Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1896 — Reduction In Wages. [ARTICLE]

Reduction In Wages.

Th ) Chioago steel works recently notified ita employes that a reduction of wages would be inanguiated on the first of December. An att*mpt was made about a year ago in this concern to lower the scale of wages, but it was defeated by a strike of the employes. The reduction now proposed is about the same as that which was successfully opposed by the workmen at the time referred to. The Homestead mills noar Pittsburg, and alkof the other manufacturing concerns ia which Mr. Carnegie ia interested, have also advertised the fact that wages would be ‘ readjusted’’ on January Ist. 'Readjusted’ is a term whioh is synonymous with a decrease in this connection. Dnring the recent campaign employes were warned against free silver coinage on the crouudthst if it were adopted their wages woul be paid in debased money, which wae not true. Nothing was said at the time abont the probability of a redaction of wages, although it was quite plain to those who took a rational view of affairs that suoh a polioy would certainly follow the eleoti n of MoK’nley. It has come a little sooner than was ex peoted, bat no ono will be surprised even at that,except the workingmen themselves What folly it was to suppose that the same scale of wages would be kept up under a continuation of the Binglejgold standard that oonld have been confidently looked for if the country had voted for silv r restoration! Unless indications are at fault there will be a general reduction of wages all over the oountfy within the next six month and it will be a sharp reduot on, too. The people have voted for an European financial polioy and they must take with It European wages and sooial conditions.