Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-12-14
INCOME AND OUTGO.
WITH INCREASED DEMANDS THE
PRICES HAVE INCREASED.
Owing to Added Consumption, Grow
ing Out of Greater Prosperity, Values
of Some of the Necessaries of Life

With what marvellous regularity do
free-trade writers seize the wrong horn
Of the dilemma, and yet how serenely
they bob up after the most disastrous
fall. There seems to be an utter lack
Of discernment among these foes Of the
nation, especially when it comes to dis
tinguish between cause and effect. This
popularity has manifested itself to a
striking degree in numerous editorial
comments on "Dun's' index number of
Nov. list, which showed the cost of liv-
ing to be at the highest point of the de-
cade. Immediately these pretended
friends of the downtrodden wage earn
er rush forward with the cry that
prices have been advanced by the tar
if and the trusts until starvation
threatens the people, for with the rise
in expenses there has been no equiya-
lent gain in wages.
AS matter of fact, it must be clear
to any man of intelligence that it is
due to the unprecedentedly high wages
and full employment Of all labor that
prices advance. Commodities would not
long show high level of values if no
one purchased. The cost Of the neces-
stiles of life naturally tends to advance
just in proportion to the ability of the
people to consume.
Boots and shoes now sell at about 80
per cent of the price in 1888, finished
products Of iron and steel at T3 per
cent Of the prices prevailing in 1887,
wooden goods 50 per cent of the prices
of 1860, and cotton goods 60 per cent
of the level Al years ago. In ether
words, while the active demand SIS
tains the general level of quotations
at a high point, the very products of
industries that have been developed
by the Ubiquitous tariff are obtained at
striking concessions. The late William
Mckinley promised that protected in
dustry would not Cnly provide work at
good wages for an army of men, but
that in a few years the prices of the
articles produced would be put below
the level prevailing before the enact
ment Of such helpful legislation. Rec
ords prove that these predictions have
been most wonderfully fulfilled, and
with true American energy not only the
home market, but foreign markets are
now supplied. In some cases the de-
velopment has been slower than In 9TH
ers, and in the weaker Industries 1t
would be easy to precipitate disaster
by adverse legislation this winter. But
unfortunately the foreign sympath1z-
ers in this country are not taking
prominent part in the government, ex-
cept from the editorial sanctum.
One point in the discussion of wages
and prices is of considerable sociolog-
ical and economic Importance, yet 1t
is generally ignored in discussions.
Among a large number of American
people there is a certain feeling that
Office work is more dignifed than man
ual labor and socially superior. This Is
most noticeable in the families Of art1-
sans where the children have received
a common school education. Their
mothers advocate the boys accepting
positions in banks, mercantile houses,
ETC., where the opportunity for advance
ment is slow owing to the enormous
force employed. Bookkeepers and men
in similar positions work all their lives
at the same desk, never earning more
than SIS or 500 week, whereas in the
lines of productive labor they might
easily secure 81 or S. day, besides the
healthful advantages of physical act1v-
ity. Yet this matter Of social position
puts up an obstacle which is becoming
more serious every day, tending to over
crowd the cities even when all produc-
tive industries are handicapped by lack
of men. It is no more difficult to learn
bookkeeping and other office duties,
and the difference in return should out
weigh any mistaken notion of social
equality.-American Economist.
Why He Can't Get 1t.