Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1902-10-31
A PLAIN TALK


Every laboring man, in Idaho we
remembers the closing year of Grow
or Cleveland's disastrous administra
ton There was no work. Bushes
was stagnant and at its lowest ebt
improvements in the cities and town
throughout the state were at
standstill. Little building of any kin
was going on. In the larger place
like Boise, Pocatello, Lewiston an,
Moscow there were thousands of idl,
men-skilled mechanics and laborers-
who found it absolutely impossible t,
obtain any kind of employment be
cause there was no work to be had
Very many of them were hungry and
distressed, and from sheer necessity
were forced to seek shelter for the
night in saloon chairs because they
had no money to pay for nights
lodging. The little they ate came
mostly from free lunch counters.
This is no fancy picture. IT is the
plain truth and the workingman who
was in Idaho at that time will verify
enough to secure any work at all
were obliged to accept almost starva-
ton wages. Skilled carpenters in
Boise and elsewhere were glad to ac-
cept work at from 81 TO 1925 per day.
The same mechanics are today receiv-
ing from $3.50 to $3.50. Then only
few could get work at all. Now there
is not an idle carpenter in any city in
the state, and, although the number
has been largely augmented, there is
a constant unsupplied demand for
more men.
AT that time the ordinary laborer-
the man without any trade-was forced
to tramp from place to place, lucky
indeed If now and then he could get
an odd job to SUPPLY immediate and
pressing wants. A dollar a day was
about all he could expect. He was
fortunate indeed to secure any work
at all. There seemed very little hope
for the working man in those dark
days.
AS a single evidence of the distress
then prevalent among the laboring
classes Of Idaho it Is well to cite a
single instance which occurred in Boise
during those darks days. Mr.. r. j.
Anderson in 1867 began his extern
sive mining operations on the Upper
Boise river. The city was full of idle
men and teams, all idle from necessity.
The men were clamorous for work.
Only few, comparatively, could be
taken. The best wages paid were 81
for common laborers and $3.50 for car
penters and rockmen, and the board of |
the men was $3.50 per week Many |
worked for less, yet these wages were |
generous at the time. 1t |
was winter and the hardships endured |
were necessarily great. But all this |
was borne willingly for the chance to
obtain work and food.
Many of those same mechanics and
laborers are still in Boise. They to-
day receive almost double the wage
then paid them, and they also enjoy I
the comforts of home and civilization |
This case is used merely as an illus (
tration. 1t is not an Isolated one There |
are thousands similar
Now what has caused this great |
change for the better in the condition
Of the workingman? Some will try to
answer by asserting that there has
been a general revival of business all
along the line and a consequent in
creased demand for labor. This Is
true, but what has caused the revival
If business? There are by many
more workingmen in the
state now than then. and they are all
busy. Long and tedious arguments
seldom interest the workingman. Facts
and actual results are what he de-
,ires.
Now, 1t is a fact that the laborer is
paid almost twice as much today as he
received five and six years ago, for
ess hours, and that work is plenty
No man need be idle.
Il he is so 1t Is by his own volition.
What is the cause?
The reason for this great change in
'andition, is too apparent to require
explanation. Under a DEM
,cratic national administration indus
,ries languished; capital became timid
md went into hiding; the would-be in
,estor put his money in the bank and
'efused to take a chance. That was
he situation and no specious argument
# the Democratic press or speakers
,en gafnsay it. Those conditions ex-
sted at that time and they existed as
he direct result of Democratic ignor-
t1lCc anu lHcOI1lptlcHCy III LIE dulillu-
stration of national affairs. 1t was
not the fault of the country, nor of
he toilers. The country itself is no
Inherent nor no better than 1t was. 1t
S the same country. The same peo-
Die inhabit it today, the difference be-
ng that they are in a very much bet
er condition.
Grover Cleveland. at time
If absolute peace and no ex-
raordinary governmental expenses,
ound it necessary to borrow
many millions of dollars to carry on
Ms administration. Under a Repub-
lean administration this government
has sustained an expensive foreign war
md suppressed a rebellion against its
'ightfully attained authority In the Or
ent thousands OF miles away and gave
o the oppressed people of Cuba a free
government. And yet, with these tre-
nendous additional expenses, this gov
rnment has more money in its treas
Try than ever before in its history and
more money than any other nation on
arth. That is the actual record with
nut entering into details The reason
i obvious. 1t is simply that the Re-
,ublican policy of government is the
orrect one and that the workingman
9 the direct beneficiary thereby. He