As the cost of living decreased, the purchasing power of wages would
increase, and every dollar now paid to Labor would command for the
laborer a greater quantity of necessaries, comfort and luxuries of life.
How could you suppose that the wages of workers will go down when the
masses of the people wrest the Government out of the hands of the
plutocrats? Public ownership of public utilities cannot be brought about
until the people rout the Privileged Few at the polls, when that day
comes do you fear that _the people_ will cut down _their own wages_ as
the Privileged Few have done?
Not many weeks ago the price of cotton advanced. The farmers of the South
had suffered so long and so much from low prices that they organized. The
result was a rise in the price of raw cotton.
How did the Protected Manufacturers of New England meet this increase in
the cost of raw material?
The Government reports show that the manufacturers have been earning
twice as much on their invested capital as the farmers had earned. It
was fair for the farmers to contend for a juster division. Hence their
organization.
The manufacturers saw that they would lose a part of the unjust profits
which they were reaping from the Protective system, and they promptly cut
down—their fat dividends? Heavens! No. They cut down the wages of the
factory boys and girls, men and women, who are _protected_ by our blessed
Tariff.
Now if _the people_ ruled this country, if there was no Privilege, no
Monopoly, no taxing of some to enrich others, no granting of Governmental
powers to private Corporations, no corrupt alliance between Commerce and
Government, you may bet your bottom dollar that _fat dividends would be
cut_, before men, women and children would be desolated by a reduction of
wages.
* * * * *
GALION, OHIO, Dec. 21, 1905.
_Watson’s Magazine_,
GENTLEMEN: Please give me some suggestions in your interesting
Educational Department on the negative side of this question:
Resolved, that the United States is retrograding in morality
and righteousness.
⸺ ⸺.