The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-09
THE COST OF LIVING.

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The ever-increasing cost of living is
a problem the discussion of which has
been active and for the past few years
the entire journalistic world has been
teeming with articles and editorials in
an attempt to reach a solution of this
o important question, s. vital to
the interests of the American wage
Garner.
The cost Of living has increased at
an alarming ratio entirely out of pro-
portion to the increased earning abil-
ity of the b~readWinner, so important
has it become that the question is
crystallizing itself into substantial rea-
sons why increased remuneration for
services rendered should be demanded,
and labor unions throughout the
length and breadth of the land are
constantly making demand for more
pay. Wages have increased during
the past ten years and still the work
ing wagc-earner, generally, has not
seemed to profit by it. Every 10 per
cent increase in salary received seems
to be accompanied by a Is per cent in
crease IN the cost OF living. and where
this cost comes from no one seems to
know-atl least the writer has been I'M
able to n any solution of the ques-
ton among the hundreds of articles
and editorials he has read bearing
upon the question. They are bristling
all over with facts substantiating the
claim of eVer-increasing costs but no
one seems to have solved the mystery.
The writer has visited every large
market in New York. Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington and care
fully compared prices demanded at
the present time with those which
maintained ten years ago and has been
unable to discover any material In
crease in the cost Of raw materials, and
a careful investigation will prove this
statement to be correct.
OF course the prices of different ar
ticles will vary more or less from year
to year, being controlled by the law
Of supply and demand, but on the
whole the average has been fairly
maintained.
In some Instance there has been a
material decrease, a few things have
undoubtedly been run up through the
operations of trusts and combinations,
while other are selling for less money
than ever before. because of the op-
Grafton of other trusts n combina-
tons. notably sugar and kerosene,
though the writer is bitterly opposed
to the business methods of these trusts
which control those commodities.
There has been no material increase in
the cost of breadstuffs, -four, buck
wheat, corn meal. etc, rice, barley,
| tapioca. corn starch, soap. salt, spices.
! potatoes. turnips. cabbage. beets, beans
and peas and other products Of the
farm and garden 50 necessary to our
welfare.
OF course. all these and other ar
tfcles huctuate more or less but MAIN
tain from year to ear the same gen
eraI average. It is true that coal and
fuels in general have advanced some
what. but not sufficiently to Increase
the cost of living to an alarming ex-
tent.
The question then naturally arises
where does this increase come from 2
Why does it cost more to maintain our
tables at the standard Of ten years age
than IT lid hen Is the increase &C
tuaI and real. or have we been hyp-
Noticed by editorials inspired by the
love of sensation. political demagog-
uery. or is the cause to be discovered
e~lsewhere2
After a careful study OF n subjec.
the writer is bound to believe that ths
solution of his most important ques.
ton is to be found in the ~decadence 0.
good housekeeping
Our wives and -housekeepers. Tx,
! our breadwinners, are looking fol