The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-08-03

PAYERS and Founders. Labor Temple.
| Brewers Local 1l6. Labor Temple.
Truck Drivers. Labor Temple.
| Material Drivers, Labor Temple.
Coal Teamsters. Labor Temple
Cab Drivers, Labor Temple.
IRON STRUCTURAL WORKERS.
Local 81 OF the Iron Structural Workers
held a short meeting last evening In La
Dor Temple Considerable routine bust
ness was transacted and four new mem
bers initiated Four delegates were ap-
pointed TO attend the joint convention on
Thursday evening Aug. s, TO vote for
chief marshal for Labor Day parade. Del
egates from the Central Labor union
made reports. Owing 10 Old Home Week
the meeting was cut short.
THE DOLLAR
IL is one thing TO earn a dollar. some
times a hard thing. IL is quite material
q thing TO find out what that dollar Is
going TO buy. Today. according 10 the
figures collated. il will buy almost as
much, not quite, as 55 cents would In
1896 The two commercial agencies OF
Dun and Bradstreet make point OF
studying the increased cost OF living IN
this country They also pay some atten-
tion 10 the enormous increase in salary
OF the heads OF corporations, trusts ana
general public utility corporations. But
on the point of the increase In the cost
of living we find. according to Dun:
''The price fixed FOR commodities at
wholesale Dec. l. 1906. was 40 per cent
higher than on July l. 1896"
II will be remembered that 1896 was
lean year for men who worked for wages
But. lean as IL was are there any follow
ing the same trade who think their wages
have been increased AZ per cent since. as
according to this wholly partisan COM
mercial agency, their living expenses have
been?
Bradstreet's tables show also an in
crease OF so per cent over the prices or
ten years ago. The editor OF MOODY
Magazine, after careful investigation
OF wages and prices, concludes that the
increase in the cost Of living has been
40 per cent in 10 years and that wages
have risen only half as much.
Is this prosperity? Is 1t prosperity 10
earn possibly is per cent more and 10 have
TO pay out so per cent more for livingY
Do these figures justify the statement
made long ago in an official book issued
by the Republican national committee
that wages rose more than prices? Ihey
do not Wages rose for a time, now are
stationary, and In some instances are
decreasing Prices go up and up. What
is this prosperity? Is 1t for the people
or the plutocracy?
The amount of money a working man
earns Is on its face OF great Importance
10 h.ra- He does not stop as rule to
think what the purchasing power OF that
money may be. IL every article he has
To buy has its cost increased by taxa
ton. or by the taxation Of those monopo'
lies called trusts. his dollar Is worth only
half of what II should be.-Willis j. Abb
bot.
BREAD LINE. MINIMUM WAGE.
Trades unions. in fixing the minimum
wage In their agreements with the em
pioyer. demand wages somewhat abov'
| the bread line. The employer regard:
| the bread line as the maximum wage, and
in very few cases agrees voluntarily tc
pay more than that miximum. Tho maxi
mum wage as established by the employ
ers differs In various parts OF the coun-
try wherever the cost of living Is low
on account OF a mild climate, where fue
and clothing cost less than In other parts
where outdoor work is possible the year
round. wages are lower than In parts
where this Is not the case. But the Ia
borer Is not allowed any benefits that
his location in mild climate may oner
him: the employer always takes. and will
take these benefits for himself as long
as the present system is in vogue.-Amal-
gamated Journal.
GIRLS WON THE STRIKE
An ex-judge OF the arbitration court in
New Zealand told me this story. says a
write rim the Washington Post: The girls
In a match factory came before the court,
asking for an increase of wages. The
proprietor said he could not pay what
they wanted that his enterprise was In
it's infancy. and TO increase wages would
ruin II. The court heard the evidence on
tt.. rtal I'm,
OF the business and the cost of living in
the city, and then the Judge said to the
proprietor:
''It is impossible for these girls TO live
decentiy and healthfully on the wages
that you are now paying. II Is OF the ut
most Importance not only TO them, but
to the state, that they should have decent.
wholesome healthful conditions OF life.
The souls and bodies OF the young women
OF New Zealand are OF more Importance
than your profits. and II you can't pay
-ttvtug wHgps II wifi be better for-thr conn
munity for YOU to close your factory. II
would be better TO send the whole match
industry 10 the bottom OF the ocean and
go back TO fints and firesticks than 10
drive young girls into the gutter. NV
award Is that you pay what they ask"
The man protested and grumbled but
he obeyed the order. He did not close his
factory. and his business continued 10
prosper.
The Judges little speech embodes both
the underlying principle OF all New Zea-
lands progressive legislation and the
spirit I'm which II Is adnIinistered-ths
welfare of the worker is OF more import
ance than the profits Of the employer And
therein Is n complete overturn of all our
world wide and time-old convictions
methods and ideals. ANY civilization
which holds to that conviction and en-
forces Il with all the energy of it's gov
ernment is new thing under the sun.
For u is civilization that is based not
on commercial success and greatness. but
on humanity.
WHY I AM A UNION MAN
Because I am not afraid 10 line up with
my fellow workers and make an honest
demand for that which Is ours by hei-
tage.
Because | want 10 see every man wo-
man and child have plenty 20 eat. plenty
90 wear and plenty OF time 10 enjoy a.
Because I am opposed 10 Nth and ig.
norance. and In favor OF health and
knowledge
Because think more OF en- honest heart
under a ragged shirt than do OF a block
headed bloat with a bank account.
Because union man is never dsre-