Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1898 — EVIDENCES OF GOOD TIMES [ARTICLE]

EVIDENCES OF GOOD TIMES

More Work to Do With a Constant Do u>aud„ For More Workers. The Republican party, two years ago, in asking the confidence of the people, assured them that its policy would bring immediate prosperity, that it would drive hard times out of the country. That the party has been true to its promises is shown by the following in--stances, a very few of the many observable day after day in Indiana alone. Fifteen of the leading manufacturing establishments of the state that employed in 1894 only 2,455 men have more than double that number of their working force. This makes, so far, an increase of 125 per cent, with a constant demand for more men. There has been a 10 per cent average advance of wages since McKinley was elected president. A year after good times began under McKinley, in 10 leading lines of manufacturing, Indiana’s wage workers therein got $18,081,206 for their labor. That was a great increase over the wages of any one year of Cleveland’s two administrations. This year there was a further increase, the wages paid amounting to $20,353,975. According to the state statistician’s report, 12 leading lines of manufacturing in Indiana show a marked increase of capital invested this year, with a product valued at $14,845,705 more than last year, the comparison being, 1897, capital invested, $29,065,444; this year, $29,246,659. Value of product 1897, $83,629,594; 1898, $98,475,297. One hundred and five Indiana establishments report that they are employing 5,000 more men than a year ago. That is, nearly 50 more men in each establishment have found work this year which they failed to find under Cleveland or even last year when good times had hardly a fair start. Where workingmen had little to do under Cleveland, they are working night and day under McKinley and that, too, remember at increased wages. Secretary G. A. Lambert of the Buckeye Manufacturing company at Anderson said recently: “Since the election of 1896 our business has steadily increased. Our men are principally piece-workers, and their wages vary in proportion to our business. Men who earned S3OO each in 1894, 1895 and 1896 are now earning from S6OO to S7OO with the piece price the same. We work almost wholly on orders. If we could have secured sufficient stock we would have shipped $750,000 this year. We have not shut down since the election. Future prospects were never i brighter.” Charles Sheperkoter, president of the Filemakers’ union, and employed in the Arcade fileworks at Anderson, in speaking of the conditions, said: “The men have no complaint to make. They receive good wages and" are working full • time. We worked more this year and ' in 1897 than in any previous year since 1892. The men are all well satisfied here and are not ready to vote for any policy that will give us again the conditions that existed a few years ago.”

The Columbia Encaustic Tile company at Anderson is another large concern that typifies the prosperity of the times. Harry Haugh, speaking for the company, said: “For the last six mouths the company has been 30 days behind in its orders. Our advices from the east, where most of our goods are sold, indicate a very large demand in the future, especially for the finer grades. This demand therefore indicates a return of that feeling of confidence that causes men of means to make permanent investments.” W. N. Durbin, manager of the Anderson foundry and machine works, said: “Business now is the best we have experienced in four years. We work on orders only, and can scarcely keep pace with our orders.”