Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-10-08
SHAM PROSPERITY
FULLY ONE-HACE THE WORKERS
DO NOT GET THEIR SHARE.
A Staunch Republican Organ Admits the
Sham Of That Partys Prosperity. and
Says the Masses Arc Not So Prosperous
as in 1897.

The Chicago Inter- Ocean is a stalwart
republican paper, and doubtless many Of
its readers were surprised to read in the
Inter- Ocean of September 16 an editorial
in which serious question is raised as to
the genIineness OF the prosperity con.
corning which republican leaders boast.
In the beginning, the Inter.Ocean
says:
Ever since 1897 this nation, on the
surface. has prospered as never before.
Farmers have found eager markets at
profitable prices. Capitalists have added
Use, as never before, the power Of organi-
cation to raise wages"
Then this republican paper offends be-
yond 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-Ocean's explanation is that "the
third party-the majority who are neither
capitalists nor able to fortify themselves
behind labor union walls is today giving
more ropoltionately 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 reduction OF
expenses, and converts the anticipated
profits into actual ones"
The Inter-Ocean says that "every tlota-
ton OF corporation securities depends 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 adj
vance in wages secured by organized
labor is ultimately shifted upon the un.
organized third party"
Having gone this far, the editor Of the
1nter-Ocean evidently concluded that he
might as we'll be hanged for sheep as
for lamb, and SO he added:
"The steadily declining prices OF prac-
tically all securities are primarily due to
the fact that this third party, or middle
class, is unable to save as it was a few
years ago.
"What the American people need to
learn is that prosperity cannot be made
permanent by artificial organization of
any kindly neither trusts nor labor
unions-which leave out OF consideration
the majority OF the people.
"The plain truth is that fully one-half
the workers of the United States-the
men whose incomes are from 5000 to
5000 year, The men who are neither in
trusts nor labor unions, have not been
getting their share of the national pros
perty. They are working for the pros
perty OF capital and organized labor, but
no one is working for them. And under
this burden they are becoming eX.
hausted."
Democratic editors have been read out
of "good society" by republican news
papers because they dared to question
the genuineness Of present day prosperity;
and some Of the things Which the Inter-
Ocean has said would he worthy OF wide
spread publication.
Let it be remembered that while this
republican paper says "ever since 1897
this nation, on the surface, has prospered
as never before" it presents several
striking "buts."
For instance, lever since 1897 this
nation, on the surface, has prospered as
never before"
But-"The middle class is unable to
save as it was a few years ago."
But-"Under this burden fully one.half
the workers OF the United States have
not been getting their share of the ma
tional prosperity"
But-"And under this burden fully
one-half the workers of the United States
are becoming exhausted.
t-"Whenever laboring men through
the power Of organization are able to OBJ
tain an increase In wages IN order to meet
the increase in the cost Of living, that
portion OF the people described by the
Inter-O Ocean as fully one half the work.
ers 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 proportionately
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 Inter- Ocean the
American people "need to learn that
prosperity cannot be made permanent by
artificial organizations OF any kindly
neither trusts nor labor unions-which