Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-11-06
ExORBITANT DEMANDS.

of the steel trust and promoter of the
shipbuilding trust, says William J.
Bryan in his Commoner, has kindly
consented to give an explanation of
the falling off in industry, Mr.. Schwab
said:
"Eabor's exhorbitant demands have
done more than any other one thing
to bring about this setback. This is
especially true of the building trade. ("
Those. who have watched Mr..
Schwab's course in connection with
regent financial propositions will
CT eerfully admit that he is well quail
fed to speak of ."exhorbitant de-
mands." The man who can buy a
steel plant with wind, pump it full of
water and. sell it for enough to put
eight to ten millions of cash in his
pocket before the water leaks out and
swamps the men he sells to, certainly
knows whole lot about "exhorbitant
demands" But even the experts
miss it sometimes. Before admitting
that Mr. Schwab is right in his opin-
ion concerning the industrial condi-
tions it might be well to know just
what he means by s'labor's exhorbi-
tant demands"
Labor is asking for share of the
prosperity which Mr.. Schwab and his
ilk have been enjoying. Is that an
"exorbitant demand?"
Labor is asking wage sale that
will enable the head of the family to
provide for the wants of himself and
those dependent upon him. and have
a little left to lay aside for old age.
Is that an ''exorbitant demand?"
Labor, which tolls nine hours day,
asks for less than, Mr.. Schwab makes
between breaths. Is that an ''exorbi-
tant demand?"
Labor asks for an eight-hour day,
for Just share of the profits 1t
creates, for equal rights before the
law, for arbitration of its difference
with corporate capital, for improved
sanitary conditions, for recognition
as one of the forces that 60 toward
making this great republic, and for
a chance to enjoy the necessaries OF
life, while Mr.. Schwab enjoys the
luxuries by reason of his recent fnan-
Cial deals. Are these ''exhorbitant
demands?"
1t i'll becomes man like Charles
M. Schwab, trust promoter and stock
jobber. whose skirts are tainted with
the oder of stock swindling, to stand
upand talk about the ''exorbitant de
mands of labor"
1t i'll becomes man like Charles
M. Schwab, whose recent exploits in
the financial field have resulted in
loss of public confidence in even well
establishedolines of business, to stand
up and pass criticism upon men who
are struggling for living wage and
an: opportunity to make secure the
future of wives and children depen
dent upon them. The most exorbi
tant demand ever made by laboring
man did not mean as much for year
of unremitting toll as Charles NJ
Schwab risked at roulette at Monte
Carlo, and yet every dollar that
.Schwab has made by stock jobbing
trust promoting and business chicane
Ty. came primarily from the toll anc
sweat of the men whom he now
charges with making "exhorbitanl
demands.''-
Before an intelligent people will
believe that industrial condition are
due to the "exhorbitant demands ot
labor" they will have to have much
better authority than Charles M
Sehwab. AS the matter now stands
they are rather of the opinion thai
Mr.. Schwab is angry because labor
shows signs of revolving instead OF
meekly submitting to be ridden by
such men as hex. C. World.