The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-04-09


The price OF labor Is going down
nut the price of meat is going up.
A week ago, In many newspapers
was published the result OF a careful
canvass OF the country which showed
/ 200, 900 men out OF employment ano
great many more than that work
ing for reduced wages. And, within
the week there have been printed,
conspicuously in the papers from day
To day, news items OF wages Ieduc
lions here and there. involving, each
one OF them, IRON 10000 TO few
hundred employees.
But the price OF meat Is going up.
Hogs, though advancing. on Friday
were selling cheaper than they have
on the same day In March for any
time in ut least five years-hut the
price OF pork Is rising. The price Of
beef is rising. The price OF mutton
| is rising. In the past two or three
days the advance In prices TO the
consun er for meats o. all kinds has
/ ranged between 10 and rs per cent.
The consumer may be out OF employ
ment, his wages may have been cut.
he may he fighting The grims and
disheartening battle TO keep the wolf
from the door. fighting TO keep his
children decently clothed AID sum.
GENTLY fed, lighting TO keep alive y
spark OF cheer and hope In the heart
of faithful and patient wife-bui
he must pay the extra charge or have
no meet on the table.
II isn't fair. it isn't just, II isn't
natural or reasonable. But II is the
fact. The farmer may be suffering
from lower prices, the merchan,
from a diminished purchasing capac'
ity of his customers, the wage Garner
from a curtailment OF his income
hut the beef trust doesn I suffer
Like other monopolies 1t has discov
cred ard Is master OF something
, which is superior To the law OF com
pensation, more poserful than thu
law Of supply and demand. And Ike
+, the other monopolies, it is usins
! ruthlessly that power 1t has obtained
|, They tell Us that monopolies
trusts, are useful. necessary, tia
they bring with them vast eco
monte benefit. We are told that the
cheaper prediction; that they enabl
!, our civilization to produce the thing
which are needed or desi'ed with les
:, effolt and sacrifice. So, perhaps. the
:. do, to certain extent and With
somewhat narrow limits. But VIII
oenetitsy
Those who bold and exercise th
Z monopoly power benefit. They. an
). none other For human nature
y selfish. I he individual strives br'
L for his own good, and the corporate
even more than tie individual, b
= cause Of a lessened sense Of respoi
. sibiiity. The monopoly cheapens pr
'e dnction mayhaps. but the sayir
goes into the pockets Of tile mOnop
lists. Competition, when its force
= tree, also cbeapsns prt duction-ar
- then the consumer gets the benefi
a. and the consumer represents all Il
q people. Monopoly stiees competitio
~ to the consumers dettiment and Il
~ monopolists profit.
u The steel trust furnishes anotb
nohle example. Disaster hits Z
ne country. and enterprise and indust
eu anguish. The effective demand
III steel and iron Is Iesseued. lind
competition, the price woul1 fall. q
falling would stimulate the dems
and enterprise would regain, grad
"a, ally. its lost ground. until an equi
III brium had again been reached u
to upoer monopoly the steel trust sa
lat mot penny cheaper and eiti
II the top limit price must be paid
ln there mrst b. no building. SO M
at men are thrown out OF employme
rat more capital becomes idle, and !
he chasm between normal demand 1
sks supply narruws instead OF eontracti
md Are We 80 very wise. after all. !
led Is our civilization 40 worthy
ca compliment pride as we are sol
er- times led to believe?
lief Is IT hopeful symptom that
b. administration at Washington Is
ne, day seriously urging upon cong
that the combat OF the last few y,