New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
THE NEW PROSPERITY
A Workman's View OF President Will
sons Policies.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: We have read and committed 70
memory the notable speech OF our Fresl-
dent in accepting the nomination OF his
party for the great Office of which he Is
the incumbent. On that occasion, as
we'll as others, he expressed great So
licitude for the working people. lie re-
ferred 10 them as the majority oil our
population. whose condition should be
improved by wise and benefcent meas
ures of legislation. Has he done TINS
only to win their support at the ballot
box, that he might later betray them
Our present condition will answer Ihat
is what he has done.
After sixteen years of Republican al
ministration under q high protective
tariff his election found the country III
a high state of prosperity. Our INDUS,
tries had a market for the products OF
our labor which enabled them to keep
the wheels Of industry moving and the
hands of labor employed. The workers
were secure in their employment, with
the best conditions of work, ana wages
200 per cent in excess of that paid oy
the Industries of any other country
wages which enabled the working peo-
ple of America TO maintain standard
of living that was unequalled or unap-
nroacbed nv the workers of any other
rountrv. Regardless of high prices,
which are necessary to high wages, they
could maintain their families, pay their
rents and provide for the comfort OF
their homes. That happy condition
would have remained had the tariff that
caused it been retained on the statutes.
What is the new prosperity when
our President proclaims as the result
of his craftsmanship? Fellow workmen
and women, you whose time has not yet
come TO partake of it, you who drank
in his deceptive words in the campaign,
look at this new prosperity as exempll-
fed in the condition of those people
thrown out of their homes for lack Of
means 10 pay rent. Home is the most
cherished possession of the working
people and the poor. They will part with
jewelry, clothing, furniture, everything
exchangeable for money, 10 prolong
their stay within its friendly shelter.
When everything is sacrificed for 10
per cent of its cost, when the job
less workman. with his hungry and
naked children around him sits down
for the last time under his own roof,
with the sheriff ready to pitch him and
his belongings on the street, then he is
beginning 20 enjoy his portion of the
new prosperity.
Before the installation of President
Wilson in the Executive chair the evic-
tons in New York, according 20 the
press reports, did not exceed 1000 an
nually. But since that great states
man has succeeded in grating mis- plant
for the manufa' of the new pros
perity on the statutes the evictions
have increased 70 10000 families
monthly, which will number $4,000
helpless, homeless paupers as the
monthly output of the pauper factory
to which use President Wilson and
his Democratic Congress have convert
ed the chambers of national legislation.
An instance of the ruin he has
wrought is furnished by the dismissal
OF 3,4OO young women and girls from
heir places of employment in The Bronx
few days ago. Those women have
been robbed of the means TO an honest
and honorable livelihood by President
Wilson's revenue tariff policy. What
does the new prosperity offer to those
dependent women as a substitute for
the weekly wages secured 20 them by
a protective tariff? Only the cherries
atmosphere OF the street, with its
temptations to the homeless and needy.
That's President Wilson's method for
improving the condition of the working
people, for promoting the public health
and public morals.
Neither President Wilson, nor his
Congress, nor his party can blind the
working people by trying 10 shift the
responsibility for those conditions on
the European war. They we're in full
effect before war was declared. And,