The Springfield herald., 1904-11-04
LABOR PROSPERITY.
Tangible Result. That Arc TrnceabIo
TO Republican Policics.


TO kcpub,ican Policics.
The Democrats are silent as to the
alleged benefits their party has brought
to American workmen; this silence is
something workmep should seriously con-
slider. turning the matter over and over
in their minds before they cast their
ballots. ..
In saying benefits the word is meant
TO cover the most substantial good OBJ
tainable as a result for labor-the hest
wages and the fewest hours of work.
Such results are not within the power of
the President to directly produce, but
they do come from wise legislation-the
conception and enactment of national
laws that are to bring prosperity.
Democrats are mum" because what
they might show would be so much to
their discredit as to at once turn all
classes of laborers away from the DEM
ocratic party. The most they venture to
say is in their national platform; and
that utterance is to suggest the enact
ment of impartial laws for both labor
and capital; but the Republican platform
is wider, longer, stronger and more com
prehensive. Neither of those documents
promises the laborer higher wages or that
he may work fewer hours to get them.
platform, and speech, and documents,
showing how it will be done, backing it
with forty years of incontestable proofs,
is the maintenance of the government Oh
such economic foundations as experience
has given assurance are for the prosper
ity of the country; that promise is for
legislation first and administration next
that shall be wise and comprehensive as
to public interest. The Republicans have
established themselves as n power capa-
bic of producing and maintaining con-
dition in national affairs of the greatest
benefit to the working classes; but in
showing this is also demonstrated the
fact that the Democrats have hurt labor
In all its various lines by laws created
and conditions established that have
brought disasters for which there was
neither avoidance nor remedy under their
management of federal affairs.
Since the Cleveland administration of
1893 to 1897 the Republicans have
changed labor matters wonderfully for
the better. Take the wages of 1896. the
last year OF his term, for basis. Last
year Q0OY, as a result of Republican
finances and laws u blacksmith got over
IL per cent. more wages per hour and
worked 3 per cent. less hours per week
than in 1896; carpenters received over
81 per cent. increase per hour and worked
over o per cent. less hours per week;
painters wages increased nearly 26 per
cent. per hour, and their hours Of labor
were reduced nearly o per cent. Of the
hours per week; bricklayers were gamers
by an increase of 2G per cent. in wages
per hour and by reduction of per
cent. per hour for labor time; unskilled
In Dor went up IS per cent. per hour, with
gain also in the reduction of almost o
per cent. in the number of hours Of work
per week. Other occupations-ironm mold
ers, machinists, masons, stone cutters,
etc.-all have had their wages per hour
increased and their time for the week
decreased as among the appreciable hap
py results of Republicans in power at
Washington. Another feature of this
labor condition for the period mentioned
was in the increase in the number of
workers. The Republican prosperity
following Mr.. Cevelnnd's administration
was such that. in 1903 as against 1895,
there was over 40 per cent more black-
smiths. 2G per cent more bricklayers,
81 per cent more carpenters. 26 per cent
more laborers, and 10 per cent. more
painters. Everywhere more work. more
men, higher wages and fewer hours of
la Dor.
Does not that show that Republican
administration of the government stands
for labor prosperity? Such an admins
tration had first to get the country on:
of the Quicksands of Democratic inefii-
cheney, which took more than one year.
After that the possibilities for getting
work and the wages for doing it were in
creased for working people. until now the
United States is the golden land for the
rest of the world. II the Republicans
have accomplished this great good for
labor, and the Democrats have made
botch of the attempt whenever they had
a chance, common sense and the pocket
book should keep the workingnen with
the Republicans who have put up the
proofs of well-doing.