Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-08-04
EDITORIAL.
Workingnen and Wages.

A laboring man few days ago, while
talking to crowd, said 81 like that
man Bryan. l think he is straight all
right. He's a greater man than Taft,
but Pm going to vote for Taft. If
Bryan is elected wages will be reduced
and I'm going to vote for my wages"
The man was sincere. He had the
conviction that the election of repub-
lican as president meant good wages
and the election of a democrat reduc-
ton of wages. That has been repu5li-
can talk for so many years that some
people have come to regard it as so.
1t has never occurred to them that the
republican party cannot regulate
wages. 1t has never occurred to them
that the democratic party cannot do so.
They simply have closed their eyes
without questioning the dishonest boast
of the republicans that their supremacy
means good wages and democratic
supremacy low wages.
What is the use to be so foolish on the
wage questions 1t is as simple as A,
B, C. 1t does not require knowledge
of philosophy to understand it. Labor
is commodity the same as wheat, or
corn, or oats, or hay. 1t is commod-
ity the same as cabbage, or onions, or
potatoes. Labor is a commodity the
same as ham, or eggs, or butter. The
price labor commands depends upon
how much of it is wanted Eggs, for in
stance, sell for 80 cents dozen when
they are scarce. They sell for 20 cents
dozen when they are plenty. When
there is great abundance of them they
sell even for less. We have dollar
wheat now, not because we have re-
publican administration, but because
Europe is compelled to make heavy
drafts upon our supply. 1t is just as
certain as anything can be that we
would have two dollar wheat under a
democratic administration if the world
should produce only half crop of the
cereal. 1t also is just as certain as any
thing can besthat if there should be
bumper crops of wheat not only in the
United States, but in all of Europe this
year, the price of it would tumble be-
low a dollar, no matter which party
should win out this fall. Only where
monopoly obtains are prices fixed
Special privilege, for instance, fixes the
price of steel Special privilege fixes
the price of wool and leather. 1t fixes
the price of lumber Political parties
have nothing whatever to do in the
making of prices except insofar as they
become subservient to the trusts, which
enjoy special privileges. Indeed it is a
fact that the republican party has
granted the trusts so many favors that
they can and do arbitrarily fix the
prices of certain necessities of life, but
they do not and cannot FIX the price OF
farm products nor can they regulate
wages. They are as helpless in the
matter of regulating wages as
the republican and democratic
parties. The controlling force is de.
mana and supply. Wages are lower
now than they were year ago because
the panic has thrown thousands out oil
work. Wages are lower than they were
year ago because the demand fol
labor is not so sharp. And there a0iH no
be an increase IN aodges until The demand fol
labor increases. If republican success mean
lots Of acork at a living rage the aoorkingmar
should be employed now instead Of being IL
idlerleSS, TOR republicans are IN fill control O
The nation and the greater number of III
states
Here is q fact which ought to appea
to those well meaning but misguided
people who believe that the republican
party can guarantee plenty of work a
good wages. 1t is certain the republi
cans v ant to elect Taft. 1t is certain
they do not want to elect Bryan. They
must know that they can defeat Bryan
and elevate Taft to the presidency by
opening up the mills and the mines anC
giving plenty of work to those wh'
need employment. 1t is very simpl,
matter. Why don't they do it Wh,
don't they blow the whistles and cal
the idle back to jobs ? Why don't the,
restore last years wages to the few
who are employed If they are tn,
certain guardians of the welfare o
labor, why don't they come to the res
cue of labor when it is in distress
What excuse can it have for putting of
until after the election what should b,
done nows Why does it want to wal
until next year to deliver the goods t,
the country it claims it only can sup
ply To ask the questions is to answer
Because they can't.
N.