The San Francisco call., 1903-01-02
PROSPERITY AND WAGES.


~ past year the rate OF wages in the country
generally was higher than ever before in history
Simultaneous with that statement come reports from
New York Chicago and other large centers OF an
increase OF wages IN several largest industries
FOR the new year We have therefore rejoice over
condition for present good that promises greater
good to come.
Nr. Wright explains that It is not easy to up
wages as a whole owing TO the complexities and large
variations of method that exist in our wage system
He points out that the Investigations OF the coal
strike have shown that the coal miner is at once an
employe and an employer, since he has working
under him to whom he pays wages. Then there are
large number OF industries from which exact
returns OF the wage rate received. Thus it is d
fcut TO arrive at an exact conclusion OF the total
wage rate but, taking the entire country, enough IS
known to justify the statement that wages during the
past year reflected the prevailing prosperity and
reached level never before attained.
Prior to last year the wage rate reached its high
est point in 1892. The depression that followed in
1903 did not lower the rate OF wages except in few
cases Its effect was mainly shown in the closing OF
industries and the discharge OF workingmen Where
the industries continued they paid as rule the
same rate Of wages as before Alter the revival OF
industry the few employers who had reduced wages
raised them again. and the fact heralded as a
rise in wages while matter OF fact it was simply
restoration Of the old rate. Since that time how
ever there has been genuine rise Mr. Wright saws:
During the last two or three years wages in many
industries have been increased over the rates of 1902
while the great bulk OF the industries that reduced
wages in I8o3-o6 have fully restored them. The in
crease in railroad, steel mill and other operatives
wages recently made by several companies is notable
evidence OF the upward tendency, at which We all re-
joice."
News OF further advance in wages came on New
Years day from several of the largest railway com
panes in the country, and also from many of the
leading corporations handling great industries An
other notable item Of news of the same day thai NAV
be referred TO in this connection is the announcement
that United States Steel Corporation purposes to
inaugurate system whereby the employees of the
company may become stockholders and share in the
profits and dividends There are at present upward
of $1,000 stockholders in the corporation. and the
new movement Will OF course largely increase their
number Thus in the end the great trust so far from
giving a few men monopoly of that industry. will
enroll among its propretors and beneciaries larger
number Of persons than could have shared in If
under the old rule +..:: =.
Ifis TO be noted that IN nearly every case the rise
in wages OF last year and OF the year has been
due TO voluntary act the part Of the employers
here nave Deen Strikes OF course, and of them
have been of great magnitude but still as compared
with the country whole the largest strike. even
that Of the anthracite miners is but little thing:
The upward tendency of wages has been met by the
great mass OF employers with willing spirit and
the labor OF the country has been given fair share
IN the general prosperity.
Our situation in that respect is the more notable
when contTasted with the hard times that prevail
over all Europe Even in progressive Germany
wages have not risen, and of late there has been a
menace Of industrial depression that threatens to
throw thousands OF workngmen out of employment
In Great Britain the labor situation is serious and
in some important lines Of industry the rate of wages
has declined from the level of two years ago 1t
viii be seen. then, that have good reason to re-
joice over the conditions of last year and the pros
poets that dawn with the new one Our prosperity
has been IN the fullest of the words the pros
perity Of the workers, and il is the hope OF all that
il may continue so.
South Dakota will probably soon be enriched hv