Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-08-18
TOO MUCH PROSPERITY

There are some people who profess
to believe this nation is too prosper
Gus for its own gOOd-that we are
getting rich too fast and that in one
way or another we will have to pay
the penalty. 1t is pointed out that
one Of the drawbacks already eX-
perienced as a result of the abund-
ant prosperity on every hand is a
shortage Of wOrkmen Ia the field of
common labor. Railroads and other
big corporations are finding it al
most impossible to secure the help
they need to carry on necessary
operations and improvements, while
the same trouble. to more or less
extent, is being experienced in many
other lines of industry. In Cali
fornia, for instance, it is claimed
the railroads are calling for 10000
additional laborers, while the farm
ers and vineyardists are competing
with them for the services of every
man that is available. The call for
10000 men to help garner the
boUntiful harvests in Kansas result
ed in a response of only about 5000
workmen, and now the Dakotas,
Minnesota, Oklahoma and other
sections are joining in the clamor
for more help for nearly every kind
of work, and there seems little ex-
cuse for an able workman being idle
anywhere.
With practically everyone thus
employed and making good wages
the natural consequence is that the
consumption and demand for all
kinds of goods and commodities
have advanced to a point never
before equalled in the history of the
country, resulting in turn IN a gen
eral advance in prices for many lines
of necessities and luxuries, and
thereby furnishing one logical ex
PLANTATION for the much discussed
higher cost of living. Having once
established this high plane of wages
and prices, however, there are some
who profess to see danger when the
climax is reached, as it must be
l sooner or later, and the usual period
Ofre- adjustment commences to have
its effect. Any setback or lack O.
confidence at such a time nigh
precipitate a swing SO pronounced
in the other direction that the con
sequences might be serious even K
! the extent of disaster.
Fortunately there is nothing O.
the kind yet in sight, and with bust
ness of all kinds literally booming
crops SO bountiful and ahundan
that it is taxing the utmost resourc
es of harvesters and transportation
companies to care for them, money
plentiful for every kind of homes
enterprise, opportunities open OF
every side to encourage industry
and endeavOrs with prospects O.
speedy and renumerative returns,
the great majority Of the people
: will simply turn their back on the
carpers who are claiming the
country is too prosperous that The
people are getting rich too fast
Possibly it is true there is some hid
den danger III a situation of this
kind, but even SO it is a much more
satisfactory and pleasant condition
than the other extreme of too little
prosperity, with lack of work, an
over supply Of labor, loss Of bust.
ness, and old fashioned hard times.
Prosperity may have It's drawbacks
but they are not to be compared
with the disadvantages of the other
extreme. The people have lad ex
perience with both conditions, anC
if left to them the sentiment would
be unanimous in favor Of too much
prosperity rather than too little
Nor is there any great danger, after
all, that they will get too much O.
Al