Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-05-30
Effects of Free Trade upon The wa
ges of Labor.

The Locofoco advocates Of Free Trade claim to
be the especial friends of the laboring man, but
they have very peculiar way of proving them
selves so by their acts. They do not seem to be
acquainted with the important lact that in this mat
ter as in everything else, "he proof Of The pudding
is IN the eating"
The policy that creates demand for labor is
the best policy for The laborer. The poor mans
capital consists in his ability work. and wha, he
wants is, opportunities for its steady and profitable
investment. He is altogether unlike cash capital.
That may be prohtably sent out in thousand di-
rectons; but snews and muscles can only be pro-
f,ably employed in Labor. Those therefore, who
wish to give practical demonstrations of the genu-
neness of their sympathy for the Laborer, can on
ly do so by advocating the policy which creates
demand for Labor.
Now let US look at the practical effect of the To-
cofoco policy of Free Trade. Take, by way of IL
lustration, the single interest Of iron, in Pennsyl-
vania.
In 1912, there were 2l3 Furnaces in operation,
producing l5l,995 tons of pig iron. Before the
close of 1916, this number has increased to 3l6,
producing 3732l3 tons-showing an increase in
four years, of 1873 furnaces, and 222 346 tons of
iron.
The value Of the product of 1S42, was in the
neighborhood of So, ,OcO OOO and in 1896 over ST.
600, 900.
Two thirds of this Pig iron was manufactured
into hoops, nails, bars, boiler plate, castings, &C.,
at tcice the cost for labor of the Pig lion ITSELF
Consequently if We add to this the cost OF the pig
iron, we will have the following results:
ls42, value Of iron manufactured $4,000, 900
1916, do do do $4,000, 900
Of these sums, feur-fifihs (but say 4ths,) are
expended in Labor. There was, therefore, expen-
ded in Labor, in this single branch of industry, in
Pennsylvania in
ls42. S6.o5O0 900
1916, IT,5O00OO
1t requires no acute knowledge of political econ
omy to perceive the benefit which The laboring men
of Pennsylvania derived from the policy which in
duced this vast increased demand for labor If
the same policy had continued, instead of ten mil
lions, in 1916, the iron workers of PENNSYLVANIA
would have pocketed at least fifteen millions of
dollars, for their labor in 1850. But that policy
was superseded by those who profess the most
profound sympathy for the poor man. Ard what
is the result Intelligent men estimate that the
product OF the present year will not exceed one
fourth that OF 1916. Consequently the money to
be paid for labor will be reduced three -fourths al
also-even though the price of labor is no, affect
ed by the reduced demand for it.
To place this fact distinctly before the mind of
the reader, we subjoin the figures:
l846-Money paid to Iron Laborers in
Pennsylvania, $40, 500 900
1850 2,750,000
Price paid per annum by the Iron work
els of Pennsylvania for Free Trade, 7250.OO
Here are SEVEN MILLION, TWO HUN
DRED THOUSAND DOLLARS taken out of the
pockets Of the WORKING MEN, in a single
branch Of business, in this State in one year. Ap
ply the same rule to the whole Union, and the sum
will run up TO at least THIRTY MILLIONS -
This is the Iron workers tax for Free Trade
There would be shadow of consolation for the
Iron wroker il he knew these millions wen, into
the pockets Of his fellow laborers in other branch
es OF business in this country. But he is comfor-
ted by no such reflection. He knows that ,ohat IS
taken out Of his pockets, goes into the pockets OF
FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS.
This is but single illustration Of the effect of
the policy so tenaciously adhered to by the Loco
TOGO Party. Constantly protesting extreme friend
ship for the laboring men of the country, they are
doing all they can 10 curlail the demand for Ia
Dor, and thus to DEPRIVE THE LABORER
OF THE MEANS OF SUPPORTING AND
EDUCATING HIS CHILDRENi