The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-10-24
LABOR CLASS GAINS
England's Middle Class Feel Ad-
vance of Former.
Paper Declares That the Lot Of Pro.
fessionaI With Moderate Income
ls Far Worse Than That ct the
Average Working Mar.

LoDdon.--A good deal of attention
fs being paid to the true meaning and
effect of the almost continual labor up
heavals that have affected this country
in the last few years, and that threat.
en- to continue for an indefinite period.
The Daily Express finds ground for
hope of peace In the circumstance, or
alleged circumstance. that, as result
of the recent strikes, many of the la
Dor organizations are virtually bank
rupt. Not one or two, but nearly all
the societies of organized workers." 1t
says, ARE suffering severely from the
strain put on their resources by the
strike mania of the last few years.
The grand strikes have duly taken
place. They have neither inundated
the employers nor broken the back of
organized society, though they have
done much to imperil that right to
work which ought to be no less in
alienable than the right to strike. But
they have effectually bankrupted the
General Federation, reducing its re-
serve fund to a meager sum. largely,
it is said, hypothecated in other di-
rections
The Globe. pointing cut another fea-
ture of the situation that has arisen
from the labor unrest, prints a thought
full article headed Middle Glass Bur-
dens." 1T is" 1t says, "easy to wax
sentimental over the woes of the So
called working classes; and now that
labor has secured certain amount of
political power. demagogues are find
ing that to heap benefits from the
ample Golfers of the state upon the
working man is sure and safe road
to the attainment and retention of Of
fee"
Obviously, however, says the Globe,
the state can not continue to provide
free education, old age pensions and
expensive insurance, as well as salts
flying the hundred and one other de-
mands of the trades unions, without
some other class feeling the pinch. 1t
goes on to say: eff the added burden
fell solely or chiefly upon those al
ready possessed of superfiuity OF
this worlds goods, there would not be
much cause for complaint. Probably
we should all, collectively and ind:-
vidually, be better off If society we're
SO constituted that neither the million
aire nor the pauper could exist. But
that is a prospect outside reasonable
calculation, and, as things are, the peo-
pie who pay for the tightening of the
often well-to-do workingman's life are
that great middle class, which, even
before the recent marked increase In
the cost of living. has always found
the struggle for existence hard and
strenuous one.
cat present the lot of the profess
sional man with moderate income
is, we say it unhesitatingiy, far worse
than that of the average working man.
If the latter has cause to complain that
his wages do not possess the same pur.
chasing power as formerly, the pro
| fessional man has good ground fol
maintaining that he suffers even more
severely from the same cause, while
his unavoidable expenses are faI
heavier
"In what direction, it may be asked
| is a remedy to be found for this state
of things? 1t is clear that this one
class can not go on forever bearing
not only its own legitimate share o.
the country's burdens, but everybody
else's in addition. Yet politicians anC
least of all radical demagogues--havt
no thought for them. Our ears are
deafened with the din of many speech
es expressing the deepest sympathy
for the woes of the people; parliament
passes measures intended, at cost, tt
relieve this or that grievance of the
same sovereign people. But it is t
be noted that this phrase, so remi
niscent of French revolutionary times
covers, not all the honest working citi
zens in the state, but only that class
of workers already sufficiently caret
for.
I'VE do not believe that 1t would b.
possible for the middle classes to com
bine as the working classes have done
and wrench their rights from parlia
ment But we do say it is the dut!
of the Unionist party to come to tn,
assistance of a class which, above al
others, has suffered from the preda
tory and socializing Legislation of thu
last few years"