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The Commoner
OCTOBER 2, 1903.
5
i'iii.iiWH(iuwiiimii
Republican Prosperity
A Republican Organ'
Admits That it is a Sham
Masses Not so Prospcr
otM as in J 897 J Jt &
Tlio Chicago Inter-Ocean is a stalwart re
publican paper, and doubtless many of its read
ers were surprised to read in the Inter-Ocean of
September 16 an editorial in which serious ques
tion is raised as to the genuineness of the pros
perity concerning which republican leaders boast.
In the beginning, the Inter-Ocean says:
"Ever since 1897 this nation, on the sur
face, has prospered as never before. Farm
ers have found eager markets at profitable
prices. Capitalists have added to their wealth.
Labor has been able to use, as never before,
the power of organization to raise wages."
Then this republican paper offends beyond all
hope of pardon. by saying: "Yet it may be doubted
if one-half the heads of American families" are
in as favorable a position as they were in 1897."
The Inter-Ocean's explanation is that "the third
party the majority wlio are neither capitalists
nor able to fortify themselves behind labor union
walls is today giving more proportionately than
in 1897, while getting only the same."
Then this republican paper points out that
"When capitalists combine to raise prices,
reduce expenses, or anticipate profits it is
this third party that pays the higher prices,
stands the reduction of expenses, and con
verts the anticipated profits Into actual ones."
The Jnter-Ocean says thaj; "every, flotation of
corporation securities depends for its ultimate
success upon the ability of men of moderate in
comes to buy and hold the securities;" and ac
cording to the Inter-Ocean "the burden of every
advance in wages secured by organized labor is
ultimately shifted upon the unorganized tnird
-party." - '
Having gone this far, the editor of the Inter
Ocean evidently concluded that he might as well
be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb, and so he
.added: -
"The steadily declining prices of ' prac
tically all securities are primarily due to the
fact that this third party, or middle class, is
unable to save as it was a few years ago.
"What the American people need to learn
is that prosperity cannot be made permanent
by artificial organizations of any kind toy
neither trdsts nor labor unions which leave
out of consideration the najority of the peo
ple. "The. plain truth is that fully one-half the
workers of the United Statesthe men whose
incomes are from $600 to f3,000 a year, the
men who are neither in trusts nor labor un
ions, have not been getting their share of the
national prosperity. They are working for the
prosperity of capital and organized labor, but
no one is working for' them. And .under this
burden they are becoming exhausted."
Democratic editors have been read out of "good
society" by" republican 'newspapers because they
dared to question the genuineness of present day
prosperity; and some of the things which the
Inter-Ocean has said would be worthy of wide
spread publication. . ' '
Let it .be remembered; that while this re
publican paper says "ever since 1897 this nation,
on the surface, has prospered as never before," it
presents several striking "buts."
For Instance, "ever since 1897 this nation, on
the surface, has prospered as never before."
But- "The middle class is unable to save as
it was a few years ago."
But -"Under this burden fully one-half
the workers of the United States have not been
getting -their share of the national prosperity."
But "Andv under this burden fully one-half
the workers of the United States are becoming ex
hausted. But "Whenever laboring-men through the
power of organization are. able to obtain -an in
crease in wages in order to-meet the increase in
the cost of living, that portion of tho peoplo de
scribed by the Inter-Ocean a3 "fully one-half tho
workers of tho United States" are required to bear
the burden.
But tho middle classes, thoso who are not
able to obtain increased wages, are today "giving
more proportionately than In 1897 while getting
only tho same."
Although "over since 1S97 this nation, on tho
surface, has prospered as never before," according
to the Inter-Ocean tho American peoplo "need to
learn that prosperity cannot bo made permanent by
artificial organizations of any kind by neither
trusts nor labor unions which leave out of con
sideration the majority of tho peoplo"
Tho Washington Post, whlloposing as an In
dependent paper, is very generally regarded as a
republican organ. Tho Post refers to this par
ticular editorial in the Inter-Ocean aa "the most
serious arraignment of the republican party that
has come under our (tho Post's) observation for
many a day." The Post refers to tho Inter
Ocean as
"One of tho most intensoly partisan and
truly loyal of our (tho Post's) republican con
temporaries. Wo can name no other repub
lican paper whoso devotion to tho party ox-
ceeds that of the Inter-Ocean. Something
akin to that strong sense of duty which, some
times impels a fond mother to ply tno slip
per on the ampler part of her wayward little
boy's anatomy must have forced the Inter
Ocean to Inflict this flagellation on the back
and shoulders of tho g. o. p. If what our
Chicago contemporary nays bo true, our
boasted prosperity is not much of a blessing
after all."
Quoting several paragraphs from tho Inter
Ocean's editorial, the Post adds Its own indorse
ment In thia way: "That is, as the inter
Ocean says, 'the plain, truth But the men who
control the dominant party still shout 'Let well
enough alone,' 'Stand pat,' 'Hands off"
JJJ
Malignant Partisanship.
r
President Roosevelt is rapidly acquiring an
unenviable reputation as a malignant partisan.
In his speech at the opening of the St, Louis ex
position he studiously avoided giving any credit
to Jefferson for the purchase of the Louisiana
territory. Tho only reference ho made to the
great American who wrote the Declaration of In
dependence, added a vast domain to the United
States, founded tho democratic party and for
twenty-five years was the principal factor in tho
.political life of America the only reference to
this illustrious character was an Incidental one.
There could be no reason for this slight except
the president's desire to avoid even a compli
mentary reference to a democrat
In his speech at the battlefield oLAntietam,
however, the president went even farther in his
attempt to ignore a democratic character. On
that occasion he paid a tribute to tho valor of
the New Jersey soldiers, mentioned General Lee,
President Lincoln, General Slocum, General Grant,
and General Greene going so far as to mention by
name General Greene's son, who now holds a po
sition by republican appointment but in all the
speech he never mentioned the name of General
McClellan, who commanded the Union forces on
that occasion and showed a military skill that
give him a fixed place in the military annals o
the nation. General McClellan was the demo
cratic candidate for the- presidency In 18C4 and
his son is a democratic member of congress. These
facts may explain why President Ropsevelt so
studiously avoided a mention of his name. It
would bo a reflection upon the intelligence of tho
Hero of San Juan Hill to say that ho did not
know who commanded tho Union forces at that
time. As General McClollan's name was natural
ly and nccosaarlly connocted with tho battlefiold,
the president can only excuso his failure to men
tion him by saying that a democrat, no matler
how great or conspicuous, is not worthy to be
complimented or oven mentioned by tho repub
lican president of tho United States.
There is at least ono consolation to bo drawn
from tho president's conduct at Antlctam, name
ly, that ho has reached tho limit of malignant par
tisanship and that tho public can rest easy in the
belief that there la no depth beyond to which
ho can fall. Ho Is at tho bottom.
JJJ
"High Silver and Cotton."
Under tho abovo title tho Now York Com- .
mcrcial of September 10 discusses the effect of
the rlso in silvor on tho price of cotton and cot
ton manufacturer That paper points out that a
rlBo in silver enables those who livo in sliver-using
countries to buy moro of American products
for tho samo amount of monoy, and it Is argued
that this fact is stimulating our trade in tho
Orient Tho editorial is presented in full on an
other pago of this issuo and it will be Interesting
reading to those republican? who argue that tho
silver miner is tho only man benefited by a rlso
in silver. The advocates of tho gold standard
havo all along contonded that tho silver ques
tion was merely a miners' question, and that tho
public generally had no Interest in tho rise of
silver. Tho Commercial's editorial shows that ono
of our great Industries Is Immediately benefited
by a rise in silver bullion in the eastern hemis
phere, and thoso who havo studied tho money
question know that tho farmer who exports grain
and other farm products In competition with silver-using
countries Is also benefited by tho rlso
in silver. '
Tho blmetallista can point to two recent vin
dications; first, to tho fact that silver rose in
prico when tne demand for silver was increased
by tho legislation that provided for tho purchaso
of silver for Philippine coinage; and, second, by
tho advantage which higher silver brings to. thoso
who aro exporting to Asia. And yet the blind
representatives of plutocracy will go on prating
about the impossibility of raising tho prico ol
silver by legislation.
JJJ
'Asset Currency."
J A constant reader wants to know the "plain
meaning of an asset currency, and how -it com
pares with our present system of currency." The
term "asset currency" is used to describe the cur
rency which tho bankers are now proposing, narae
. lya currency which does not rest upon govern
ment bonds as the present currency does, but
merely upon the assets of the bank. The currency
is printed by tho government and issued to the
bank with no security fund back of it except a
general lien upon tho assets of the bank. As tho
proposition has not been embodied in a law yet
it is impossible to speak of it in detail, but this
much is evj-cnt: if the government doe& not guar
antee tho currency it may become worthless if tho
officials of the bank abscond with the assets. If, .
on tho other hand, tho government guarantees
m mirrpnr.v. tho bank gets tho benefit and tho
people represented by the government run all
the risks.
"J m- JJJ
The Jefferson League of Indiana.
The Jefferson League of Indiana, which alma
to "commemorate the birth of Thomas Jeffersdn
and to promote In every legitimate manner the
success of tha democratic iarty, its principles and
Its candidates," haa been organized In Indiana.
Its 'officers are Edgar L. Maines, Zionsville, presi
dent; -William J. Reister, Evansvllle, vice presi
dent; Claudo G. Bowers, Terre Haute, secretary,
and U. 8. Jackson, Greenfield, treasurer.
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