Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1908-09-02

Why the depression, we ask?
Haven't we had sever years of
Roosevelt, who, according to re-
publican orators, and assistant
republicans, as we'll as republican
newspapers, is the greatest, wisest
and best president the country
has ever had? Haven't we had IL
years of "standpatism" with Han
ma, Aldrich and Cannon. sitting
on the brakes to prevent the en-
actment of legislation not desired
by the gentlemen who are so con-
spicious In their support of Taft
and Sherman-Morgan, Rockefel-
Ter, Carnegie, Hartman, Schiff?
Do these men make d mistake
when they select candidates?
Which is most likely to be mlsled,
these men who say that Taft is
all right, that he is a conserve
tive, or the western farmer, who
IS told that Taft is a radical?
Where is the Astounding pros
perity:: Wealth has certainly in
creased enormously, or at least,
prices have been boosted to a point
that ought to have satisfied the
most avaricious. The fortunes of
the few have become gigantic
bounded out of sight. Morgan,
we are told, has three hundred OF
go millions; Carnegie as much
while Rockefeller is credited with
a billion; a few thousand Others
having from one to a hundred
millions each. These seem to have
had their "FULL TINE and
KEEP GOING cards in operation,
while they are generally credited
with having i'll October-Novem
Der last gathered in nearly every
thing in a large way in the shape
of banks, trust companies, indus
trial and railroad combinations
which had so far escaped them
In fact the bulk Of the people
have been set a lively pace to pay
the increasing prices for the nee
~essaries of life these and a few
others control.
HERE'S THE REAL RUB.
) But what has happened to thu
masses, whom you and othe1
boosters of Mckinley and Roose
Welt assured were to share in the
prosperity? With a total esti
mated wealth of some one hun,
dred and ten billions, the per cap.
tia works out all right, there
should be enough to go around,
for that's equal to about $1,000
per family. But who has it,
How many of the millions Of
toilers have q tenth of that sun
free and clear? How comes il
that the bulk of the people are
shy of their proportion of this
enormous wealth? Have they
= been lazy, thriftless, Or IMPROVE
dent during these twelve years
If lazy, then. who created the
wealth! Has the average farmer
mechanic, salesman, clerk, teach
er or laborer, squandered thell
portion in riotous living Die
they spend it for automobiles
steam yachts, or even for dia'
b monds? If not, what has has be-
come of it2 Why haven't they
got it, how did they lose til
What has been the unseen, sub
| tile, but APPARENTLY all-powerfu
! force that has taken it from them
Why have matters become so APP
palling in America hat the so.
called effete countries of Europe
have felt lmpelled to take Official
cognizance of the deplorable con.
) ditions in which so many of ou1
%toilers feel compelled to live.
The Italian government (as a re,
suit of the shocking reports that
reached lt) having sent a commits.
sion to investigate. Most revolt
ing conditions were shown tc
exist. While families were found
crowded into enc and two room
apartments, while only the wo,
men, but little children not much
more than babies, were found
y working in filthy, unhygienie
! quarters, helping to exc out g
scanty living for the family
Ovrecrowding was shown to be the
} rule not the exception. In one
case seven adults and seven chill.
dren "llved' in a dark, middle
room, and a large, bare, real