Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-11-04
LABOR PROSPERITY.
TspslbIs RssuIts That Are fssessbis
to kspu btlcan I'ollciss,

Iaugt6ie HssotSe ThaS are tgeceeblo
TO kspubiican l'oiiciss.
The Democrats are silent a. to the
alleged benefits their party has brought
TO American workmen: this silence is
something workmen should seriously con.
slider. turning the matter over and over
In their minds before they cast their
ballots.
In saying "benefts" the word IL meant
60 cover the most substantial good OBJ
taihable as q result for labor-ths hest
wages aud 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-ths
conception aud enactment of national
laws that are to bring prosperity.
Democrats are "mum" because what
they might show would be 80 much TO
their dlscredlt ms to at once turn all
classes OF laborers away from the Dem.
ocratlc party. The most they venture to
say IL In their national platform: and
that utternnce il TO suggest the enact.
ment OF Impartial laws for both labor
aud capital: bat the Republican platform
IL wider. longer. stronger nnd more com.
prehensive. Neither of those documents
promises the laiorer higher wages or that
he may work fewer hours TO get them.
But what the Republicans do promise In
platform, and speech. and documents.
showing how Il will be done. backing II
with forty years OF Incontestable proofs.
II the maintenance OF the government on
such economic foundations as experience
has given assurance are for the prosper
ity Of the country: that promise IL for
legislation first aud administration next
that shall bs wise and comprehensive ~
to public interest. The Republicans have
established themselves as a power capa-
bic Of producing and maintaining . con-
dition In national anairs OF the greatest
benefit to the working classes: but In
showing this IL also demonstrated the
fact that the Democrats have hurt labor
In all Its various lines by laws created
snl conditions established that have
brought disasters for which there was
neither avoidance nor remedy under thsir
mana cement of federal affairs.
Since the Cleveland administration Of
1888 to 1897 the Republicans have
changed labor matters wonderfully for
the better. Take the wages Of 1900. the
last year Of his term. for = basis. Last
year u9tiD. as q result of Republican
finances and laws. = blacksmith got over
]. per cent. more wages per hour aud
worked 3 per cent. less hours per week
than In 1896: carpenters received over
u per cent. Increase per hour and worked
over per cent. less hours per week:
painters wages Increased nearly ~ per
cent. per hour. and their hours Of labor
were reduced nearly u per cent. Of the
hours per week: bricklay-rs were gamers
Ly an Increase Of ~ per cent. In wages
per hour and by q reduction Of Z per
cent. per hour for labor time: unskilled
labor went up IS per cent. per hour. with
q gain also In the reduction Of almost D
per cent. In the number Of hours Of work
per week. Other occupations-iron mold
ers, machinists. mnsons. stone cutters.
etc.-aii have had their wages per hour
Increased and their time for the week
decreased ss among tho apprcciabls 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.. CIevciani's administration
was such that. In 1908 as against 1890.
there was over 10 pcr cent more black.
smiths. 20 per cent. more brcklaycrs,
Il per cent more carpenters. 70 per cent
more iaborcrs, and 10 per cent. more
painters. Everywhere more work. more
men. higher wages and fewer hours Of
labor.
Does not that show that Republican
administration of the govcrnmsnt stands
for labor prospcrityf Such an adminis-
tration had first to get the country on:
Of the quicksands OF Democratic incfil-
cheney. which took more than one year.
After that the possibilities for getting
work aud the wages for doin. II 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, nnd the Democrats have made
botch OF the attempt whenever they had
q chance, common sense and the pocket.
book should keep the workingmen with
the Republicans. who have put up the
proofs of wcll-doing.