The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-05-16
FACT AND COMMENT ON FINANCE
AND BUSINESS.

We all work for reward. The multi
millionaire often despises money but
covets power. Others aspire to social
recognition. Most of US strive to gain
an increasing amount of material recon-
pense for our services, for the greater
the reward the more comfortable" we
can make life for ourselves and those
associated with US. The muiti-million-
aire may be as unselfsh as the minister
who earns a thousand dollars a year.
and apparently gives away twice that
sum. Altruisn and poverty are not
necessarily twin brothers. Neither are
plutocracY and grasping greed. Having
swung away from the worship of
Croesus, we are apt to go to the opposite
extreme. The more we see of all
classes-the very rich, the moderately
so, the less well-to-do and The very
poor-the more we are convinced that
the size of man bank account bears
little relation to the quality of his soul.
Is it not just as uncalled for to con-
denim a man to-day. because he is rich
as it was to worship him years ago?
But this little excursion does not bring
US to the particular point to be discussed.
This is the rise in wages that is going
en- here, there and everywhere. We
are so constituted-fort that
nf ,r,n,,l-prc dow ,li,oCr
more pay our sympathies involuntarily
60 out to the underdog. "By all means
give them an increase" we either men
tally or orally remark. The sentiment
as laudable. 1t is most humane. 1t
does credit to our hearts. But what of
our heads? Do the public realize that
they must pay every extra dollar
granted the textile workers, the miners,
the railway engineers and every other
sat Of employees?
When the question of advancing
wages arise the query each one of US
should put to ourself is not "Should the
employers grant the increased" 1t is
Should we grant the increase asked?"
For we-you and and every other user
Of the things needful for this life-have
in the long run to settle the wage sheet.
We are not arguing against advance
that is not the matter under consider
alton. We simply want to have bearings
Of the whole problem properly under
stood, The burden is not merely one
for the employer to bear You must
bear your share. Are you prepared to
Jay the additional charge that will be
made for your food stuffs, your fuel,
building materials, etc, etc.? If so,
then you can with good grace advocate
the granting Of the concessions that are
being asked by so many workers in
various lines. But DO not go on the
assumption that the fight is solely be
tween the employer and the employe.
You are the employer. The services
rendered, the things made, or mined
or transported are not for the use OF
the individuals or companies paying out
the wages; they are for your use and
you do the paying.
Have you ever been in a restaurant
with some one who took a delight in
wasting such things as they didn't
have to pay for directly? Remonstrance
would bring the retort that it didn't
matter, as no charge could be made
No? Who stands the needless, wicked
loss? The proprietor? Not for an IN
slant! The cost is written into your
bill, and not only into your bill, but into
the bill of every other patron. The
stuff wasted has to be paid for by some
body, hasn'tit?
Each one of US is part and parcel of
that great machine, the world, and
though we cannot perhaps trace our
connection v itn most Of the economic
happenings do react upon the condition
of each one of US. The free" bread
and butter wasted in the.restaurant, like
my barber friend's homemade pickles,
all enter into economic calculations. So,
when we read that this and the next
class of labor want more pay, let US ask
whether we ought to grantit. If, after
realizing clearly cur relation to the
matter, we still favor the side of gener-
osity, all the more praise is due US.
OnlY remember we cannot soak" the
bosses without Soaking" ourselves.
All this is very elementary, of course,
but it may not be altogether untimely.
Saw MilI Burned