Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-09-14
PRICES AND WAGES.
EMPLOYMENT FOR LABOR is THE
MAIN THING.
Secretary shaw Say. That Increased
Cost OF Living Is a Minor Consid-
Grafton Compared with Abundant
Work and High Pay.


Work and High Pay,
In his recent speech before the
Roosevelt workingmen's clubs mt VIII
mington, Del, Secretary Shaw said in
part:
THE Republican party is not n par.
of sympathy. but of encouragement
Instead of posing as a benevolent in
stitution II represents policies which
reduce tho occasion for ~almsgiving to
the minimum. Its bounty is opportr-
nifty
The Democratic party. on the con.
trary, never fails 10 express sympathy
for the ovcrburdcned. but its policies,
when put in operation. never fail TO
produce conditions which inclte SYM
pathy. When the products Of labor find
ready sale and labor finds correspond
ingly ready employment, then our oppc-
nents are loudest in their protestations
OF sympathy for the overtaxed and
overwhelmed people. They never con
graduate; they always sympathlze.
They never rejoice; they always be-
moan. They seldom cheer except at
the prospect Of something worse.
"My present purpose will be served
by showing that universal and con-
slant employment at reasonable wages.
even in the face of high priced living
expenses, is preferable TO employment
for only "a nNff ion nf nttIs manila flanaKari.
at the same wage and at much re-
duced living expenses. Catch the
thought! Employment for all our peo-
pie AT n given wage with living ex-
penses high is preferable TO employ
ment for only one-half our people with
living expenses however cheap.
This country has never seen and
never will see suffering at a time
when labor finds ready and constant
employment, whatever the price of food
and clothes. And the converse of this
is also true. This country always has
been and always will be filled with
suffering whenever labor fails Of en-
ployment. however cheap may be food
and CLONES.
Il think | can demonstrate either
n or both of two propositions. | can
show that the happiness of the wage
Garner is dependent upon high priced
farm products, and | can also demon
strate that the prosperity Of the farmer
is dependent upon the ready and con
slant employment of the wage Garner.
In other words, it is easily demonstrat-
ed that the prosperity Of artisan and
farmer is interdependent.
THE Republican party insists that
the American producer, TO the limit OF
his ability, shall supply the needs of
the American consumer. The Demo
cratic party seems TO think it Of 10
consequence who produces that which
we consume, provided only it is cheap.
The Republican party insists that it is
measurably unimportant what price
we pay so long as we pay the price to
ourselves.
Higher wage mean more and better
food for the wage Garner, more and
better clothes for his family, a better
roof for the home and therefore a bet
ter market for the farmer. Higher
prices for cattle and corn mean more
lumber for farm buildings. more barbed
wire for fences, more ard better clothes
for n happier family, more and better
furniture for the home, better carpets,
better carriages, more and better I'M
plements of agriculture and therefore
a better market for the wage Garner.
'In other words, both the wage earn
er and the farmer-yes. the business
man and the capitalist as well-spend
in n way or another about all their
income. 1t is spent either for improve
ments on the farm, or for a little home
in town, or in the education of children,
or in the construction of a railroad, or
in building a ship, and 90 per cent Of it
goes directly or indirectly for labor or
for the products of labor.
whenever the Republican party Is
in power and Its policies are in opera
ton, when public buildings are being
erected. when rivers and harbOrs are
being dredged, when railroads are be-
ing graded and widened and double
tracked. when canals are being dug
and when the home market Is protect
ed in the interest Of the American pro
Queer, artisan and farmer, then are all
men fed and all families clothed. But
may the good Lord deliver us from an
other period when living expenses are
cheap