Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1899 — INCOME AND OUTGO. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INCOME AND OUTGO.

WAGES AND COST OF LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES. Earnings of American Workingmen Have Increased, While the Prices of Food and Other Necessaries Have Decreased in the Past Twenty Year*. A comparison of the wages paid and their purchasing power in 1898 and 1870 reveals some interesting facts in support of the contention that of all the workpeople in the world those or the United States are the best paid, the best fed, the best clothed and the best housed. It was shown in the Massachusetts Labor Bulletin for January, 1899, that, taking the average of daily wages for eighteen different occupations in twelve American cities, there had been gained in. 1898 over 1872 an advance In sixteen of the avocations, while in the remaining two the wages remained the same. But it also appears that the workingman has gained in another direction, that of lower prices for the necessaries of life. The prices of groceries and provisions, the articles for which the greater part of ordinary wages is spent, have decreased as wages have advanced. In these two general classes the only articles that are higher now than twenty odd years ago are cornmeal and mutton chops. The purchasing power of wages is set forth in the following table:

—What $1 would buy in--1872. 1897. Pounds. Pounds. Flour, wheat 18.18 30.30 Rice 8.93 12.82 Beans 10.52 14.29 Tea 1.45 2.16 Coffee (roasted) 2.35 3.57 Sugar (good brown) 9.80 21.28 Soap (common) 12.50 23.81 Beef (roasting) 5.20 6.85 Days. Days. Rent (four-room apartment).. 2.03 3.53 Board (men) 1.24 1.52 Board (w0men)..........1... 1.87 1.92 It will be seen from these comparisons that the condition, 4 of the wage earner, estimated on a purely material basis, is about 30 per cent better than it was twenty odd years ago. It must also be remembered that the comparisons here made are on scales of 1897. In most lines of industry wages have been advanced from 5 to 30 per cent, within a year, and as they are still advancing and prices of provisions are still falling, the wage earners' condition is even better now than here indicated, and will be still better a year hence.

It is the boast of protection that it has raised wages and lowered prices at one and the same time. It has made life easier and happier to countless millions of people, and it has made the United States the spot toward which the toilers of other countries look with longing eyes.

Prosperity and Wage Advances. Attention has heretofore been directed in these columns to the steady upward tendency in the wages of American labor, but every day brings additions to the long list of corporations and firms which have advanced the pay of their employes. In nearly every case the increase is purely voluntary. The movement began the moment cap-, ital recovered its confidence and hopefulness. An era of exceptional activity having opened, labor shares the benefit and profit accruing from the return of good times. The iron industry and allied branches have been specially prosperous, owing to foreign demands as well as the domestic revival, and labor in this wide field has felt the quickening effects of the change. In Chicago alone, it is estimated 30,000 men employed in machinery manufacture have had their wages increased from 5 to 30 per cent. Other industries have been similarly affected, and from every industrial center in the country reports of wage advances are brought by the telegraph. Little is said about these facts at anti-trust banquets and silver conferences. Their moral is so plain that the most expert political sophists find it safer to ignore them. Business has confidence in . the future. The gold standard is established, and the party which still labors to undermine it has not the shadow of a chance. It is divided, distracted, leaderless and conscious of its fate. There is at present no cloud on the industrial horizon even as big as a man’s hand. We have our own home market in its best estate and are making rapid and great strides in foreign markets. Commercial expansion is a certainty, and there are no drawbacks to It. It is the direct and inevitable result of natural opportunities, enterprise and skilled labor. The outlook, then, alike to capital and to labor, is most encouraging.—Chicago Post.

McKinley and the Second Term. While there has been no doubt ever since President McKinley’s administration was fairly started that he would be nominated for a second term, and while confidence in this outcome has been strengthened as the administration has advanced, it is gratifying to note that thus early there are some authoritative declarations favoring the present Incumbent over all other aspirants to the Presidential chair. The announcement of Senator Platt of New York and Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania practically pledges these two great States to the support of McKinley, and there is little doubt that other States, taking this cue, will from time to time express a like preference. Although unforeseen events often make quick and radical changes in politics, it would be difficult to conceive any outcome of present affairs that would prove inimical to the interests of the President’s candidacy for a second term. Even a continuation Of the war In the Philtppineo-which

seems unlikely—could nor» nado thd great prestige that the Presides* has achieved in his admirable conduct of' the war with Spain. It will doubtless be admitted that for other reasons, at well as for those connected with the war, McKinley is much stronger jvlth the people than when he came before them at the time of his election. The wonderful prosperity of the country, in all lines of industry and enterprise, should in Itself convince the masses finally of the superiority of Republican doctrines and administrations. —Kansas City (Mo.) Journal.

Democratic Issues. A Chicago newspaper has been asking members of the Democratic National Committee to give their opinion as to what things are likely to be espoused by the next national Democratic convention. The answers taken collectively cannot be said to lead to any definite conclusion except the general statement that the Democracy is evl- , dently puzzled to know where It Is at Nearly all the confmltteemen expect ' that silver will be an issue. Soma make it the begin-all and end-all of Democratic doctrine, their one rule and guide to faith. Others want It to be co-equal with the trust issue. And then there are those who would have it equally yoked with anti-expansion. The interviews served but one purpose, and that is to show that there is at present no cohesive force in Democracy. More than ever the party is without pride in its ancestry or hope in its poster!ty. The leaders know that, barring accidents and blunders, they have no chance to win. How could it be otherwise? The last time the Democratic party was given full control of the government, It made miserable use of its opportunities. It had grown strong in opposition, but the very moment it faced responsibility, it went to pieces. Through its vacillation and incompetency, the country was brought to the verge of in* dustrial panic and universal ruin. So demoralized did it become that before its lease of power had expired, It surrendered body and soul to populism and lent its conservative name and record to a revolutionary campaign. The majority of its respectable leaders retired from all places of responsibility and left it to its fate. For the last three years, it has been nothing bnt a disorganized mob. It has been without leadership in Congress and oat of it, for that matter, for Bryan can scarcely be called the leader, though possibly he is worthy to be known as an exhorter.—Cedar Rapids Republican. n

Questionable Distinction. J Those are indeed doubtful honors which college students have won in competing for the prizes offered for essays by the New England Free Trade tjeague. Rightly does the Philadelphia | Inquirer protest against the granting of aid and comfort to the enemy Tsy the Pennsylvania University through the contributions of sis undergraduates to the literature of Cobdenism. U. P. has been a citadel of protection located; in the heart of a region immensely benefited by the policy of defense of American labor and industry; firmly settled it is, too, in the hearts of a people grown prosperous and powerful* through the operations of that same’ policy. With much malign satisfaction, therefore, must the New England Fref| Trade League have disbursed its prise | money to the U. P. essay writers. Not having been permitted to ascertain the quality of these lucubrations, we cannot speak of them with certainty, but it is safe to say that they are not of a character to reflee credit either upon 1 he students or their alma mater. When Trusts Thrive Beet. The time when monopolistic trust!' thrive is when business is dull. Then! they can extort monopolistic prices because business men are not willing to 2 risk money in a new venture in order? to compete with them. When the conntry is prosperous, when, as is the case. ' to-day, money is plenty and cheap, an4|j when investors are eagerly seeking neir | avenues for investment, no trade conS?|j bination can hold a monopoly on any- \1 tiling. A protective tarilf, thereforajl being the creator of prosperity, instead® of promoting monopolistic trusts, as Is ] charged by the free-traders, Is their 4 deadliest enemy, and protection meana® prosperity. ] The Republican Style. j The total production of tin plate by 1 American mechanics since the passags|§ of the McKinley tariff has been 2,235*-|| 590,629 pounds, and the price to cott*|| sumers has declined one-fourth. Thagfl is the Republican style of carrying miiß business.—St. Louis Globe-Democrat.® ]

Happened in Canada. One iron plant has been closed »#* its big force of workmen released indefinitely. But the thing happened over In Canada. Iron works on thty side of tbe line begin to need more lion' age room for their surplus orders.-! San Francisco Chronicle. to Zero. J Sheep and wool clip in Kansas year increased 13 per cent, under th% favorable operations of tbe DingtijN tariff. Under the Wilson bill the Kan-j sas sheep industry slumped to pratv' tically zero—Topeka (Kan.) Capital. 1 Down and Out. w