Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1903-07-28
WAGES AND DIVIDENDS.


ed an extract from an interview with
Marshall Field. the Chicago Merchant
Prince, in which he spoke of the bust
ness situation as being "precarious"
mainly because of the attitude of labor
In this he undoubtedly expressed the
views Of the entire multi-millionaire
class. The Fields and the tricks, the
Rockefeller's and the Carnegie's, the
Vanderbilts and the Gould's, one and
all are firmly of the opinion that
wcrkingmen generally want too
much.
Marshall Field is very sure that the
maintenance of our export trade de-
ponds upon the American wage rate
being kept down to what he considers
reasonable figures. 1t never occurs to
him, or any other prominent member
of the Capitalistic class to suggest
that the same end might be reached
by keeping dividends down to reason
able figures.
Frequently we are told that wage
workers should not be too eXacting and
arbitrary That they should consider
the difference between a business
which is profitable and one which is
not, and it must be confessed that there
is some force in the suggestion But how
how about the other side-the capital
istic classes? Do they always take
into consideration the conditions of
their business and pay the men &C.
cordingly? Every body knows that
they do not. They are quick to red
uce wages when profits fall off, but
slow to give the men an advance when
the profits increase.
There are some exceptions, of course,
labor never advance wages except up
on urgent and threatening demand by
the men. Most of these great employ
ers are corporations, and the chief aim
of their managers is to keep up the
dividends. This being the main pur-
pose it necessarily follows that every
ses down. which means wages as low
as the men will stand.
If the workingmen should be re
quired to make concessions in the
cases where profits are small, or al
together lacking, why should not the
employers be required to make cores
( ponding concessions in cases where
/ the profits are enormous, as in
Marshall Fields own business or that
Trust? 1t is said to be a poor rule
that does not work both ways.
Marshall Field, himself, could have
spaid his employees twenty-five million
hdollars more in wages than he ha!
hand still be rich beyond the legitimate
sneeds of any man. Andrew Carnegie
could have paid administration
more and probably had hundred mil
lions left for himself. And so W
might go on through the whole list
10 The questions at issue between cal
eftal and labor are complex and diff
'ncult Labor organizations sometime
make mistakes and go too far, but tn
end sought is always good one, name
~, that the workingman should b
fairly paid for his services. The cal
italistic classes, on the other ham
blAre never content with anything 6
inmodest as this. Their ambition is
a hmass wealth in untold millions-eve
lneunning into billions; wealth whic
hr4hey do not need, which they hardl
foesnow what to do with after they g
prst
LEG ,u,.,,,,,,,,,,u
poe h"I'l'''i'iill''h
mr. The eleventh National Irrigatic
FL Congress will be held at Ogden, Uta
. September 18th. to 18th inclusive. II
v,,program will include papers and a
ciyfresses upon subjects bearing direct
beelpon the application of the Nation
orIyrrigation act and State problems ar
ag out of it's application. Accordil
the basis of representation, the &C
pant nment Of each State and Terrific
inva .u+hor,zad 70 anno;n+ +wontv ID
ProsA tes and each board of County Co
'c issioners two delegates. AS t
Octol ...a,or ~ tho 1--,..+,on r,
-ess will be the most important
. history, Nevada should be "
R.tss presented. !. =, :. J.