Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-10-13
Republican Prosperity.

Il
wart republican paper, and doubtless
many of its readers were surprised to
read in the inter Ocean of September
16 an article in which serious ques-
tions are raised as to the genuineness
Of the prosperity concerning which re-
publican leaders boast.
In the beginning, the Inter Ocean
says.
ever since 1897 this nation, on the
surface, has prospered as never be-
fore. Farmers have found eager mar
kets at profitable prices. Capitalists
have added to their wealth. Labor
has been able to use, as never before,
the power of organization to raise
wages"
Then this Republican paper Of.
tends beyond all hope OF pardon by
saying:
"Yet it may be doubted if one-half
the heads of American families are in
as favorable position as they were
in 1897" The Inter Oceans explana-
tion is THAT the third partY-the
majority who are neither capitalists
nor able to fortify themselves behind
labor union walls-is today giving
more proportionally than in 1897,
while getting only the same.
Then this republican paper points
out that
When capitalists combine to raise
prices, reduce expenses or anticipate
profits it is this third party that pays
the higher prices, stands the reduc-
tion Of expenses and converts the an
ticipated profits into actual ones"
The Inter Ocean says that "every
fotation of corporation securities de-
ponds for its ultimate success upon
the ability of men Of moderate incomes
to buy and hold the securities" and
according to the Inter Ocean "the
burden of every advance in wages Sc
cured by organized labor IS ultimately
shifted upon the unorganized third
party"
Having gone this far, the editor
of the Inter Ocean evidently conclud-
ed that he might as well be hanged
for sheep as for lamb, and SO he
adds"
1.-THE steadily declining prices of
practically all securities are primarily
due to the fact that this third party
or middle class, is unable to save az
it was few years ago.
What the American people need
to learn is that prosperity cannot be
made permanent by artificial organi-
cations of any kindly neither trusts
nor labor unions which leave out OF
consideration the majority of the peo-
pie"
"The plain truth is that fully one
half the workers of the United States
the men whose incomes are from
$500 to $1,000 year, the men who
are neither in trusts nor labor unions,
have not been getting their share Of
the national prosperity. They are
working for the prosperity of capital
and organized labor, but no one is
working for them. And under this
burden they are becoming exhaust
ed"
Democratic editors have been read
out of good society by republican
newspapers because they dared to
question the genuineness Of present
day prosperity: and some of the things
which the Inter Ocean has said
should be worthy OF wide spread pub
lication.
Let it be remembered that while
this republican paper says fever since
1897 this nation, on the surface, has
prospered as never BEFORE" it pre-
sents several striking butts.
For instance, ever since 1897 this
nation on the surface, has prospered
ss never before.
But-The middle class Is unable to
save as 1T was few years ago."
But-Under this burden fully one
half the workers of the United States
have been getting their share of ma
tional prosperity"
But-And under this burden fully
one-half the workers Of the United
States are becoming exhausted.
Whenever laboripg men
through the power of organization
are able to obtain an increase In
wages in order to meet the increase In
the cost Of living, that portion Of the
people described by the Inter Ocean
as fully one-half the workers of the
United States are required to bear the
burden.
But the middle classes, those who
are not able to obtain Increased wages
are today giving more proportionally
than IN 1897 while getting only the
same. Although lever since 1897 this
nation, on the surface, has prospered
as never before, = according to the In
3sr Ocean the American people ''need