The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-02
pOIITIl Al.

| the machines and the mills and the rail-
| roads and was wasted in unsuccessful
experiments and the renewal of material
| superseded by new inventions and tool.
'he chances Of loss 70 gain the rewards Of
successful enterprise. Both the brains
and no capita have come from every part
of this grea, country and their interest in
the enterprise TO which both of them have
contributed Is represented by the stocks
and bonds OF the corporations which own
the mills and the mines and the railroads.
1t ia plain that in the distribution of this
newly acquired wealth the brains that in
vent and that organize should have their
share; the capital that constructs and
maintains should be rewarded for its in
ves, ment and it's risk, the lahorer should
have higher wages because his labor is
producing more and the consumer should
have lower prices because the product
which he purchases is produced wit h greater
ease and II, less cost.
LABoRER AND CONSUMER ALWAYS PROFIT
~ THE END.
The industrial history Of the last half CEN
fury il a history, first. OF the steady increase
reproductive power and. second only to mat,
OF the continual struggle between these
four inteiests-the brains. the capital. the
laborer. and the consumer to secure what
each considers TO be a fair share of the BENG
fits of the increased wealth. That struggle
will continue a, long as the increase OF pro-
ductive power and the added increments
Of wealth that come from that increase,
continue. Capital and brains always ger
the advantage al first The first fruits of
each new incre3st Of productive power.
whether through invention or through or
ganization. come 70 them But our indus
trial history shows that the laborer and
the consumer slowly but surely wlest their
share Of the advantage from capital and
secure ii for themselves. The organizers
OF the Sugar Trust made a great deal Of
money for themselves. but We are getting
sugar now for less than IL cost to make IL
before the Sugar Trust was formed. The
organizers of tine Standard Oil Company
have made a great deal of money, but the
poorest American farmer Is lighting his
little house tonight. al tr.fling cost. more
brilliantly than palaces were lighted CEN
tury ago; and these are the consumers
shares Of the wealth created bv the brains
and capital Of the sugar company and the
Standard Oil Company.
wAoHs DOUBLED IN FIFTY YEARS
While the 9j7 900 wage earners OF 1850
increased TO j.3l6,O 600 in 1900 the wages paid
to them increased from s2ss. 600. 600 in 1850 to
s. ,32s .OO0, 900 in 1900. that is to saw. about
fves times the number of workmen received
about ten times the amo unit of wages, or
wages Just about doubled during the fifty
years.
RETURN on CAPITAL LEssENED ny TWO
THIRDS.
On the other hand, while $3.50 .O0O, 600 in
vested in manufactures in 1850 had swelled
to 81, s35 600 900 In 1900 every dollar Of capital
so invested In 1900 received less than one
third of the return that every dollar Of capital
received in 1850, Thus. while the returns Of
capital seem great because they are massed
because they are scattered capitals pro-
porto share of the new wealth Is con-
stantly decreasing and labor's proportionate
share of il is constantly increasing And
the wages of one mans la Dor in manufacture
is to-day equal TO the profit of six times az
much money employed in manufacture as it
was equal 20 in 1850 The same change is
shown in the decrease in the rates Of interest
for the use OF money. In 1850 the capitalist
could get for the use 81 his money or per
| cent. while now he ia reduced to or per
cent.
FooD AND CLOTHING ARE CHEAPER
Not only have the wages Of labor increased,
but the cost Of food and clothing has de-
creased. In 1860 wheat -four ranged from
81 TO ~ barrel; in the first half Of 1902 il
ranged from s. rs to s. rs a barrel
In 1880 fair Rio coffee ranged from ~
| cents to lils cents per pound; in he first
half of 1902 il ranged from 81. cents TO o 10 10
cents per pound. In 1880 refined sugar
ranged fromsn cents TO io<cents per pounds:
in the irst half of 1902 it ranged from Z e5
cents to ~ cents per pound.
In 1850 salt messed pork ranged from SO 25
to Sll s75 per barrel in 1900. before the failure
of the corn crop Of 1901. it ranged from SO rs
| TO Si425 per barrel
In 1850 fine salt was Si.I9 por barrel in
| October, 1901 II was 65 cents per barrel
In 1850 calico prints ranged from o. cents
| to 10 cents per yard; in 1902 they were s
| cents per yard.
In 1850 print cloths ranged from * cents
| TO so cents per yard; in 1901 and 1902 they
| ranged from 100 cents to 3.Si cents per yard
In 1859 to 1872 Amska ginghams ranged
| from l3 cents to 10 cents; in 1901 and 1902
| they ranged from AS cents to So cents per
| yard,
| From 1877 TO 1887 mems kid boots ranged
from $50 TO 81, per dozen pairs; in 1901 they
ranged from SIS to $40 per dozen pairs
From 1855 to 1878 women's solid grained
shoes ranged from 81 rs to $225 per pair;
in 1901 they ranged from So cents TO s2I,
| cents per pair.