The Mercur miner. [volume], October 05, 1904, Image 6

About The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913

Image provided by: University of Utah, Marriott Library

                
I HOW DEMOCRATS DO THWB8
H Dreamed They Fathered National Irrigation, but
H Facts Show It Was Only a Dream.
I - TRUE HISTORY OF REPUBLICAN MEASURE
H Federal Aid to Irrigation Originated with a
H Republican Administration Fifteen
H Years Ago Roosevelt's Per-
M sonal Triumph.
H The Democratic party would hare the
H uninitiated believe that It li responsible
H (or all good thltifct. Where It could nut
H k? successfully contradicted within n
B flven time, it would nut hesltato to
B claim the credit for the Decalogue, the
H Christian era, the discovery of Ainerlcn,
the Declaration of Independence, the nil-
H ministrations of Washington and IJn-
H cola, the construction of the Panama
H canal, or, In fact, any old thins.
H The Democratic press now has the
H hardihood to openly nssert that the party
H of negation and calamity Is resonslblo
B for the National Irrigation Act. In
J keeping with the traditional revelation
H at Its notorious "hindsight" It has ills-
H covered that this same National Irrlga-
Hon Act of President Uoosevclt's la cnl-
B culated to add a new Industrial empire
H to the United Stales. It would fain five
H thli the "mo-too" accent, hut It Is too
H Ute. What are the recorded facta?
Let History
H The first moTe on the part of the fed-
H tral government to reclaim the arid West
fl began as far hack as 1889, under Presi-
H dent Harrison' Republican ndmlnlstra-
H tlon, when a hill was passed by Congress
H authorising an Investigation of this sub-
H ict with a view of ascertaining to what
H -extent the arid regions of the United
H 'States can he benefited by Irrigation.
H This bill Appropriated $100,000 for topo-
H graphical surveys for the fiscal year end-
H IngtJune 30. 4880. The money was to
H be used under the direction of Major
H Towell, the then head of the geological
aurrey.
H The work was placed under the super-
B vision of the Secretary of the Interior,
m. and Major Powell was directed to make
til report as early as possible. Upon
fl Ids report and the recommendations of
HI I the Secretary of the Interior, the $100,-
HHH 000 was HUppleniented by nil additional
HHH ' appropriation or $250,000 by the passage
HHH of an act for the further investigation
HHH of the arid regions. A committee of
HHH-y Senators was appointed to visit the arid
HHH, regions of the different Western States
HBH 1 and territories, during the summer of
W- 1890. It completed Its work of invest)-
Hk cation snd made lbs report after having
Jm.4 traveled 12,000 miles and baring beeu on
Banp- the road fifty days,
t Itepiihtlcnn Lend th Way.
HHBI, The Itppubllciiu uatlonal convention
H licld in 1'liil.tdi-lphla In June, WOO. rc-
B- j fcrrcd to Irrigation in the national plat-
HBH I form as follows: "In further pursuance
J J of the constant policy of the Ucpuhlloaii
HHH i party to provide free homes on the pub-
HBj lie domain wc recommend adequate Na-
" tloual livlstatlon to reclaim the arid
BBBJ. land nf the Uulteil States, preserving
HHEr the control of the distribution of water
J I for .Irrigation to the respective States
HHj! , and territories." The Democrats, or
BBBJl Course, Imitating and following tho lead
Hw-Ji r? of the Uepuhltcan party In all matters
BBS of progress, adopted tho following plank
BBBB i iii their platform tit Kansas City In July,
BBBBf 1000: "We favor an Intelligent system
BBBBJ of improving the arid laud pf tho West.
BBBBf alnrliig the water for the purpose of
BBH irrigation and the holding of such lauds
for actual settlers."
BBBJ . Uoosevelt 1'rlm Mover.
HaJ ' In tils message to the Kitty-seventh
4 ' Congress President Uoosevelt clearly and
BBBJj vigorously urged the enactment of legls-
BBJ tatinii lu aid of development by Irrigation
BBBJ of 'the great arid pnrtious of our cuuti-
BBM try. Encouraged by the President's
HaT- earnest and vigorous recommendation,
BBBJ the members of both branches of Con-
BBBJ cress from the arid and seml-nrld States
BBBJ met lu the early days of the session, np-
BBBJ poluted a committee of one from each of
BBBJ he said States and territories, with Sen-
BBBJ ifttur Warrm of Wyoming, a llepuhllcan,
BBBJ , as chairman, for tiho purpose of drafting
BBBJi' an irrigatluu measure.
BBBJf This conimlttre Mltored earnestly and
BBBlS faithfully, ud dually presented to the
BBJj full representation from the West a bill
BBk which was accepted by them, Introduced
BBBJ in the Senate by Senator Ilansbrough,
BBBJ a ItcpubUcan, mid in the House by ltrp-
BBBJ rrseutative Newlauds, which bill, with
BBBJi aubseauent ameiulmenta, was the fouuda-
BBBJ tl'm for tho present national irrigation
BpJ
BBBJ' On May 11, 1002, lu pre-seiitlng tie bill
BBBB to the House Coiigrcssinun New lands re-
BBBH ferred to I'rtvsldent Uooscvelt'a mes.sage
BBBB on irrigation and quoted the same in it
BBBF entirely, thus admitting that the Pienl-
BBJi flf ut's influence for tlis measure was the
BBBJ Btrougest at that time.
i "t 1'resldsnt Alters 11111.
BBBJ' 'Tills measure was known as the Hans-
BBBJ, brough-Newlands bill, and became the
BBJs-r basis upon w Inch ilia committee work
BBj. ttss ilone, but as drafted It never became
BBBk a law. It was discussed by a self-cou-
BBBJ-' atituted committee of representatives
BBBJf from all the States concerned, wlitvh met
BBBJj' nirly eviry day dunu December and
BBB' on Der. S3 agired upon tho form of the
BBBji rsilM bill, which, after still rurllicr
BBBJ J changes by the Senate committee, pissed
BBHI the Senate without revision on March ",
BBH 1002.
BBBJ tut. In, the form In which It was rec
BBBJ oimueuded by tiie gftueral oouimlttee of
BBBJ which Mr, Newlauds was secretary, and
BBBJ la which it passed the Senate, the bill
BBBf jtss uuscreptable to President Uoosevelt
BBBj as awarding speculators and larg land
BBBJ owners opportunity to monopolize ths.
BBB IteJitU of the act. Mr Uoosevelt there-
BBB for sent for Ssiiator Ilansbrough; and
BBB ItepresiutstlveJ Metcalf, Moody a-nd
BBB Itefder", all UenubUoaiKi, who woukl have
BBB Cliarte of the 111 lu the House, and warn
BBB 4 tfcem that unless changed In certain
BBB rssaects as aaould be compelled to veto
Bfll
BBB ' Tbectimstss th ishart-s.
BBl Tks speclflc obsngAs that ha required
BBB, trsrs, first, tlut U Sscretary of Us It-
terlor should be empowered to withdraw
from entry nil lands proposed to bo Irri
gated, liiMtciid of only those required for
reservoirs and ditches as provided In thi
bill; tli.it ik) water should be sold or de
livered except to Imiiis fide settlers, ac
tually living on the turn! to which the
water was applied which was not in
the Newlands bill sinil that the words:
"but State and territory laws shall gov
ern and control the appropriation, use
and distribution of the waters rendered
available under this act," should be strick
en out as virtually subjecting the control
of Federal work to State Legislatures,
some of which he doubtless believed, but
did not my so, to be unfit to exercise
such a trust, and as certainly exposing
the settlert to the dangers nf endless
and ruinous litigation. At the Presi
dent's express requirement the btll was
amended In these respects and became
the law at it stands to-day.
Unprecedeute I Force.
There had been attempts for many
years to get the government to go Into
the irrigation business, hut oil failed un
til President Uoosevelt took hold of tho
project. In his first annual message to
Congress In 1001 he called attention to
the necessity of providing water for the
arid lauds and said: "Tho object of the
government is to dispose of the land to
sottlers who wllr build homes upon It.
To accomplish this object water must be
brought within their resell."
The national government's policy. hs
pointed out, should le to aid irrigation
in the several States and territories In
such a manner as wilt enable the peoplo
lu the local communities to help them
selves and as will stimulate needed re
forms in the State laws and regulations
governing Irrigation, He likewise re
minded the I'ast, which wan against this
policy nt tho time, that the reclamation
and settlement of the arid lands will en
rich every portion of our couutry Just as
tho settlement of the Ohio and Missis
sippi valleys brought prosperity to the
Atlantic States.
final Personal Triumph.
With his accustomed vizor and Intelli
gence President Uoosevelt exerted influ
ence in this direction on Congress, won
the timid and the vacillating over to Ills
side, and the Natloual Irrigation Law was
enacted on June 17, 1002. That law, be
it remembered, grew out of his message
of 1IH)1, was enacted by a Itepublican
Congress, ably coached by Mr. Uoose
velt. The measure became n law with
his signature. The Itepublican Nntlonnl
Irrigation Act of 100J. signed by Presi
dent Uoosevelt, wns a fitting and natural
supplement to the Itepublican Free
Homes Law of 1802, signed by President
Lincoln,
To President Uoosevelt, Uierefore, and
to him alone. Is due the fact that theru
wns any National Irrigation at all in that
Congress, and that the law, as enacted,
-absolutely protects the poor man and
u udera any largo hoiM.ugs of national
irrigated land ImKsslble forever.
And this is how the Democrats are
"rcsiKmslble" for national Irrigation,
IteaMutlnns by lluslness Men.
At the ninth annual convention of the
Natloual Association of Agricultural Im
plement and Vehicle Manufacturers, held
at Minneapolis Oct. l." to 17, 1002, Uie
committee on resolutions reported as fol
lows: He' ed. That we eenarstnlste the coun
try I lie piisssce of the Nnllonal Irrlsa
tlon Art mid riprrss our profound anpre
elation of tlie nld and roopi ration of l'res
Unit Uoosevelt, and all friends of that
measure In the Hennte snd House of Hep
rt'seutstlrrs, In srcerlng the passage of that
srt. Wr hrllMe this action by Congress
insrked the ronreptlou of one of the Brest,
est projects ever mnlertnl.ru liy any guv
eminent, and that It Inaugurate a new era
lu the progrtss of this iintlnu snd the U
vrloiiuirut of Its Internal trade anil roin.
luene and the enlargement of the home
market for nil our iiiiiiiiifMCttires; tint the
Irrlgnlde arid lands, hkh are estimated
to louiprlsr sn srea of over lisl.Oiu.Uisj
sens, tun and should be reeluluieil Just as
rapidly as settlers will take tlieni uml re
uy the cost to the Koirrmncut of Irriga
tion worts built for thilr reclamation.
Why Justice Has Not Ilsen Ilone
He for.
The West has been for years insist
ing that some legislation should be in
augurated by Congress looking to the re
clamation of the arid public lands owned
by the government and constituting In
some Stites 03 per cent of the area, Ono
teason this agitation lias progressed slow
ly has been that the portion of the coun
try most Interested lu the question is
cantliy settled and has not tho Influ
ence lu national councils whldi numbers
bIt-
Another reason was that It was dim
cult for those II' ' In humid States to
form any proper conception of the Irri
gation question, and the Senators and
Uepresentatlves from States having .0
direct Interest In the question have been
slow to acquire the Information neces
sary to bring them to a full realltatlon
of its importance. It is not specially
strange that so many American cltltens
khould bo unfamiliar with this subject.
It Is on that does not present Itself In
a practical way in the portion of our
country which contalus nine-tenths of
our entire population. While th arid
region Is of vast extent. It Is but thinly
settled. It Is estimated that under the
National Irrigation Act the West will
bs capable of sustaining 80,000,000 po-PU-
'Wall Merited Tribal.
In a leading editorial 'In Maxwell'
Talisman, George II. Maxwell, one or
the best Informed men on Irrigation la
th United Ststes ssy's:
And tks of this teserstlsa who will
Jy tstn bsBslts asd advaataits sod th
1 X. Jwwt-Wy, ,
I
untold and countless millions who will la
the resrs snd In the generations to come In
habit those lands nix! Its In the homes
Mhlch Mill be there created, will owe Hie
great boon uhlih will be theirs to the clear
sliihteil roiirnue and Inllexlblllty of purpor
of President Itonscvelt. It Is not posslhta
to explain lu such a way ns to be under
Mood lir anyone not familiar with eieiy
detail of the sltunllon bow much the friends
of the national Irrigation movement owe lo
President lloosoirlt for his aid In lirlnclne
about the amendments to the Irrigation Mil
In this session of I'ongrrrs. Without bis
Interest slid friendly Interposition It Is
doubtful whether the amendments of the
bill could hnvo been accomplished. Had It
not been for the President, the friends of
the national Irrigation inurement who stsud
for home making us against land specula
tion, would lime hnd to tight and defeat
the compromise toiuinlltee Idll and then be
gin all over iiunln. gather Ihelr forces sud
make a new start In tho next Congress. As
It Is now, the work of the last three yeurs
has been preset! cd by the action of the
President nnd the bill Is now In such shape
that every friend of the bouie-iuaker can
heartily support It.
An IdenI American.
What this country wants now is men
not a few of them, but a multitude a
vast majority of her citizens who shall
be Just such men as Theodore Uoosevelt,
of strong and rugged physique, shirking
no labor, however h-ird, able to stand
the strain nf sturdy Integrity, guided by
high civic hb-ils, fttnudlug indexible and
Inexorably for the truth and the right.
His own words from his nddrcss, "Tho
Strenuous Life," may bo taken as the
very basis nnd foundation for a new
source of philosophy mid tiatiounl policy
which will guard ugiint all social din
gers If tho peoplo of this country will
but heed them:
In the last nnslysls, a healthy state ran
exist only when the men and women who
make It up lend clean, vigorous, brnltby
Mies; vi hen the children am so trained tint
they shall endeavor not to shirk dlUleultles
but to overcome them, not to seek fuse but
to know how to Ytri't tiluiuph from toil
and risk. The mnn must be glad to do a
man's stork, to dare sud endure snd to
labor, to keep himself and to keep those
dependent upon htm. The woman must be
the home wife, the helpmeet of tho home
maker, the w!v and sealous mother of
many healthy children.
Here Is a remedy that goes to the
foundation. The words are those of a
lender and carry with them a warning
and an admiMillioii. Theodore Uoosevelt
has coined a word that we should take
ns a nnllonal watchword nnd set it up
as a beacon light on every hilltop
throughout the nation: "Homemaker."
METHUSELAHANDTHESPHINX
Come all ye Ilryan Democrats,
Your peerless leader slinks;
Come all ye floated plutocrats,
l'orget your former kinks;
The bnuticrs float for and you must vote
for
Methuselah and the sphinx.
I
Come all ye scattered Democrat
That sulk like frightened minks,
So lean that we can ace your slats.
As hungry as tho lyux;
The banners float for and you must
vote for
Methuselah and the sphinx.
Come all ye hopeless Democrats,
While Parker thinks he thinks.
Climb off the ahlp liko frightened rats,
Ilefore the old thing sinks;
The banners float for and yon most
vote for
Methuselah and the sphinx.
Chicago Chronicle.
Wonts of Cheer forth Deinocracr.
It has been given out to the forlorn
and drooping Democracy that "Willie
Hearst Is loosening up"; that he has
been Induced to put in a few thousands
to open headquarters for the National
Democratic Clubs. Tho hungry know
welt that this means that Hearst aspires
to be a candidate again, but they are not
worrying about 1008 now.
Pour years ago Hearst was presi
dent and footer of bills for the National
Democratic Clubs. The members met.
if memory serves aright, nt Indianapolis,
expecting to greet their president. Hut
he tient one of his hired men to receive
the greetings of his admirers. This
dampened the nnlor of the crowd, de
spite the fact tliat their fare back home
was paid. The November election set
tled the whole concern, but It seems that
the N. D, C. is to be resurrected, what
little there is left of Its ashes.
Democratic l'lnsnclnt Mnnneemsnt.
On the 1st of July, 1802, the last year
of tho Harrison administration, tho total
bonded debt or tlte United States was, In
round numbers, $,VC,(XX),00O. Ou the 1st
or July, 1S07, tne last year or the sec
ond Cleveland administration, the total
bonded debt wns $S 13,000,000, an In
crease of 2.S.OOO,000 during four years
of perfect peac.
July 1, 1802, the nnuual Interest
charge on the public debt was ,W)3,
000, July 1, 1807, It was $31.3S7,000,
an Increase of $11, -101,000 during four
years of Democratic ndmlnlstratlou.
A party that ojnnut administer the
government during a sliort period of
four years without largely iucreislng tlu
public debt and the annual iutercl ac
count Is not lit to be entrusted with tho
control of affairs.
Two Indue with Political Taut.
Democracy can always bs dependtd '
on to blunder. The nomination of Judge
Parker was a blunder, because he re
ceived his early political training from
D, it. Hill, one of tho most notorious
wire-pullers and workers lu devious ways
New York has produced. The nomina
tion or I), f dy Hcrrlck ror Governor
of New Yor., also wns a blunder, be
cause he was "1kss" of the Democratic
"nnchlno" nt Albany before his election
tu the bench. The Albany "uiachluo"
)ias a reputation as unenviable as Tammany's.
The last few years of Uepubltcan ad
ministration have added untold millions
to the agricultural wealth of the country
by opening new markets for farm pro
ducts at constantly improving prices. The
beauty of the Itepublican policy or pro
tection is that it develops manufactur
ing and agricultural interest on paral
lel line.
"We do not hvtoouess at ear con
fictions, and then correct the sues If
It scam unpopular. Th principle
which n profst ur thos In which
wa tille with heart and soul and
treiiBtn. Hen anar differ from us
bu thy cannot acens us of shiftiness
or lslncrttj."-KooutU'a Ittur of so.
osptsnt.
According to astronomer It I about
S3 trllllous of mP.cs, a the crow Bte,
from the earth to Alpha Ceutaurl, the
nearest flxed star. It Is about the same
distance from Kaopus to th Whit
Hous by th Democratic rout.
- ....;,. .t Mf iisiiriL fc
WAGES AND COST OFlH
Grotesque Attempt by Democrats to Twist Facts
for Campaign Consumption.
GROSSLY INACCURATE STATEMENTS
Country Is Not in Throes of a Disastrous
Business Depression, and Workingmen
Continue to Prosper What
the Figures Show.
Nothing could better Illustrate the In
finite rapacity of tho jcinocratlc party
for doing the wrong thing at the right
moment than Its attempt to outface
acknowledged Industrial conditions with
tho bald statement of Its campaign text
book "that business depression of this
J ear Is greater than was that of 1803 mid
180 1."
As there arc as many million Ameri
can voters as there nre millions engaged
in Industrial pursuits whose experience
spans the decide, nnd who know this
to be most fortunately false, there is no
need to waste time In refuting it. Tho
Democratic depression that prevailed
from 1803 to 1807 paralyzed Industry In
every section of the United Status, and
Us pinch was felt in every home. The
"business depression of ,-.s year" Is so
largely a figment of Democratic Imagi
nation that it requires a magnifying
glass to be seen, and whnt there is ot
it is rapidly railing from sight as the
prospects or a great Itepublican victory
become more certain.
Hut the Democratic campaign book is
not satisfied with this grotesque gcnerall-z-itlon,
so it nt tempts to controvert the
Itepublican claim ot prosperous times lu
farm, ofllce and workshop with the ns
sertlnn that no one is better off by rea
son of Increased Incomes, because thu
cost of living has Increased dispropor
tionately. How utterly and Irrationally nbsnrd Is
this contention Is proied by tho tact that
If prices were advancing more rapidly
than the earnings of the great mass of
the people, tho great mass of the people
would soon l Irretrievably Insolvent or
their purchases won... be so curtailed
that the volume of business would be
enormously reduced.
There is no possibility of making a
scientific comparison of uie relative In
crease In wages and the cost of living,
because they are controlled by different
factors. The rate of wages Is controlled
by Industrial conditions; the cost of llv
inr Is controlled by the individual. No
man can fix his income nt will; any man
can limit bis expenditures. Let condi
tions provide sufficient wages to the
worklngman, and it rests with him to
say by what margin he will live within
his Income. The larger that income the
larger his possible surplus. If better
wages breeds extravagance, the result.
In the language of Mlcawbcr, Is misery;
It they are expended with economy, the
result Is nn accumulation of wealth and
happiness.
CnnvliiclnB Testimony.
Good times under llepuhllcan admin
istration has provided tho bettor wages,
nnd tho economy of tho American peo
ple has piled up the means of content
ment nnd happiness, as is evidenced by
the following statement nf the number
of depositors nnd deposits In tho savings
liuks or the United States for the eleven
years from 1S03 to l!lu.t, inclusive:
Year. No. Depositors. llcposlts.
IHM s.tm.VIO $t.7t-,.f.Vin-,7
1-1I 4.7T7,fi.ST 1,T47,0R1,'.'SU
tvea 4,S7.Vil(l l,Nln..v.i7,ir.':t
iv n.tsn.tll l.d07,l"n,277
imit n.snt.i.f.' i,!ii'i,:t7n.ii.Ti
tff.S n.KS.1.7111 2,llll-..ltll.VtiS
imo s,(;s7.mr s.'JSii.r.r.n.tni
ttso aio7.ns:i vu'i,.-i7,n.-,
Hsu o.n."i.72:i 2..v7.i..vi
1IKC O.CIJM.nT.J 2.7.VI,I77,V!I0
l'joa 7,3n.V.'.,S S.U35,su.s-
The Democratic depression of 1803
nnd IS) I, to which the campaign book
Inadvertently directs attention, wns
marked by a falling oft lu deposits of
over f37.000.000 iu one year. Iletween
1803 and 1003 the average due each
depositor Increased from ?3l0 to $117,
More significant than the increase in
deposits is the fact that In 1003 ther
were 2,474,fi!IO absolutely new savings
bank depositors in the United States,
marking nn Increase of nearly 00 per
cent, during a period when th total
population only Increased "I per cent.
Cot. Wrlnht'a riiinimnry.
Turning now to tho direct comparison
nf the advance In wages nnd cost of liv
ing during the period under review, the
Democrats nffert the greatest contempt
for tho government statistics, which,
under the able, conscientious and uu
biased direction of Carroll D. Wright.
I present tho following Instructive summary:
These figures present tho results of an
extensive investigation into the wages
nnd hours ot labor lu th leading manu
facturing and mechanical industries ot
the United Stntes during the period nam
ed. It has designed to corer thoroughly
th principal destluctive occupations, nnd
Mr. Wright, In submitting It (see Uulle
tin ot the llurcati or Labor, No. 53, July,
1001,) say: "It i believed that the
data presented arc more comprehensive
.and representative so far as the rnanu
factuting and mechanical industries are
concerned than any that have bun fcr
tofore published,"
The 6fures a to income and expen
diture or aummarised from data gath
ered from 2.507 families, in 33 States,
v hose nversre-Incom from all sources
was $027 a year, whose avtrig sipsn
dltur wa $7. and who avsrag
expenditure for food was $320 per fam
ily, or 42.51 per cent, ot the nvernge
expenditure for nil purMises. This data
was corroborated by other information
iu less dct nil form, from tXi.-llO families,
nnd so Is entitled to be accepted as rep
lesrntntlve. The most cursory examination or the
above table reveals the fact that the
purchasing power of wages, measured by
retail prices of food, was 5 per cent,
greater In 1003 than In 1803, and this
iu spite of the fact that the hour per
week had been reduced 3.7 per cent.
Itut more conducive to the wide dls
ccmlitatlon of the prosperity than these
proofs of tho Increased purchasing pow
er of wages, is the fact revealed in the
column giving the relative number of
person employed In the establishments
investigated, ltotween 180-1 nnd 1003 the
Increase lu the number of employes re
ceiving theso wages with Increased pur
chasing power was 31.3 per cent., whllo
In the meantime the population of the
United States ouly increased 21 per cent.
Democracy's I.ust Kesort.
Disheartened and disgusted with the
wide distribution of prosperity in the
homes, workshops nnd bank nccounts of
American wage earners, demonstrated by
these figures, the Democrats appeal to
"railroad labor as affording the most ac
curate barometer of wages." Here, they
say, "a large proportion or e employes
aro union men, whose wages are com
paratively steady."
Then the compilers or the Democratic
campaign book begin to Juggle with the
very averages and percentages they af
fect to despise. They institute compari
sons between 1802, when railway wages
were at high tide, and 1001, when they
had scarcely recovered from Democratic
recession of 1803-1800. They suppress
the fact that the statistical average of
railway wages was less affected by the
Democratic hard times than the nvernge
of other industries, for the obvious rca
son that as forces were reduced In num
bers the proportion of high priced em
ployes retained because of their experi
ence was greater.
They also conclude their comparisons
with the year ending June 30th, 1002,
well knowing that the statistics ot the
Interstate Commerce Commission for
that year only reflect a month or two
of the advanco In railway wages of that
calendar year, which did not reach flood
tltlo until July, 1003. Not until the
rtntlstlcs of the Interstate Commerce
Commission for tho year 1003-1001 arc
published next summer will It be pos
sible to make an authoritative compari
son of the wages or railway employes
nnd the cost or living In the year 1003.
Bat the report or the Commission for
the fise.il year 1003 is available, and it
furnishes the following data, which
throws light on the rich slice of pros
perity which has fallen to the share of
railway employes:
M'MrtKK AND rOMPHSRATION OP
ItAIMVAY i:.Ml'I.OYES IN THU YEAItS
1S)7 AND 1003:
Yrsr. Number. Compensation.
10OI 1.312.MT $77-'.SJ1.4t.1
1SD7 SJ3.t;0 4(W.U01,.-,1S
Increase 4S.O01 3O9,710,R,1l
Imrr.ise per cent.. C0.4 C0.5
lurrraso nf compensation relatively
over number 7.1
That this relative Increase of compen
sation, compared with that In the num
ber of railway employes, does not tell
the whole truth Is proved by the follow
ing table:
AVmt.UlK DAILY COMPENSATION OP
OKIITAIN DISTlNtTIVi: CLASSES OP
ItAILWAY EMl'I.OVKS foil Till:
YIIAUH i:NII.N( Jl'NH 30TJI. 117.
AND 1903 (vble slitientti snmial report
of the stnllitles of mllnsys In the middle
btatcs for 1S03, p. 43.)
Dally Compen- Increase
avernt entlnn per
Ctais. Ii!i7. HKI3. cent.
r.uginemen t:iai 4 m n.o
rircmen 2.IH 2.2S 11.2
Conductors 3.07 ail 10.1
Other trainmen 1.00 2.17 14.2
Section foremen .... 1.70 ITS 4.7
Other trackmen 1.10 1.3J T3.S
U lint the Klmire Pros-
It will be observed that these six dis
tinctive classes of railway employes, em
bracing almost halt or all the railway
employes In the United States (501,47.1
In 1003 against :'.03,5r3 in 1S07) were
receiving an average dally compensation
Course ot employment, wages, hours of labor, weekly earnlurs and retnll prices
of food, and punhaslug power of weekly caniluga relatively to pilrcs of fucd 1MU
1003. (Ilclstlv number computed on bssls of averag for ISOn-lSftO-tOOn.)
Hetull I'ur. power
Employe Hours per Weekly prlees weekly irngrs
Iteliillv week, rtlutlv earnings of fond rel. to pries
Yesr. Number number retail! r. reUtlve. of food.
lhTl tfl.1 lr2 1012 104.4 Oft.0
1H1U 01.1 008 07.7 0'7 PRO
trlfl MJ 100.1 0S4 P7S 111011
IS0I1 US 3 W., KiS PV3 104.2
1!I7 1000 !). D!I2 0U.3 llXt.o
1RU1 1IW.3 W.7 1000 0S.7 Ml 3
I MM 1IU.0 K12 1111.8 Wl.,1 Jill 7
10c 113.3 0S.7 1011 ion.1 1030
11)01 110.1 0.t llVi.O 1U.-I.2 lixi.7
llS.i 1--M.0 07.S 100.3 110.0 HSfl
1D03 1-U.4 t0.O 112.3 1103 101 S
during the year 1002-3 more than 10 per
cent, greater than during th year IS'.)!!
1807, Morcmer, It la a notorious fact
that the averages do not begin to rep
resent th Increase In the earnings of
railway employe during th slimmer of
1003, wheu the rat or pay or certain
classes was raised from 10 to 15 per cent.
In that year, too, there were 227,012
more persons employed In the six classes
named than lu 1807, and according to the
Interstate Commerce Commission they
were receiving Uie Increased dally aver
ag pay where they received nothing lu
the year last named.
Finally, returns gathered from th an
nual report for the year ending Juno
30th, 1004, of eight representative rail
ways In different parts- ofths country,
I having a total ralleag ot 10,587 miles,
Indlcat that tb oompeasatlsa t Ueir
employes has increased more than 10 o
cent, over the year previous, while t
number of their employes has remained
practically stationary, as is shown In th
following table:
Number and compensation of emplise t
eight representsllvs rsllwsys:
rar ending Cerjpeae-
JiiusUO No. employes. Hob
1POI lOI.HII tOA.40O.M1
1003 lUJ.bDl 60.2S3.OM7
Increase .'. 453 6.210,870
Ineresse per cent... 04 10
Here at last we see truly reflected the
effect of the horizontal raise lu th wag
of railway employes made aa th rssuh
of the widespread labor agitation la th
summer nf lOU'l, The advance wa
luriously estimated at the time is from
12 to 15 per cent., and any statistics
that fall to show It must be distorted
by the Introduction of some factor, such
ns u dlsprcqiortion of low price Ubo
tending to reduce tho average.
Iu connection with the ahov proof
of the 10 per cent, advance In railway
wages in one year, it nhould b remem
bered that the decline lu price bgu
in 1003 continues.
If tho Domocrats ar willing to ac
cept the pay ot railway labor a th most
accurate barometer or wages, th Re
publican party can call to th witness
stand 1,312,337 railway employes t
testify to the tact that, measured by
what It will buy, their Incom ot 1004
is higher than It was In 1S07, and near
ly hair n million or them can truthfully
nfllrm that they received no compecs
tlon whatever In 1807 where, according
to the above system or average compen
sation, they now divide some $275,000,
000 among them, or about $503 apltc.
KILKENNY HARMONY.
That I tli Kind that Prevail Aon
New York Democrats.
Not aince the traditional cats ot Kil
kenny wcro hung across a line by their
tails has there been such an amusln
harmony or mibdued discord a I heard
iu New York, now that Judge D, Oady
Hcrrlck has beeu nominated by tb Dem
ocrats for governor. Judge Parker want
ed Ddwanl M. Shepard, or District At
torney Jerome nominated for governor la
order to galvanize his campaign into th
semblance of life.
David It. Hill wanted John 13. -Standi-field,
because Stjuchtleld best represent
ed the organization outside of New York
City, to which Mr. Hill owes his ascend
nucy In the State Democracy, Mr. till)
had no use for Derrick, who, as Demo
cratic boss or Albany County, baa bee
a thorn in his side for year. But, It
is ald, he accepted Herrlck and pul
him In nomination on th principle of
the aalexmnn who sold a coat marked
$15 for $10, on doubtful credit, bcaus
he would lose less it the bill was nevt
paid. Hill will lose less In Herrlck'
defeat than if he had succeeded in Domi
nating his friend Stanchfield.
Senator I'atrick II. McCarrtn, th
Brooklyn boss, to whom Judg Parker
owes his nomination, wanted Comptrol
ler Grout nominated, and for a Urn h
had Mr. Hill's ostensible support for
Grout. Judge Parker and Hill went back
nn McCnrren; the former to placate
Charles i Murphy and Tammany, and
the latter because h couldn't help him
self. Tammany accepted Herrlck because I
was willing to accept anybody who stood
for the discomfiture ot Itoss McCarren.
As a tomahawk in the hands of Charles
F. Murphy with which to dispatch Mc
Cnrren, D. Cady Herrlck would serr
Tammnny much better than either Shep
ard or Jerome.
Itestdes, did not Judge nerrick's career
on the bench present sterling claims oa
the admiration and necessities of Tata
many? His abuse of his Judicial posi
tion to the political exigencies In Albany
is nlong the line of what Tammany con
siders the higher walks of politics. More
over, has he not practically pardoned as
olllcinl blackmailer and protector ot dis
orderly houses by Imposlnc a paltry fin
of $1,000 ou the notorious police Captain
Diamond? a etrokc of judicial leniency
toward corruption In New York City pe
culiarly attractive to Tammany. It -i
would o act as Judge, what prodigies
of clemoucy to "good mtn" might be not
perform as governor? So Tammany drop
ped Mayor McClellau and swallowed
Herrlck and his record with genuine rl
lull and noisy gusto.
Not so, however, the Democratic prat
ot New York City. The WOULD take
Its medlcln with evident nausei; th
TIM US turns Herrlck' picture to th
wall and fixes Its gazo on Judge Parker,
with the reflection, that ou honorable
nomination In four years is as far as th
New York Democracy can be expected t
pander to the mmewhat blunted moral
sentiment of its constituency. Tb
EVUN1NG POST openly repudiate
Herrlck, saying that a proper regard tot
Its own reputation forbids giving his
the negative support of silence.
Prom this brief re-sum it may b
gathered that the elements ror a harmo
nious Democratic campaign in New York
nre all that could be desired from a
Itepublican point of view.
I'urker' Admission.
Judge Parker's letter of acceptanc
stands pat on Itepublican achievement,
but coyly admits that Its writer would
be a safer man at the Natloual throttle
than President Uoosevelt id long a a
Itepublican Senate sits on th safety
alve. If the protective tariff la "rob
bery" he Is willing to turn sneak thlefj
If we burglarized Panama he I willing
to keep the stoleu goods; If order No. 79
lets down the bars for n pension scandal
he will revoke the order, but let tb
bars remain down Just the same. It 1
a very pretty confession that the Repub
licans have administered th government
so wisely, diligently and effectively that
they deserve n vacation, while he trie
his prentice hand at running It withoai
reversing a eilugle lever.
l'rnls from n Democratic Newspaper.
The New York Times, on ot tb
Democratic newspapers which ha bee
denouncing President Uoosevelt' Philip
pine roller, recently printed an editorial
leader on the settlement ot tb Friar'
land question. The article concladssi
"It Is creditable both to the intelligence
nnd the humanity of th government."
If the Times was less partiaan it coula
truthfully ay that every act of tb
Uoosevelt administration in dealing wlta
th Philippine questioa wa crsdlukl
to th United States. s
"Th expenditure of the Nation aava
been msnaged In a spirit of eeoaenr
a far remove from watt from
nlajacardtlnsssl and In th futarvry
Sort will b continued Is iKuresa
coaon7 a strict I calstnt wits.
mcUncfV-HMieveli's letter t MtetUit.