The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-07-08
HARD TIMES COMING.
Many Thousands Of Dinner Pals of
Workmen Are Empty.
HEAVY sHR1HKAaE IN TRADE.

SAAsAAv 6A&AAG4AaG AN ARADG.
Throwing Armies of Workers Out of
Work, Notwithstanding the Re.
publican Party's Pledge
or Prosperity.
The full. dinner pail pledge made to
the workmen Of the country by the
Republican campaign managers four
years ago, in the plea for votes to con-
tinue the Republican administration,
has proved nothing more than an un-
fulfilled promise. Trade stragnation
and attendant armies Of idle workers
are evident in all Of the business CEN
tres Of the country.
Facts gathered by The World from
every industrial section of the nation
show that there are hundreds OF thou
sands Of empty dinner pals, q larger
number of half filed dinner pals and
a rapidly shrinking proportion of full
dinner pals.
The pledge that good times would
endure so long as the Republican
party was kept at the helm was Splen-
didly exploited. The full-dinner-pail
promise was shouted in the ears Of the
workingmen from every speakers
stand erected during the campaign.
1t was bait that appeared allu1ing-
ly In all OF the campaign literature.
The workingman was to have cease
less work. There was to be neither
idleness nor want. The mills were to
be kept running every work day in the
week and on full time every day. 1t
was to be four years Of plenty and
abundance.
Business was to boom. Failures were
to decrease. The wheels Of trade and
commerce were to whirl at their ut
most capacity.
1t was splendid word picture that
the skilled orators so aftfully painted.
All that the workingmen had to do to
bring to himself four years of gilt
edged prosperity was to vote the Re-
publican ticket. Then he need worry
no longer about the dinner pail for
himself or family.
a careful canvass OF the men In this
city who are in the best position to
Judge of the acutal state Of the bust
ness world shows:
HOW BUSINESS HAS DECREASED.
That the railroads are carrying be-
tween 25 and 35 per cent. less mer
chandiSe than year ago.
That the iron and steel industry
has fallen away between 40 and 80
per cent
That the wholesale dry goods trade
n = hot r1
cent.
That the wholesale meat and pack
ing business has decreased % per cent.
That the bank clearingS throughout
the country show an average decrease
OF between 20 and 25 per cent.
That the imports Of luxuIies have
shrunken about 25 per cent, showing
that even the wealthy class has con-
tracted it's expenditures in proportion
to the decrease in its income.
In practically every industry but
the building trades the number OF
workers employed in the city is be,
tween and 80 per cent. less than q
year ago. This time last year the
building trades were at Il standstil
because of the great strike which com
pic1Er1S POI Oily LSO UllC
The building trades are busy now
completing buildings which would
have been finished months ago but fol
the long strike. All OF these build
ings will soon be completed, and ther
the workers in the building trade.
will feel the effect Of the genera
stagnation which is creeping into
every branch of industry.
New buildings are not being projec
ted on the accustomed scale, notwith
standing the peculiar condition which
New York city occupies in relation tt
the building industry. The rapic
and ceasless growth Of its population
requires hundreds and thousands OF
additional structures each year. These
must go up no matter what the gen
eral state Of trade may be, but they
form but one branch OF the building
industry.
The important branch is the cree
tion of great modern buildings, which
give employment to hundreds Of iroI
workers and brick and stone masons.
Within the past few years compare
lively few structures Of this class
have been projected. When those
now In course Of construction are com
pleted-and nine tenths tf these were
started before the strike Of last sum
mer-the outlook for the men who
depend upon the erection OF these
buildings for livelihood will be most
dubious.
CAPITAL is IDLE.
In time OF trade depression there Is
always a great accumulation OF idle
capital in the banks and trust com
panies This condition rules at the
present time, and to export authori
ties it is significant OF the state OF af.
fairs throughout the entire country
for the money Of the nation lows tC
the banks Of this city for profitable
investment.
Notwithstanding the fact that over
$4,000, 900 of American gold has been
sent abroad since April !, there is
still plethora of idle capital here.
Were business going along at a nor
NAL rate this money wo MD no be
idle. 1t would be requited by the
little merchant and the big merchant.
The sending out OF the country OF
such sum as $50 900, 900 would cause
In normal times money squeeze OF
intense proportions. But 81 apathetic
is trade throughout the country that
not only has it not been missed, but
there is so little demand for what is
left that loans can be made on basis
OF per cent. per annum.
These are starvation rates for the