Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-19
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES:
Prosperity Discourse.
From The Commoner and Glassworkt

From the Commoner and GlaSsworker.
EuWOOD, Ind. Sept. 10.-Prosperity
has surely struck the chimney branch
this year The manufacturers were
bowling for high tariff and prosperity,
and they got it. Did we? | guess nit.
They have three years of it, and now
when we ask for our share of it, they
say nit: if you don't shut up, we will
run in the machines on you" Well, let
them run them in. The sooner it is
done. the sooner the trade will find out
that the machines are not what the
manufacturers say they are, not at
present at least.
See how the manufacturers work us
on the tariff and such bait-not only
glassworkers, but all workmen. Take
the tin plate workers, the highest pro-
tected in the world, and yet they must
fight for anything they get. Window
workers, coal miners, everybody must
do the same thing, fight for what they
get. l wonder the workers don't band
together and vote right once. Only
once will be enough. Don't let the
millionaire tell you how to vote, for
he is interested in your vote at that
certain time. but at no other time.
After you vote to give him prosperity
and put yourself on the bum, why, he
has no more use for you. He is done
with you for four more years. Then
they come and josh you little; and
you vote the same old way again-for
prosperity, to make the rich richer and
the poor poorer. But, say, did you no.
tice how much holder they are becom-
ing? A short while back they would
|, ;,,l- ind Jrct ri i
disturbance this close to an election,
1t seems as though you could hear
them say What is the difference?
D-n it, we have educated them so
long how to vote that they can't go
astray this time" Another thing they
tell us that prosperity is here in great
chunks, and they refuse to let us have
any of it. and worse still, ask us to per-
petuate this same prosperity, and |
guess some of us will help do it. Take
the price of any commodity to-day and
you will find that it is from one-third
to one-half higher to-day than 1t was
three or four years ago. That goes to
prove that what the manufacturer says
is true, viz: that prosperity is here, but
where do we come in at? Are we sup
posed to go on at the same old rate OF
wages and pay for our necessities OF
life at prosperity prices, simply that
our manufacturers may have prosper
ity and we may not?
Then when we ask for enough wages
to keep up this prosperity We are re-
fused Remember, we are the ones
who make prosperity by being able
to consume that which is manufac-
tured; then if we cannot buy our share
of the production, prosperity falls fat.
But those people don't care how fiat it
falls providing they can make enough
out of it In two or three years to do
for five or seven. They don't care how
much we suffer or what becomes of us,
only please don't ask for any of the
prosperity that is going around, espe-
cially in the form of raise in wages.
Of course, if you want a little of it, they
are willing to give it to you provided
you will be satisfied with longer hours,
harder work and less wages. That is
their idea of prosperity-large produc-
ton at low cost. That Is prosperity
for the manufacturers, but again | ask
where do we come in at? Somebody
else will have to answer this, for
cannot RUBE.