Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-10-17
GoGtttac.
From thu Nsr York Republic
EFFECT OF PROTECTION UPON
THE WAGES OF LABOR.


obtain their livelihood by manufacturing
pursuits. For toe opportunity of doing
this, they are dependent upon the system
Of protection. Now. then, let that system
be destroyed, and letth doctrines OF Mr.
Polk and his Free Trade supporters b,
carried into practice, and what would bt
the consequences? Ii would be this; Ell
Their the American mechanics must give w
their work to the workmen of Europe, OF
they must prepare to do IL on as cheaT
terms as the laborers of Europe do Ill
Europeans have great and powerful sd.
yantages over US; they have more capital
more machinery, more experience, and
more perfect organIzatlon of labor. Now,
even supposlng that IN most Of these res
poets we were on a level with them, We
cannot expect to compete with them sue
cessfully, unless our laborers will work
for as losc cages as their laborers receive.
Thus, an American article costs, Tor in
stance, SO; Europesn laborers can max e
i: for 50 Now, if there IS no protective
culy imposed, the European can come
here and unde-seil the American maker,
dive him from his business, and deprive
his workmen Of employment and his fam
lily Of subsistence. How shall the Ameri-
can avoid this catastrophe7 Only by max
ing the article as cheap as the European
does, and this, again, he can only do, By
paying as loo price for labor. And il
has been repeatedly argued by the Loco
foco statesmen that we ought to reduce
the prices of wages to that extent. Thus
MIR. Buchanan, in his memorable speech
Of 1910, after showing how low wages in
America compared with wages in Europe
said:
"Why cannot we manufacture goods,
and especially cotton goods, which will 90
into successful competition with British
manufacturers in foreign markets.
"Wh hat is the reason that WITH all these
advantages. and with the protective du-
ties which our laws afford to the domestic
manufacture OF cotton, we cannot obtain
exclusive possession of the home market,
and successfully contend for the markets
Of the world? 1t is simply because we
manufacture at the nominal prices Of our
own inflated currency, and are compeil-
ed 10 sell at the real prices Of other ma
tons. Reduce nominal to the real stand
ard Of prices throughout the world, and
you cover our country with blessings and
benefits"
The following statement is made up
from the most authentic information con-
corning the different kinds of labor in the
various countries of Europe and America,
and will clearly show the alternative 10
which American workmen in various
trades will be reduced, if the tariffs re-.
pealed, Protection abandoned, the Amer
can System destroyed-ss they will be
by the election Of James X. Polk:
Cotton Viewers (men) who now get
per day so cents, must then work for 26
cents.
Cotton Weavers (women) who now get
per day 33 cents, must work for Is cents.
Cotton Weavers (grs) who now get
per day 30 cents, must work for 10 cents.
Silk Weavers who now get per day so
cents, must work for IL cents.
Spnners who now get per Id. 10 certs,
must work for cents.
Ship Carpenters who now get per day
81 rs, must woik for so cents.
Brush Makers who now get per day 81
must work for 20 cents.
Hatlers who now get per silk hat SIS
cents, must work for 25 cents.
Straw hat makers, who now get 81
per hat, mus, work for 20 cents.
Paper makers (men) who now get pei
week So, must work for 81 rs.
Paper makers (women) who get per
week So 76, must work for SIS cents.
Sailmakers who now get 50 per day,
must work for ST 40.
Cordsge makers, who now get per Gay
81, must work for l6 cents.
Shoe.makers who now get per day 81,
30, mus, work for 45 cents.
Tailors VINO now get per week 50,
must work for 81.
Cabinet makers who now get per week
$40, must work for Sd.
Day laborers who now get per day So
cents, must work for 27 cents.
Makers OF Iron ware who now get per
ton $50, must work for SIP.
Thus it will be seen that mechanics
and manufacturers, with all who depend
for living on making by labor the raw
materials into articles Of use, must reduce
the wages Of their labor in the ratio indi-
Gated above, or quit the business. The
destruction Of the Protective System
leaves them no other alternative.
Next let US see how the aggregate an
nual earnings of several classes Of the la.
borers would be affected The number OF
persons engaged IN each branch Of bust
ness is taken from the census returns oil
1910:
4,464 cordage makers, who now get
81 500, 600, would then get S240.000.
4,726 paper makers, who now get SO,
432 900, would then get S750,36
The cotton wesvers IN the United States
who now get Sls,000,s4G, would then
get So, $4,000.
The woollen cloth weavers in the Uai
ted States, who now get 81 100000,
would then get 81 10000
Use shoemakers 10 Massachusetts,
who now get SIS, 900, would then
get 5,400.000
The tailors in the United States, who
now get SlO,72O,ooO, would then get
6,3g0, 900.
TT L:I ...I,ars ~ ,ha IInitAd