The Grenada sentinel., 1907-01-26
UNFAIR PROSPERITY
FARMERS AND WAGE FARMERS
NOT GETTING THEIR SHARE.
Figures Show That Protected Trusts
and Corporations have Forced
Prizes for Cost Of Living Far
Above Increased Wages
Paid


prosperity that the great business in
terests of the country are enjoying,
but somehow many of us feel that we
are not getting our share. There Is
no disputing the prosperity of the
few, but there is still stronger evi-
dence that many farmers and wage
earners are not getting just what
should be coming to them. The price
of farm products, with the exception
of wheat, has increased, wages of
workingmen have advanced, and yet
the greatest economy Is not able to
equalize the greatly increased outgo.
The figures" of Dun and Bradstreet
show that the price Of all commodities
has risen on an average over so per
cent since 1896, but the statistics Of
the average wages paid indicate an
increase of only about 20 per cent.
during the same period.
The census figures show there are
about 30,000,000 people in this coun-
try working for wages, receiving an
average Of about 5000 each per year, so
the total wages paid amount to $1S,-
00O000,O0O. Deducting 20 per cent.
would give in 1896 for the same num-
Der of wage earners 100000, 900.
But as the cost of living is now so
per cent. more than in 1896, and 1t
cost all the wage earnerS earned in
1906 to live, it must now cost them
$22, 500, 100000, or 5000 each per year
to buy the same amount of goods and
pay the increased rent and other eX-
penses of living that it did in 1896.
Yet the evidence shows that the
wages paid are but 20 per cent. high
er, or 1920 per year-in all $1S,OOO,-
100000 So the difference between
what the wage earners of the cOun-
try now receive and what they should
receive if they fully participated in
the prosperity, is S4,500,00O, 900. This
amount represents approximately
what the protected trusts, combines
and corporations are receiving in
profits over and above the average
profits the producers and manufac-
turerS were getting in 1896. Sure
ly the trusts are prosperous, and
their prosperity is indisputable, for
four and a half billion dollars are di-
verted by the Republican system Of
protection into the remorseless maws
Of the corporation magnates. But
how about the balance of us that are
forced by these tariff fostered trust
high prices to pay the extra $4,500,
OOO,O0O at $3.50 each for the 30,000,-
900 workers?
No wonder there is unrest and that
all who earn salaries and wages are
more pay, but as the cost
Of living is advancing at the rate of
five per cent. annually it would seem
that wages and salaries will never
catch up with the cost of living.
AS a political proposition the voters
must remember that in 1896 and for
three years previous the Democratic
Tariff rates were quite high, averag
ng 3S6S per cent. ad valorem, where
rs under the present law the rates
exceed SO per cent, or over 20 per
cent. higher. That enormous increase
'ostered the formation of trusts and |
combines, which very naturally, find |
ng they had a monopoly, have in |
creased prices until they now exceed |
20 per cent. of what they were in |
1896 under the lower tariff rates. AS |
everyone is compelled to pay these in
creased prices is it not the reason
lble and only way to reduce prices
o so revise the tariff that, at least,
hese high prices may not become
higher, which are now increasing at |
he rate Of five per cent. every year?
The Republicans say: mo, we will
tand pat and allow the present trust
to continue, and hope that
wages will advance to a par with
'rices," which under the present sys-
EN- experience shows they will not
10. The Democrats declare for tariff
evision, so that there will be compe-
ition with the trusts and force them
o reduce the price of their products
o a reasonable extent. The voters
1hen they elect the next president
nd congress must decide between
hese two propositions.