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 labOrs 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: snon-producers' share,
37R per cent
In 1860 the wealth increased to
$4,000, 100000. The producers share
fell to 43A per cent; non producers
Increased to 5GA per cent.
In 1870 the wealth was $50, 100000, OOO
Producers share was 80 2-3 per cent;
non-producers' share, 81 1-3 per cent
In 1880 the wealth increased to $4S,-
000,000,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 $1,000, 100000. The produc-
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
of 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 We're 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
60 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 nunn-
ber, 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
concentration of capital is now maxi
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 labor's 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 a small
fraction Of the entire productive in
dustrv untrustified While the trusts
and the trust papers are singing the
joys OF prosperity, the working class
Is feeling its condition more keenly
than ever. Their share in all this is
but Job at pauper, wages It is GER
4 tain that the workers will come to un-
derstand their true position, at least
the organized workers now, to some
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 victory gained will
but add strength for the economic
battle.
Effort in this direction, along clear
cut, uncompromising, 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 consideration
1t will be seen when the next balanc.
ing-up takes place, that labor's share
on the whole, has decreased.
Organiza ton is essential: more sc
than ever. This fact can not be toe
strongly emphasized. but it also is 8
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 FOL
n mi ioy,