BREAD AND BUTTER QUESTION

Junius Henri Browne.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, January 24, 1894.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

What Constitutes Bread and Butter?

   Liberal chunks of cold fact are given to the readers of Harper's Magazine by Junius Henri Browne in his paper entitled "The Bread and Butter Question." Mr. Browne does not take a merry or very hopeful view of the subject. He says Americans live above their means because their wants grow faster than their means do, and they do not know how to adjust the ever increasing discrepancy. We do not know how to economize in America. Economizing is indeed not popular among Americans. When, therefore, the disagreeable necessity for it faces an American family, they frequently pack themselves off to Europe and stay there, where nobody knows them and they can economize in peace. The art is much better understood across the water than here.

   Bread and butter, as Mr. Browne sees it, means not merely that, but the things which the individual considers he must have—his living, in short, whether that be pork and beans or champagne and terrapin. The efforts of most Americans are expended in a lifelong struggle for bread and butter. We live more luxuriously than most other nations, which, so far from being against us, is much in our favor. To secure for himself and his family what Europeans call luxuries, but which to us are necessities, the American man struggles and hustles his life through and is accused by those who see only the surface of things of trying become rich. Instead of that he is only wrestling with the bread and butter question. When he can no longer meet the ever increasing wants, he fails in business. Mr. Browne says, "It is hard to discover a rich man at 60 who has not failed more than once before attaining permanent riches."

   "Panics, as they are called—and they are reputed to occur every seven years—are really nothing but periods of settlement for which every solvent, well conducted firm should be prepared. Only the fewest number are thus prepared." It appears from the general run of the article that the only remedy is the old one of economizing and keeping out of debt, which the American people will be forced to learn sooner or later. And the sooner the better, for bread and butter getting becomes harder in America instead of easier.

THE SUFFERING PEOPLE.

A Hard Winter Before the Workers of the Nation.

   General Hastings of Pennsylvania, in a speech at Philadelphia, has tersely summed up the situation in the country. The condition of the Pennsylvania farmer and workingman as he presents it is not overdrawn, and it will be the condition of the New York farmer and worker before a year rolls round unless the people call a halt at the ballot box. He says: "People are now in want, with a hard winter and poverty staring them in the face, and who can say that all this is not due to Democracy and the Democratic congress?

   "The country is in such a condition now that men turn to each other with blanched faces and ask how long their employment will last. Mills are closing every day. The party in power at Washington is responsible for the existing condition of affairs. The farmer is feeling the stress of financial and political weather as well as the artisan and professional man, and through the length and breadth of our beautiful state one hears the cry for relief. But the Democratic party remains inactive and unresponsive to the public demand.

   "The Democrats repudiated protection at Chicago and said they would do better things. They have done nothing but cause a wave of destruction and poverty to sweep the land. They painted tariff reform in such glowing colors that the people thought they would like a change. They got it, but at what a cost!

   "During the 25 years the Republican party ran the government wages increased from 10 to 90 per cent, and the people prospered and saved money. Satisfied with affairs, our foreign neighbors were glad to deal with us and take our money, but as soon as the Democrats gained power they began to question our stability and wonder if silver was to be the same as before.

   "The people are frightened. Manufacturers are at their wits' ends. If the manufacturers had the assurance that the tariff would not be tinkered with for 10 years and a promise that no change would be made in the currency of the nation, all the mills in the country would begin work inside of two weeks."

Wages Lost in Eastern Mills.

   The extent of the depression in the textile industries of New England may be gauged by the following statement of the losses in wages in Lowell, Mass. The mills were shut down for periods as follows, and the losses, as near as can be obtained, are also given: Merrimack, two weeks; loss, $44,000. Lawrence, three weeks; loss, $60,000. Lowell, brussels department, four weeks; ingrain department, seven weeks; loss, $77,000. Appleton, twelve and a half weeks; loss, $106,000. Tremont and Suffolk, eight weeks; loss, $120,000. Hamilton, two weeks; loss, $28,000. Faulkner's, seven weeks; loss, $24,000. Pickering's hosiery, twelve weeks; loss, $24,000. Pulling's shoeshop, nine weeks; loss, $2,000. Collins' mills, six weeks; loss, $8,400. Mohair Plush company, eight weeks; loss, $4,000. Howard Knitting company, six weeks; loss, $23,000. Stott Bros., running two-thirds time; loss, $1,000; making a total loss to employees of $518,300. Besides this many small concerns have been shut down for three months, and if the total losses of these could be obtained it would undoubtedly be found that the working people of the city have lost in wages fully $750,000 this season.

   But the loss is not at an end, as the mills have all cut down wages about 7 per cent and are usually running on reduced time and with reduced help. Manufacturers' Record.

That Bicycle Stoop.

   At a recent cycle show in England an invention was exhibited which claimed to prevent the ugly and deforming "bicycle stoop," so called. It consisted chiefly of a rest and air cushion, against which the rider could lean the forward part of his body while he pedaled.

   But really must it come to this? In order to ride a machine swiftly and surely is it necessary for a young man to bend forward as though he had a very bad pain in his insides? No, emphatically declare the best authorities on the subject. At the last bicycle race in New York the riders sat upright, as we are told man was made in the first place.

   The ugly bicycle stoop is a fad, nothing else, and it is to be hoped it has had its day. New riders used to think they could pedal better by stooping forward and getting the nose nearer the toes, but that is a fallacy. A man can sit straight up and pedal as forcefully as he can when stooping forward. The best and most graceful riders demonstrate this folly. And as to supports to keep the rider from stooping, the Almighty gave the cyclist the best sort of a one in the first place. That is his backbone. Let him use it.

Rescue Relief of Syracuse.

SYRACUSE, N. Y., Jan. 15, '94.

Editor of Cortland STANDARD:

   It might interest some of your readers to know something of the relief work carried on among the suffering poor and unemployed in Syracuse. There are hundreds of respectable sober men out of work who have families dependent on them, and who are in great need. The Rescue mission has undertaken the supply of such needy ones with cooked food at or even below cost. We are feeding from 150 to 300 per day. We sell a quart of boiled beans for three cents or a quart of pea soup for two cents. A quart of vegetable soup of the best make containing meat, potatoes, onions, carrots, turnips and barley is sold for five cents. Where there is an extra large family our quart measure is known to stretch out to meet the needs of the entire family. At the mission we furnish three meals a day. We give a pint of soup with a large slice of bread for three cents Oat meal all one can eat for two cents, so that if one has two or three cents, he can get a good hearty meal, all he can eat, unless he is dug out very thin.

   If one has no money, work is given so he can earn his meal; thus saving their self-respect and keeping one from being pauperized. No one need go hungry, no one need accept charity.

   We have relieved much suffering and have kept many from starvation that stared them in the face. We also keep the rooms open day and night and lodge from 20 to 30 homeless men nightly.

   We started in with little means, but the donations from friends of food, money, etc., have enabled us to keep running and to feed at least four thousand people during December. Believing there are many in your section who would be glad to help this work along and do something toward feeding those less favored than themselves, I have written this account. Donations of potatoes, beans, onions, peas, carrots, etc., or any sort of food will greatly help us and may be sent to the mission, 115 Mulberry-st., between Railroad and Water-sts. Those preferring to send cash donations may send them to the superintendent. We should be glad to address any meetings held in the interest of the work, telling of incidents in connection with the work. The people bringing as an admission fee vegetables, etc. Yours, trying to help men to help themselves,

   H. B GIBBUD

   Supt., Rescue Mission.

Women Suffragists Plan a Campaign.

   ALBION, N. Y., Jan. 24.—The woman suffrage mass-meeting closed its session. The plan of campaign was formulated, which it is hoped will result in influencing the constitutional convention to expunge the word "male" from the constitution, in so far as it relates to qualifications of voters. Town organizations will be formed for the purpose of gaining signatures to the women's petition which will be presented to the constitutional convention. The closing addresses of the session were given by Mary Seymour Howell of Albany and Mary G. Hay of Indiana.

Matilda Joslyn Gage.

WOMEN CAN'T VOTE.

The Decision in the Matilda Joslyn Gage Case of the Court of Appeals.

   The matter of the woman's right to vote for school commissioners in the rural districts was decided by the court of appeals Tuesday. This was the case brought by the Onondaga county Republican committee to have Matilda Josyln Gage's name stricken from the registry list. It was heard by Justice Williams, who after hearing several hours' argument ordered the names stricken from the rolls. The order was affirmed pro forma in the general term, and last week the question was argued before the court of appeals. Its decision is prompt, and against female suffrage as regards school commissioners. The order of the lower court is affirmed without costs. Attorney Louis Marshall of Syracuse made the argument for the female suffrage and W. P. Goodelle of Syracuse for the committee.

BREVITIES.

   —To-morrow will be observed throughout the whole country as the Day of Prayer for Colleges.

   —Mr. P. J. Peckham still continues to run three chairs in his barber shop underneath Beard & Peck's furniture store.

   —A number of the members of the Cortland Wheel club spent the day yesterday fishing and skating at Little York.

   —The Catholics of Truxton will hold a grand festival at the Truxton House on Feb. 5. Daniels' orchestra furnishes the music. A cordial invitation is extended to all.

   —The members of the chorus choir of the Baptist church are requested by Mr. Bentley to meet for rehearsal at the close of the prayer-meeting, Thursday evening, Jan. 25.

   —The annual meeting of the Cortland Desk Co., which was adjourned till 2 o'clock this afternoon, had not been called to order at 2:45 o'clock as a quorum was not present.

   —Reserved seats for the performance of "Myrtle Ferns" will be on sale at the store of D. F. Wallace & Co., on Friday morning at 9 A. M. sharp. Get your tickets exchanged. Come early and avoid the rush.

   —If there are any people in Cortland who are willing to take Normal students (ladies) to board, and will allow the students to work for the whole or part payment of board, Dr. F. J. Cheney would be pleased to hear from them.

   —Mr. E. H. Brewer of the Cortland Harness & Carriage Goods Co. sold yesterday his fine six-year-old black coach team to Jones Bros. of Scranton, proprietors of the Grand Union Tea Co. The horses were shipped to Scranton last night.

   —The public exercises connected with the formal opening of the new building, provided by the state for the work of dairy husbandry in the college of agriculture at Cornell university, will be held next Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. The trustees of the university have issued invitations to quite a number of Cortland parties.

   —The editor is the only person who gives the devil his dues. —Atlanta Constitution.