The labor world., 1900-02-03


share in productions is one that is Of
greatest Importance to the working
class, the analysis Of which will re-
veal the fact that the working class
is forced to a recognition Of that bare
fact that labor's share is becoming less
each year, says the Carriage and Wag-
on Workers Journal.
A comparative study of the statis-
tics Of the country will show how
great labor's share in the product has
been and what it is now Although
the amount Of wealth is constantly in
creasing, as will be seen from the fol-
lowing, taken from statistics compiled
by the government, it will also be seen
how rapidly labor's share is decreas-
ing:
In 1850 the wealth Of the nation was
$S,000,0 900. The producers share was
62h per cent: producers share,
371A per cent
In 1850 the wealth increased to
$4,000, 100000. The producers share
fell to 1874 per cent; non@producers'
increased to 5GA per cent. .
in 1870 the wealth was $50, ,OOO, ,OOO, ,OOO
Producers share was % 2-3 per cent:
non-producers' share, 81 1-3 per cent.
In 1880 the wealth increased to $4S,-
OOOOO0,O00. The producers share went
down to "a per cent, while the nom
producers share increased to rs per
cent.
In 1890 the wealth was further in
creased to s61, ,0OOOOO,OO0. The produce
ers' share fell to II per cent: the non
producers share increased to SO per
cent.
The greater the amount Of wealth
increased, the corresponding decrease
or the producers share in that wealth.
In the early days of these statistics
production was carried on chiefly by
hand labor; the factories and mills
that are now so numerous were then
but few. With the rapid progress Of
the introduction of machinery and In
ventions in the productive industries
the power of these, increased two fold,
ten-fold, yes, tWenty-fold, according
to the state of perfection Of the Inn
proved machine. With this increased
productivity came also the army of the
unemployed; at first but few in mum
Der, but constantly increasing .as the
machine became more perfect until
the army of unemployed in the year
OF prosperity, 1890, when the last census
was taken, had reached far above the
the one million mark. In 1893, and up
to 1897, the army of unemployed was
estimated anywhere from three to four
million.
With the gigantic strides which the
E Isr.- 49,,
ing, one may ask himself: What will
be labor's share when the census Of
1900 is taken?" At any rate it can be
asserted without fear Of contradic-
ton, that labors share will have still
further decreased. The trust question
is pressing more and more to the front.
The power of competition is dwindling
fast away; now only remains small
fraction Of the entire productive in
dustry untrustified. While the trusts
and the trust papers are singing the
joys Of prosperity, the working class
is feeling it's condition more keenly
than ever. Their share in ali this is
but job at paupert wages. 1T is cer-
tain that the workers will come to an
derstand their true position, at least.
extent, realize that the struggle on
the economic field must be supple
mented by political action. The strong
hold of capitalism in the present time
is it's economic power; it's weakest and
continuing ever weaker, because Of the
development crushing out the small
capitalists. forcing him into the ranks
of the working class, is the ballot. Here
they are outnumbered and here it is
where the workers can gain easy VIC.
tory, and here a victory gained will.
but add strength for the economic
battle
Effort in this direction, along clear
cut, uncompromisng, class conscious
lines, will increase labor's share in the
product. While it is true that in Ger
tain trades, even now, wages have
been raised, yet when the increased
productivity, through more perfect ma
chimes and through the concentration
of capital, is taken into considera ton,
it will be seen when the next balanc-.
lng-up takes place, that labor's share,
on the whole, has decreased
organization is essential: more so
than ever. This fact can not be too
strongly emphasized. but it also is a
fact that every tactical point through
which it is possible to increase labor's
share should and must be taken ad-
vantage of in the onward march for
labol's emancipation.