The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-06
Tho World Went Very III Then.

The World Went Very III Then.
The American people have a happy
faculty Of putting behind them unpleas-
ant memories Of the past, devoting their
thoughts and energies to problems OF
the present and future. In treating Of
present prosperity, 1t Is occasionally
necessary to contrast It with previous
conditions. although il revives recollec-
lions which are so painful that it is
like reopening an old wound. in some
cases. to recall them. In a recent speech
at Sedro- woolley. Hon. ]. NJ. Frink.
speaking az manufacturer and a large
employer Of labor. alluded to the differ
ence between conditions OF the present
day and those which he had to encoun-
ter under the last Democratic admins
tration. In a single month. within the
past three years. he has paid out as
much in wages. and turned out as large
a product, as In single years under
Clevelands administration: while in
every month his product and labor bill
have been six times as great as they
were under the preceding administra-
ton.
This has been the change to the man.
ufacturer. Can 1t be honestly said that
the condition of the wage Garner has
not shown parallel Improvement?
This does not mean that wages are six
times as high now as they were four
years ago: but in general. conditions
have shown an improvement substan-
TALLY as great. During the hard times
there were always the fortunate few
who retained positions where they were
sure OF their pay from week to week.
That pay might have been reduced
somewhat. but the reduction in the
price OF the necessaries OF life was also
great. so that they suffered little or
nothing by the hard times. These were
the fortunate ones. Where they could
be counted by the tens. the unemployed.
or those who were employed but a small
portion OF the time, could be counted
ones who should stop and contrast their
present condition with what they had
to endure four years ago.
Not to speak Of the hundreds Of cases
in this community where men saw the
savings OF lifetime swept away and
lost the very homes which sheltered
in this rich and fertile state more grind
ing poverty and bitter destitutlon than
the American-horn people resident here
had ever before witnessed, much less
shared. Men accustomed to command
large salaries and to see their families
surrounded by at least all OF the COM
forts OF life from the American stand
ard. suffered for the first times In their
lives the pinch OF actual hunger: and
worse than all. saw their families suffer
and were poweriess 10 provide for them,
No labor was so hard: no pay so scanty,
that hundreds were not eager to take
up the work in order that they might
procure even the barest necessaries o;
life for their loved ones. Working on
the sewers OF the street. at scan.y
wages, were 20 be seen professional men.
bookkeepers, trained and skilled me-
chanics. and men who had lived from
the proceeds OF their own invested cap
ital: while hundreds Of the same classes
watched and env!ed them the oppo.-
tunity.
These were the conditions which ex-
listed under former Democratic ad-
ministration. and the Democrats are
asking another lease OF Once 70 try a
few more disastrous experiment.. in
legislation. with possibility Of dupil-
| eating their former record. The recoI-
| lections are unpleasant. All would like
60 forget them. II Is wholesome. how
/ ever. 70 look backward occasionally and
| ponder over past experiences when look
ing for a guide TO future action.
I