Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-04-15

- = oAA " al AClS . d4u wage EdIuSISsr
What does Mr.. Roosevelt mean when
in addressing 9 crowd supposed to be
made up largely of farmers and men
who work for wages he says: "Tn a
like ours 1t is Fundamentally
true that the eli.befng of the tiller of
the soil and the wage worker is the
state. If they are we'll off then we
need concern ourselves but little as to
how other classes stand, for they will
inevitably be we'll off too"
This is either shallow or sophisticsl-
probably both. The way in which it is
put is calculated to give the impression
that In Mr.. Roosevelt's opinion the
prosperity of the farmer and the wage
worker is the cause of the prosperity of
all other classes.
In q limited sense this is true as to
the farmer. If his crops are abundant
and good there is plenty for other
classes to eat and plenty of various
materials of manufacture. Certain con-
ditions essential to general prosperity
exist.
On the other hand, If there is gener-
al failure of crops conditions essential
to general prosperity are absent. An
abundance of the products of the soil is
highly conducive to and largely a cause
of such prosperity.
When the farmers products are not
only abundant but salsble at good
prices that fact is not cause but sign
of prosperity. They are not an infalli
BILE sign, for the farmers of some coun-
tries may get high prices because the
crops in other countries have failed.
In that case the prosperity of farmers
in any country is not sign of general
prosperity even in our own country.
Other classes may suffer while the
farmers prosper.
AS to wage workers, their prosperity
is never an original cause of general
prosperity. 1t is in the beginning an
effect of general prosperity, though lat
er it may react to enchance prosperity.
When wages advance from natural
causes-from increased demsnd-the
advance is pretty sure sign of general
prosperity, but not the cause.
When the advance is due to some
artificial cause it is not at all sign of
prosperity, but 1t is sure to be cause
of the reverse If the advance is more
than employers can pay without advanc-
ing the price of their products.
If prices are put up consumers econo-
mize, especially the mass of consumers
because their means are limited, and
production must be reduced to cores
pond. There is less employment for mer
who work for wages, and either wages
must fall again or some must go unem
ployed.
| This is true whether the artificial ad-
vance in wages is brought about b!
strikes or by an artificial temporary de-
mand in certain employments causet
by protective duties and similar devicel
for the stimulation of selected indus
tries.
Now, the essence of the economic
policy for which Mr.. Roosevelt stands i
artificial interference. 1t seeks to pro
mote certain industries by increasing
the profits of those engaged in then
and processes to seek thus to raise wsg
es by increasing the demand for la
bor.
Mr.. Roosevelts system throws most Q
the burden of promoting the selecte
industries upon the farmers, to whor
his electioneering remarks at Siou
Falls were largely addressed.
1t confers only temporary benef
upon those who work for wage
because while It may gjge higher wage
in 9 few employments it diminishes th
sum total Of employment by RESTRICTING
4 demand. Chicago Chronicle,