Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-12-15


the clerk of one of the most extensive
Nail Factories in this city, laid upon the
seat Of each workman letter, stating that
he had received instructions from one Of
the proprietors to reduce the wages Of all
the hands in their employ twenty per cent.
The Majors. finding that their employers
would rather close their establishment
than recede from their resolution, tamely
submitted. and on the following Monday
went to their work as usual.-Pittsburgh
Spirit of the Age.
The above is single but forcible illus
tration Of The tendency Of the protective
policy to accumulate wealth in the hands
of a favored few, 10 the neglect and detri>
ment Of the many. Numerous additional
instances of similar conduc, on the part of
the heads Of Eastern manufacturing estab-
lishments, since the enactment Of the pre-
sent protective tariff. might be adduced,
bu, the one given will suffice. II exhibits
the sel6shness and cupidity Of those who
make the most noise ABOUT protecting
home industry, low wages, &C., and
shows that it is capital, and not labor,
which is sought to be and in reality is
protected.
The manufacturing interests Of the Uni
ted States, it may safely be asserted, new
er were in a more fourishing condition
than they are at present, and never were
the times more favorable to the realization
OF cash profits by the manufactures. The
proofs Of this is found in the sudden rise
in the value Of factory stocks, the erection
OF new establishments. and the readiness
and indeed avidity with which capital
seeks investment in that peculiar branch Of
industry. Indeed it would be difficult to
conceive how it could be otherwise when
we reflect upon the advantages secured 10
them in the possession OF the entire home
market, and the low prices of the raw ma
terial, provisions. &c. which enables them
partially to compete with the manufactu-
ring establishments of the world in the
markets Of the East. and even in those Of
England itself. The only thing wanting
to enable them 10 undersell, a. a profit,
even in Europe, the cotton fabrics Of any
other portion of the world. IS reduction
in the cost of. labor and This, il would
seem, they are about setting themselves at
work seriously to effect.
The efforts Of the employing manufac>
turers at such period, and under such
circumstances. TO :. make hast 10 get rich''
by reducing the wages allowed 10 the ops
era,ives in THAR employ even below the
prices paid when their business was in
langu:shlng condition are no, only inexcu-
sable but excrable. Upwards of seven
hundred thousand persons were employed
in manufactures in the United States, in
1910. and the number at present would
fall but little short Of million. Of this
aggregate at least nineteen twentieths are
laborers; and it has always been consider
ed some slight mitigation of the evils of
the system that the benefits resulting 10
this large class approached 10 something
near equality, or at least that they were
felt by all in proportion to the amount of
bounties collected. Even this, however,
proves to be a delusion.. The weekly or
monthly stipend Of the operative sustains
no advance npon that paid during the sea-
son of general declension in prices and
business, but on the other hand in many
instances has actually been cut down. Il
is the wealthy employers, and they alone.
y ho orc onriohod.--D oosv..~.