Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-01-24
UNFAIR PROSPERITY
FARMERS AND WAGE FARMERS
NOT GETTING THEIR SHARE.
Figures Show That Protected Trusts
and Corporations have Forced
Prices for Cost Of Living Far
Above Increased Wages
Paid

We are all impressed with the
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 evil
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 10000, 900 people in this coun-
try working for wages, receiving an
average of about $500 each per year, so
the total wages paid amount to $751;
900, 900, 900. Deducting 20 per cent.
would give in 1896 for the same num-
Der of wage earners SIS, 000,0 200, 900.
But as the cost Of living is TO- 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, 900, 900, or 5000 each per year
to buy the same amount of goods and
pay the increased rent and other ex-
penses of living that 1t 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,000,-
100000. So the difference between
what the wage n of the coun-
try now receive and what they should
receive if they fully participated in
the prosperity, is $4,5 500, 900, 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
iy the trusts are prosperous, and
their prosperity is in~disputable, for
four and a half billion dollars are d.
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,-
600, 900 at $3.50 each for the 100000
900 workers?
No wonder there is unrest and that
all who earn salaries and wages are
demanding 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
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-
ing 1888 per cent. ad valorem, where
as under the present law the rates
exceed So per cent, or over 20 per
cent. higher. That enormous increase
fostered the formation of trusts and
combines, which very naturally, find
ing they had a monopoly, have in
creased prices until they now exceed
so 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
able and only way to reduce prices
to so revise the tariff that, at least,
these high prices may not become
higher, which are now increasing at
the rate of five per cent. every year?
The Republicans say; mo, we will
stand pat and allow the present trust
prosperity to continue, and hope that
wages will advance to a par with
prices" which under the present sys.
ten experience shows they will not
do. The Democrats declare for tariff
revision, SO that there will be compe-
tition with the trusts and force them
to reduce the price of their products
TO a reasonable extent. The voters
when they elect the next president
and congress must decide between
these two propositions