The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-09-28
DELIVERED At ST. NOUS,
SEPTEMBER Is, 1900

Advance In Merchandise.
When. however the farmer attempts to
use his income in the purchase OF the me-
cessaries of life he finds thai the trusts
nave raised prices. He must pay more
Tor lumber nails, wire, harness, hardware,
stoves and agricultural Implements. More,
also for oil, ugar,, clothing, furniture,
etc, and in addition to these drains upon
his Income he must meet an Increase In
federal taxation,
Let the parent calculate how long 1t
Will take a farmer TO become independent
under present conditions: let him con-
trast he lot of the farmer with the lot
OF the man Who profits by governmental
favorltism and grows rich by the exploit
atsom OF MS eonntrymen through the in
strumentality of monopoly, and then
let him answer the question, rs the
young man. Absalom. safe? 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-
oers and 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
the laboring man? Is his present prospect
an inviting one? Is he receiving n fair
share of the proceeds of his toil7 And. IL
not, why not? Republicans assert that
rue working man has a Full Dinner
pail. l ask, in the first place, whether
a full dinner pail is all that a laboring
man needs? 1t is an insult to the wage
Garner to say that his thoughts are en-
urely centered upon his physical wants.
republican speakers and editors assume
ina the laborfng man Is all stomach.
Iney act upon the theory that he COM
plains only when he is hungry, and is
happy whenever his hunger Is appeased.
The Full Dinner Pail.
II a full Dime pail were the only thing
desired. and II every laboring man had
plenty to eat, 1t would still be necessary
for the Republican party to show some
connection between Republican policies
and the laboring mans food supply. If
pountiful crops come to the farmer he
does not hank a Republican administra-
ton. If a 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
unprom1sed ir crease in the gold supply
gives any respite from financial string
ency can the Republican party claim
credit! The question Is not whether
the laboring man is able to exist under
present conditions, but whether he 10 en-
1oying 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
fares 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 IL every Nlaboring man was
prosperous. and ever If that prosperity
could be traced to Republican legislation,
still the laborlng man is a citizen. and
must look at political questions from the
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 imperialistic
trap. no matter how we'll the trap may
be bated with food.
During the last campaign laborIng men
We're 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
Nances have been made in any branch of
industry since 1886 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
n shortly before the election in
1896 that 1t would not be able to continue
In business If l was elected. 1t went
bankruptcy Immediately after cleo
ton Notwithstanding the fact that its
candidate was successful Mt the polls.
There are indications that this attempt at
may be resorted to again,
this fall. IL a business man feels justi-
fed In holding out the prospect of his
W bankruptcy In order to influence
voters he cannot complain II his credit
ora fn ho 'Sfnv,ca ~ nrl11zA- Al1f.@ 49,
before the election In order to avoid a
possible loss.
The Chicago-Times Herald OF Septem-
per . contained a special dispatch from
Indianapolis setting forth the complaint
made by the anthracite coal miners. !
the dispatch l read the following state
ment made by one Of the miners: ut is
merely a question whether the men would.
starve to death at work or starve in idle
ness" The dispatch also contains the
figures in regard to wages, said.
to have been furnished by a member of
the national board of the United Mine
workers of America, viz: Average daily
wages received by miners, sl.35; average
wage OF day men at mines. 80 cents" And
IN the statement to the public giving his
reasons for calling out the miners, Presi-
lent Mitchell Of the United Mine Work.
been less than $3.50 annuaily." LET
the parent calculate the annual Income
of a miner, and figure out, II he can.
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. IA
1t due to natural or to human laws that
the producer of wealth fares so poor,v.
while the man at the head Of a monopoly
secures SO much.
All Monopolies Are BAD.
Those who attempt to divide private
m%onopolies into good m%onopolies and bad
monopolies will never make any progress
the overthrow OF the trusts, There
is no good monopoly in private hands:
there never was, and never viii be.
With all the advancement in civilization
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 muat
not only be made known, they must be
prevented. The Democratic platform
a deniand for legislation which
will place trust made articles on the free
list. There Is no doubt that such a law
would protect the people from much OF
the extortion which is practiced under
cover of high tariff laws. II a tarifY
duty excludes the foreign product. while
manufacturers combine to raise
the price of home product. the American,
citizen may be plundered here. while fha