The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1902-10-24
A PLAIN TALK
To WOrkinsnen by a WOrkingman.


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 anC
distressed. and from sheer necessity
were forced to seek shelter for the
night in saloon chairs because they
had no money TO pay for a 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
II. Those few who were fortunate
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 a
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
nCfQ M
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 we'll to cite a
single instance which occurred in Boise
during those darks days. Mr.. R. J.
Anderson in 1869 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 a 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
considered generous at the time It
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
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
Of business? There are. by many
thousands, 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-
sires.
Now, It is a fact that the laborer is
paid almost twice as much today as he
received five and six years ago, for
less hours, and that work is plenty
everywhere. No man need be idle.
II he is so 1t is by his own volition.
What is the cause?
The reason for this great change In
condition is too apparent to require
extended explanation. Under a Dem
ocratic national administration indus
tries languished; capital became timid
and went into hiding; the would-be in
weston put his money in the bank and
refused to take a chance. That was
the situation and no specious argument
OF the Democratic press or speakers
oen gainsay it. Those conditions eX-
listed at that time and they existed as
the direct result OF Democratic ignor-
ance and incompetency in the admin
istration Of national affairs. It was
not the fault Of the country, nor of
the toilers. The country itself is no
different nor no better than it was. 1t
Is the same country. The same peo-
pie inhabit 1t today, the difference be-
ing that they are in a very much bet
ter condition.
Grover Cleveland, at time
Of absolute peace and no ex
traordinary governmental expenses.
found it necessary to borrow
many millions of dollars to carry on
his administration. Under a Repub-
ncan administration this government
has sustained an expensive foreign war
and suppressed a rebellion against its
rightfully attained authority in the Or
lent thousands of miles away and gave
to the oppressed people of Cuba free
government. And yet, with these ire
mendous additional expenses, this gov
eminent has more money in its treas
ury than ever before in its history and
more money than any other nation on
earth. That is the actual record with
out entering into details. The reason
is obvious. It is simply that the Re-
publican policy of government is the
correct one and that the workingman