The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-02-27
is TIE WORLD GROWING BETrERg
(From Labor's standpoint, by John
Swinton.)

| (From Labor's standpoint, by John
Swinton)
There is undoubtedly a greater meas
ure of welfare, and consequently of
! happiness, for the working classes of
our country than there was for their
| ancestors in the middle of the century.
The proofs of this remark abound and
are Visible on all hands.
They are seen in the positive fact
that the average life of the workers of
this generation is longer than that of
their grandfathers. They are seen in the
better food the workers get, the better
clothes they wear, the better houses
they live in, the better pay they receive
and the greater amount of leisure time
that is at their disposal. They are seen
in the great development Of reason
among the workers, in the wonderful
spread of knowledge among them and
in the Towering of higher ideas among
them. They are seen in the eXtraordi-
nary increase of their power, in the en-
largement of the area of their freedom,
in the widening survey of their
thought and in the ever increasing mag
nitude of their demands upon life and
upon the world. They are seen in their
ClldllShSC W dll lllobllullOhSy GSldDllOll-
ments and laws, as we'll as to all the
kshows, the shadows and the shams of
time. They are seen in such improve
ments as have been brought about in
industrial conditions during this gen.
Grafton and in the steps that have been
taken toward the definite organization
of labor, and in the betterment of fac
tory and sweat-shop laws, and in such
protection as is afforded to toiling
children, and in many sanitary reforms,
and in a hundred other things of prac-
teal kind. They are seen in the mar
velous results of mechanical invention,
in the use Of natures forces, in wealth
production and in the tendency to-
ward what Prof. Bemis, writing in The
World, called the characterization of
industry"
Now, then, should any man dispute
the accuracy or the significance of any
of the statements that have been made
so far 1 shall hold no parley with him,
1 shall merely advise him to study the
subject and it's indications at first hand
and to spend good many of his years
and all of his mind on the job.
But, after all, "is the world" by
which at this time I mean our own
country, growing happier|
Well, If as far as the working mil
lions are concerned, the prolongation Of
life, the growth of reason, the extern
sion of knowledge, the lettering of ex-
istence, the amelioration of social con-
ditions, the softening of industrial hard
ships, the development Of democratic
power, the perception of popular rights,
the liberation of conscience, the en-
| largement of the agencies of wealth pro-
duction and the better organization of
| labor have tendency to promote mans G
welfare and happiness, then uncounted
millions must be happier at the end OF
our wonderful century than were the
generations which lived before them.
But does a better and higher estate in
life promote happiness? Here again
shall not argue the question. But II
does. Else why this universal and per-
petual aspiration toward the better
estate and the higher ideal? Certainly
life of poverty, subserviency, drudg
cry and narrowness is wretched one.
But though I think that the wage
earning legions have grown happier II
the past half century, and though be
lieve that they are in sundry ways bet
ter off than were previous generations
the quest for better estate, for NOR
liberal life. for a cleaner world, for al
orderly system of industry, for the ag
. OF justice and the days of fair play will
go on far more successfully in the mex
half century.