Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-03-13
Why the Masses Do Not Share Pros
perity

Why the Masses Do Not Share Pros
perity.
1t seems a little strange that the
&. o. p. cannot see that every time one
of its little pewits shouts prosperity"
that it directs attention to the fact
that there is, and has been, absolutely
no marked degree OF prosperity for the
labOrer who works on q daily wage.
rate. The prosperity that exists ap-
plies only to the trusts and the salar-
led list. The former pile up their
millions by figures that increase in
geometrical progression, by the mo-
nopolies created by permission if not
by process of law, and tire salarled
man, from the President down to the
lowest municipal officer, is persistently
engaged in having his salaries raised.
One OF these said, the other day." Don't
quote me as going back on the pros
perity cry of my party, but l have had
an increase of 33 per cent. because it
costs me that much more to live than
it did, say five years ago. ] had to
have an increase or look for something
else" He told the exact truth, but
what does it show? That the much
Wanted cry of prosperity is one OF the
most contemplate shams of the party
which has made duplicity its stock.in-
trade ever since it sold out to corpora
tions and trusts.
The poor man is to-day at least one
third poorer than he was before this
infamous trade; that is, it costs him
one third more to purchase tho abso.
Lutte necessities of life now than it did
half-a-dozen years ago. The advance
in wage-rates has not been uniform,
and in some few instances an advance
Of from five to ten per cent. has been
conceded, but this has been attended
very generally with an increase OF re-
sponsibility or added burdens.
The fact is, that the conflict between
capital and labor has, probably from
mutual aggression, become question
of passion, instead of justice, and it
unfortunately happens that the man
with the big purse can wage that war
fare much longer, and therefore more
effectively, than his brother who is
armed only with q big resolution.
though backed with muscle and Drawn.
The one can afford to wait for time to
arbitrate differences, while the other
caa not; the one can sit in luxury and
ease, and patiently await the develop.
ment of results, while the other very
soon exhausts all available resources
and is at the mercy Of his lordly oppo-
nent.
Now it seems to US that if the EN-.
ployer and employed were brought
more nearly together, conditions for .
better understanding would be ma.
turally increased. Unfortunately, the
moment that labor conditions seemed
TO demand organization, there arose a
swarm of drones who saw in it q
method of living without hard labor.
They became at once organizers" and
travelling delegates" to fan into flame
the sparks of discomfort which existed
from the rapidly widening chasm be.
tween capital and labor. 1t was con-
dition which required the wisest coun.
sells, the best diplomacy, tho highest
degree of forbearance. fortitude and
self.denial, but what did it receive
incorporating defiance aud denun.
citation, couched in the choicest of
billingsgate. It is no wonder that the
breach became irreconcilable, under
the impudent assaults of these selfish
and incendiary agitators. Nor 10 it
surprising that the capital should seek
IN alliance with the party armed with
power for protection from organize
tions which were dominated, to Q large
extent, by such lawless Leadership.
The result is q logical sequence of .
contest between the weak and those
that are strong from possession of the
means for successful combat rather
than by justice Of their cause.
Now it eeems that the only meane
for making prosperity universal is for
harmony OF interest Of the whole PEG.
pie; to make the interests of capital
and labor identical. It is useless to
assume that wealth changes the hearts
of its possessors to stone. The liberal.
ity of our millionaires in many direc.
tions disproves this. But human ma
ture is about the same in every condi-
ton Of life, and to develop its gentler
nature it must be stroked with the fur
and not against it.
1T was doubtless q lively realization
OF the punishment in store for the
corporation combine in the Legisla.
ture which led them to repeal the
provision Of law protecting newspaper
from vexatious suits and harrassing
prosecution for libel. They know very
we'll that the fate OF an Arnold awaits
them, if their acts are shown up just
A. they are. A more unprincipled
body OF men never met at the capital.
There never were issues of more i'm.
portance more clearly defined than in
the Last State election, and there never
has been q more deliberate and com.
plete reputation of all responsibility
by body OF legislators.
1T seems that Senator Fulton oil
Oregon, with full term before him, ID