Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-09-03
DEPRECIATION OF LABOR.

One of the great evils under which the
producing classes at present labor, is the
reduction OF the price of wages they re.
celve for labor. By "price or wages"
we 90 nor mean simply some stipulated
sum to be paid for the performance of
days or weeks work; but whatever pro
fit may be derived by any one from the
labor of his own hands, whether he per
forms that labor for himself or for others.
That by some process gradual but GER
tain reduction Of this profit is constantly
going on, is both seen and felt. The same
amount of labor which once procured for
the mechanic the means of comfortable
subsistence for himself and family, would
be utterly inadequate now, and the only
alternative he has left is to abridge his
comforts or protract his toll. For few
moments let us examine some of the causes
which have led to this result.
1t must ever remain truth that the
price of any commodity will be regulated
by the supply I; if this be abundant. the
price will be low, If scarce it will be high
The demand is in the nveis Sc of the sup
ply, and the price in the direct ratio. Now
let us apply those axioms to labor Ii the
demand for labor be great, or, which is
the same thing, The supply DO small, the
price paid for it will be good. If by any
process we lessen the demand, or increase
the supply, the price will be reduced
Now the supply may be increased in two
ways; either by an actual increase of la
borers, or a multiplication or extension Of
the facilities for The performance Of labor
By the first process, the price may be af-
fected temporarily and by consequence
spasmodica!y. by the latter, it must be
affected permanently, though gradually.
Labor must be paid by the value it produ
ces but as money must &C operate with
it in production, the proportion to be dis
trlbuted to each must be determined by the
relative proportion Of each employed.
Let US illustrate by an example. A
man who can make five pair of shoes in
day, we will suppose, earns 81 25. If
by some process which he might discover
he could make fifty pairs day, he would
earn $l2 80, at the same rate. But as
the increase Of the supply will lessen the
demand, 1t will also reduce the price, we
will suppose one half. This reduction
will again increase the demand, further
facilities tor production may be introduced,
and the same process gone through with
as before. Now ii one man by any means
can be made TO perform the work of ten
men, the labor of nine is rendered useless.
If tine one employed can earn Sc 25 per
day, il is the same as if they were all en-
ployed ut 624 cents p,r- d.:.. Ju,. 4y.1
have supposed that the increased facilities
Of production are under thescontrol Of la
Tor, or him who labors.
Let us suppose the case different. The
machine by which fifty pals Of shoes can
be made in one day is owned by some cap
italist. The labor OF running the ma
chine may perhaps be performed by lad
or female, who may receive as wages
perhaps not half the price once received
by one individual for making five pairs of
shoes. Whether we suppose the value Of
The increased production to be $I2 80 or
Sc %. but an exceeding small share Of it
goes TO the accoun; Of labor, the bulk be-
iEg claimed by the capital in the machine.
Now how will this affect other depart
ments of labor. One hundred such ma
chimes would throw thousand men out Of
employ. AS they can no longer make
shoes, they must work at some other trade
Whatever may afford the greatest induce
ments by way Of profits will Immediately
be run over, and the dire effects Of exces-
sive competition will be Immediately seen
in the rapid depreciation Of labor in that
department probably machines will here
also be introduced, and the same results
we have noticed, here show themselves
These are circumstances over which ii
has no control, and to which in the present
state of things it must passively submit.
liz the first place we find an unnatural
competition of man with machine, ard
by consequence. in the second place, a fa-
tai competition of man with man. From
such competition as a natural ard inevita-
BILE result comes the depreciation in The
value of labor under which we groan
And when will these evils cease TO exist :
Are we to expect a cessation Of their ow n
accord Is there any train of influences
in the state of society which will work
out this result Nay. verify. The evils
must go on, increasing in magnitude and
redeubing in severity. They must go on
until either in the greedy and deadly strug-
gle for subsistence we shall destroy each
other, or uniting in one firm, broad, bold
and noble phalanx, determine that we Will
do what we can, land we can do all that
is Deeded) TO secure permanent and radi-
cal reform. Let US be wise betmes. go
to work zealously and with determined
purpose, and success ultimate and com
plcte is ours. This fatal competition may
be checked, and the discordan, elements Of
society which now operate so hos,iieiy
against each other, may be brought in har.
monious action to observe our highest and