The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-09-17


Whether there is ground for the claim
50 frequently made Of the great pros
perlty OF Wage-earners since the advent OF
the present administration, or whether,
Is CANNED by It's opponents, this bcasted
prosperity is enjoyed only by the favored
lew, Is question that seems susceptible
OF statistical demonstration. 1t is, how
ever true, as has. been said, that like
sausage whether statistics are good and
them.
As throwing light upon this question it
Is my purpose to contrast statistics from
sources that seem most reliable with those
quoted by the Chicago Tribune in IFS is
sue OF the 81 alt. from proof slips of the
republican textbook for the sampaign
OF 1880.
Ihese statistics, said 70 have been re-
ported by labor organizations. show an
increase of wages for different industries
ranging from 3 per cent for glass workers
70 l.Soo per cent for stage employees. Ac-
eerding to the table presented there was
an increase in wages in the latter indus
try of % per cent in 1887 over the wages
OF 1895, 200 per cent in 1898 over those of
ls IS e., and on top of this an increase in 1899
Oh ~ pei cent For nearly every class of
Wage-earners a large though not equal
percentage Of increase is shown.
For railway employees the following
hsures OF increase are given:
Cent Cent Cent.
F1remen, locomotive -. =. 10
LabOrers .-..-..-...- 10
Conductors, substantial Increase
On page $50 of the bulletin of the ma
uonSl department of labor for July 1868
may be found a table of average daily
compensation of all railway employees in
I.lS oHlied states, as furnished by the
commission. AS the figures are obtained
from the employing railway corporations
they cannot be supposed to conceal any
table Il appears that the substantial in
crease enjoyed by conductors since 1896
amounts TO cents per day. or but per
cent, and that instead of an increase of
70 per cent in the pay of railway engineers
the increase was less than per cent.
The increase shown for firemen, other
trainmen and Iaborers amounts to but
cents per day for each class
The figures, however take no account of
an important element which must be con-
sidered IN any inquiry as to the relative
condition of railway employees This is
G , Iact that IN recent years the work
mas peen nearly II not quite doubled More
powerful engines draw trains of double
length with no Increase of crew to handle
amount of coal for the same wages and
has lost his opportunity for promotion for
with experienced engineers laid off and
extra run his chance to rise has almost
vanished He and the other trainmen' are
besides unable long to continuously stand
the strain OF the increased labor of their
positions The decrease in earnings from
this cause it is impossible to statfstically
demonstrate.
AS the advertised advance agent of pros
perity Mr.. Mckinley promised wage
earners an immediate increase in wages
and employment to follow his election. TO
convince the public that this promise has
been fulfilled is the evident purpose of the
STATISTICAL table quoted by the Tribune
But who made this sausage? What labor
organization furnished the data and who
Is the statistican that Summarized the
numerous quotations that would be re-
CURED 70 obtain result at all representa-
tive! As we are not informed let us fur
ther inquire as to the true condition of
WaSe-earuers comparing statistics more
worthy of confidence.
The states of Massachusetts and Penn
SytVania obtain and publish annually very
complete statistics OF, their manufacturing
industries As the StatiSticianS in charge
OF the collection and publica tioE of this
Information are Republican appointeeS
tnese statistics are only open 10 the sus-
picion that manufacturers from whom the
information has been obtained NAV have
ceai the full extent of the decline in
wages They cannot be decried as the
work OF calamity hOWlerS.'
The Pennsylvania report department of
internal affairs, part 3. page 416) of 1896
gives comparative statistics for 90l iden-
Uea1 eSta bltShmentS representing IOl in
dustries for the years 1896. 1897 and 1898
Der of Identical establishments for each