceeds of his toilf And. If
not, why aot2 Republicans assert that
the working man has a Full Dinner
pail l ask, In the first place, whether
fun dinner pail Is all that q laborinE
man man needsE 1t is an insult to the wage
Garner to say that his thoughts are en-
Ireiy eentered upon his physical wants
Republican speakers and editors assume
mat the laboring man Is all stomach.
a Sney ACT upon the theory that he COM
plains only when he is hungry, and Is
happy whenever his hunger IL appeased.
The Fun Dinner Pail.
If full dinner pail were the only thing
desired, and II every laborinE man had
plenty to eat, It would StiIl be necessary
Tor the Republican party to show some
connection between Republican policies
and the lnhnrff11r ms I
pounutui orops come to the farmer he
GOES not thank Republican adminIstra-'
uon: II famine abroad raises the price
OF farm products here the farmer does
not thank the Republican party for bring
ing the famine. If an unexpected and an
unpromised Increase in the gold supply
slVe9 any respite from financial string
ency can the Republican party claim
credit7 The question is not whether
the laboring man is able to exist under
present conditions, but whether he is en-
Toying his share of the blessings OF the
country and OF the protection of the gov
eminent. Compare the laborinr man
with the trust magnate. and see which
tareS the best at the hands of the Re-
publican party Enquire also whether
the l0borfng mans income has Increased
as rapidly as his living EXPENSES.
But even IL every laboring man was
prosperous, and even IL that prosperity
could be traced to Republican legislation.
sttll the labOrinR man Is q citi9on and
citizens standpoint. He cannot AFFORD
to barter away future security: he can
not afford to sleep while his Industrial
Independence ig being destroyed. Neither
can he be enticed into an irnperiRlistic
trap, no matter how well the tran may
be bated with food.
During the last campaign laboring men
were threatened with idleness by en-
pioyers 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 adj
Yances have been made in any branch of
industry since 1888 remember that some
advance was necessary to compensate for
last election.
Coercion In 1896.
A firm In the City of Washington an
nounced shortly before the election in
1885 that 1t would not be able to continue
In business II I was elected. 1t went
into bankruptcy Immediately after cleo
ton Notwithstanding the fact that itB
candidate was successful at the polls
There are indications that this attempt at
intimidation may be resortsd to again
this fall. II business man feels Justi-
ned in holding out the prospect of his
own bankruptcy in order to influence
voters be cannot complain IL his credit
ors take steps to collect their accounts
a
possible loss
The ChicaEo-Times Herald of Septem-
Der contained q special dispatch from
Indianapolis setting forth the complaint
made by the anthracite coal miners In
the dispatch I read the following state
ment made by one of the miners: ut IL
merely q question whether the men would
starve to death at work or starvo in Idle
mesa. The dispatch also contains the
following figures IN regard to wages, said
to have been furnished by a member Of
the national board of the United Nine
workers OF America, viz: Average daily
wages received by miners, H-95: averagO
W =, Of day men at mines. % conts." And
IN the statement to the public giving his
E ss.t Tor calling cut the miners. Presi-
dent Mitchell Of the United Nine Work
anthracite miners Tor many Year, has ~
the parent calculate the annual income
OF miner, and figure out, II he can
how the miner IL going to keep himself
and support his family under present con-
ditions: and then let the parent ask him
self whether he II willing to have his
son take his chances with the miners II
It due to natural or to human laws that
tne producer OF wealth fares 50 poorly.
while the man at the head of a MONOPOLY
secures 20 much.
All NohopOlIos Are Had.
Thoao who attempt to divide prtvat.
monopolies into good monopoHss and bad
nonopolios win never make any progroGa
toward the overthrow Of the trusts. Thoro
is no COED monopoly In private hands:
there never was, and never win b.
With all the advancement In civilization
man Is still too selfish to be trusted Wiz
the absolute control with that which -
fellows must have. The Republican PARTY
has no remedy for the trusts FutIioIt1
Is good. but publicity alone e NOT GIIffi-
Gent. The practices Of the trusts 71lII1t
not only be made known, they rnuSf e
prevented. The Democrats platform
contains q demand for 1eQiEia fio,, y--l,i.I,
win place trust made articles on the Tree
list. There = no doubt that such 4 law
would protect the people from much Of
the extortion which Is practiced undar
duty excludes the foreign product vTlliio
donnestfc manufacturer connbir. =, -