The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1904-10-07
STRIKES, UNIONS, WAGES, AND TIE
INCREASED COST or LIVING.


In all probability, in the absence Of
reliable statistics to the contrary, II
would be perfectly safe to say, that in
the last four years there has been more
strikes, walz-Outs, lOck-Outs and shut
downs in the United States, than for
any four years Of our history. And all
this under republican rule, high pro-
tectiYe tariff, prosperity claimed there
from and an increase Of wages to labor
ing men and wage-earners generally.
What is the matter? Either the wage
earners are mad, or these claims are
false. They are false. In proof we
site this fact. The unprotected farmer
has been unusually prosperous, and
farm wages, mostly unskilled, both of
men and women, have been unusually
high, and help almost impossible to
secure at any price. On the other hand,
among skilled IabOrers, IN the employ
of wealthy corporations managing pro-
tected industries there has been the cen
ter and seat of industrial discomfort.
The reasons are obvious: There is
no law to compel the benefciaries Of
protected industries to give the labOrer
his fair and proportiOnate share of the
benefits of protection. There is no law
to protect the American laborer against
the Importation of foreign labor, except
Chinese labor, which is an incOnsequen-
tial factor in the industries under con-
sideration. The living expenses of all
IabOring men have increased much
faster than The wage scale, so that wa
ges have been decreased in comparison
with the cost of living. The producer
of agricultural products is not response
bic for this condition, but the trusts
that control the price of every commOd-
ity from matches to beef, -four and su-
gar.
One Of the Oldest engineers of this
division said TO the writer: MY earn
ings as an engineer under the Cleve-
land administration were as good, and,
if anything, better than now, while now
my living expenses are double what
they were then" A comparison of
prices would justify the statement. One
Of the causes then Of strikes may well
be attributed to a practical reduction of
wages, especially when cost Of living IS
considered Strikes, IN late years, have
been sympathy strikes The greatA.
r. U. strike was such, the anthracite
coal strik in Pennsylvania, the butchers
strike in Chicago, and the Colorado
miners strike, were all of them such.
Starvation wages and long hours, the
arrogance of Capitalistic employers and
the rapacity Of trusts is the irritant that
has caused these industrial eruptiOns. In
striking contrast we have skilled labor,
associated IN the same industry, strik-
ing in the interests Of common or Low
price labor, and risking their jobs fol
their less fortunate co-emPlOyes. And
then to be Ostracised, denounced and
treated as a villain, imprisoned without
trial by jury, denied constitutional
rights and hunted and shot down BY
the military, and the higest powers tha
be entirely Indifferent, is the cryins
scandal and damnable outrage OF the
present century.
Labor unions are a necessity if labor
ing men expect to stand for their right
against the insidious encroachments Q
consolidated and aggrandized capital
and refuse 10 be slaves. Their reason