The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-14
PROTECTION TO CAPITAL INSTEAD OF
LABOR.

LABOR.
The tariff of 1912 is cried up by the manufac
turers, for the best reason in the world 1t protecu
many Of their productions by prohibiting simila
articles from foreign countries. Il enables them q
raise the price of their fabrics to par with import
ed articles thus taxed. II advances their profit.
upon almost every article that they produce, and
increases the dividends the capital stock of the
incorporated or partnership companies.
But whilst these advantages accrue to the cap
alists, they do not advance the interests of the op
eratiyes in the same degree. Their wages are MOI
increased; their hours of labor are not reduced
their style Of living is not improved; their gen.
eral comforts are not enlarged in like proportion
The protective tariff is calculated for the benefit Of
the capitalist, rather than of the laborer. The
few employers are becoming rich; the many op.
eratives suffer in too many respects from the cupid.
iiy of the employer.
The "BaIre Gazette" asks whether the labor
for ~ or 10 hours per day, which falls upon the
tender female as well as the abe-bodied man, the
protection TO American labor which was to result
from the present tariff"
Ten hours day Says that papeD is long period
for any female to in the noxious atmosphere OF acto
ry. longer time is incompatible with vigorous health
aud the and leisure which
decent degree Of mene culture and the proper enjoyment
Of life; tends to Ignorance. disease, and degradation
But Of what avail any remonssnce The power ofcon-
cenrated weeh too great to be eectuay resisted by
those whose only resource Is the labor OF their hands
They must work. and upon the terms dictated to them
esestarve. These souless corporations regard their
manner which win bring the greatest profit They viii
work them many hours and reduce their wages as low
as possible be the tariff high low and their profits
fly Cent or he n which the arr
paying TO the manufacturing capitalists increased the profits
Of their operatives we should regard the erif with little
more compacency.
We have seen the struggle which has been ma
king by the girls in Pitsburg, to reduce the hours
of labor. We have seen how the employers at
Pittsburg justify their exactions by the example Of
the northern factories. They contend that they
cannot compete with their brother manufacturers,
unless they screw as many hours work out Of
their operatives as those in the North. The argu-
ment is founded, of course, upon the fact which
we have proved to exist: that the females work
than 10 hours in the northern factories. Pub
lie sentiment ought not to rest until the whole sys-
tenn is reformed from Maine to Georgia.
But there is another grievance of petty charac-
ter, of which much complaint is now making in the
North; but, petty as it is, it is sufficiently express
sive of the exacting temper of the employers What
boots it the operatives, that the tariff of l842 has
increased the profits ofthe capitalist The following
article from ssThe Voice of Industry" shows the
expressions sustained by the clearinghouse keep
ers at the hands Of the manufacturers. This tyran-
nical treatment ofhe poor operatives by their PAM
pered employers is calculated to arouse the country
against an abomnable tariff:
From the Voice of Industry.
FACTORY BoARDING-HoUsEs.
Erecting meeting the CITY Hail. to consider me present de-
pressed condition V The clearinghouse keepers Of LoWn
In accordance with previous announcement by handbls
posted in various parts Of the city respectable numier
the City Hall Friday last take into consdera
ton their lamenahe and grievous condition in
,ees Wha. ave
upon the subject learn the occasion onteres
and enthusiasm and called forth many noble and spirited
sentiments this class wronged corporsonoppress
ed, and capital bound citizens
our entire appreciation II the movement The poor mem
and widow women who keep the factory boarding
nnrg long ana ~ ~
come In ls4o. when manufacturing was less prosperous
than at the present time the corporations reduced the
eraves board 2 cents week. with the promise that 1t
should be added they obtained tariff But
they got the tariff and declaring their 80
per cent Observation-Disclosures from the poor widow
boarding keepers and hard okng operatives
have neglected their PROMISES and amid their ava
cous guttony, they together with host of spanies.
brass speaking rumpets and few preessed men OF God
striving convince the world-especally such por
ton Of those fresh spirits gathered down from the granite
hills and the green peaceful valleys by cii
necessary to Keep the "gens temples Of happy Industry
in successful operation and such number OF poor defence
less widow will be required to keep the board
ing houses they have found paradsea heaven
earth located the asn and the juno
ton Of the Concord rver-the New Jerusalem" with
streets paved nth gold filled with angels and spirit
uai patchmen or sanctlfed apostles.
fnvn i'm Ofm M fact has IN
procure widow women with families and defenceless fe
males as keepers 81 corporation boarding whose
would require them to submit any bur
dens they At to impose and obey any mandates they
might issue, without murmur struggle But the time
in silence and apparent content The boarding keep
Of Lowell have commenced the good fight with heart
given them viz the right to such share of the
products Of their labor will make them comfortable and
happy and protect them and their children from anxious
want and their goods from the gambling auconeers ham,
mer Let this good work go on throughout every manu-.
keepers combine with the operatives against the gradual
system Of manufacturing oppression and INCREASINGLY advo
may bring resi- from their daily iaos and quiet sleep
their eyeds, instead as now Of new toll and renewed
The Sss aa y s
this wise design by compelling the operatives to la
Dor such a number Of hours that the boarding,
till nearly midnight and at very early hour in the
ing; hence the office Of keeping factory boarding house
continued servitude and drdgery and for which
ence while Others less Fortunate toll few years, be-
come involved and their household furniture sacrificed
the auctontand to debts which contract
cd in good faith.
Americans Of free New England citizens Of Low
ell will you deaf TO the voices that raised
in your very midst for AID and sympathy Have you any
humanity any manhood lay, christianity? Then do not
cit supnely down. while widows robbed and the father
less and dependent neglected and trampsd upon, be-
the hydra destroyer Is clothed in sktn garb
paed the by the professed ambassadors Of him
who has commanded us to :ove our neghhors as our
Selves and devour widows houses, distress the
poor and fatherless
We have received the following report Of the Saturdays
meeting the pen OF female friend who present
Another meeting Is to be holden this day tTuesday tho
transactions Of which shall give readers
possible.
We have no room in this evenings "Union" for
the particulars Of the meeting, composed of the
irons of the clearinghouse in Lowell, and their
male friends. We must confne ourselves to one Of
the speeches:
1T. Parsons and said we have alternatives
defend ourselves He did not keep boarding house.
but Is well acquainted with the modus srand Of the whole
affair He knew all about the pledges given in Is4o
count Of depressed business when twelve and hacens