Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-09-11
" Ten Cent ,Jimmv -


lngs of the people in the Western States,
show that there is a popular appreciation OF
the justice and propriety Of the name of
len CENT JIMMY applied by the Me-
chanics of Pennsylvania to Mr.. Buchanan.
Inscriptions containing this sou5riquet, an
illusions to Mr.. B. S Low wages Speech in
the United States Senate, prove that in In.
DIANA. In Ohio and Wisconsin the Masses
understood him to be the gentleman who
wishes to bring the wages Of American la
Dor down to ten cents a day. Are they in
error in this impression?
The old Fedora list Senator represented
manufacturing State politically. Socially he
represented the body of wealthy Pensytva-
MIA employers. Unmarried, chdless and
rich he had no sympathies with the Working
men, who were separated from him in persons
and feeling by the State Legislature. The
propretors of the mines, and Of furnaces,
torges and rolling-mlls were most of them
his companions and friends He was nat
urally disposed to aid them. Being poit-
icaIy bound to oppose Protection of Amer
lean Manufactures, he could profit the cap
italists only by reducing laborers' Wages.
On the 22d Of January 1910. Mr.. Bu-
chanan accordingly addressed an argument
to the United States Senate, of which he
was member, in which among other thrgs
he said:
In Germany, where the currency is purely
metallic and the cost of everything is RE-
DUCED TO HARD MONEY STAN.
DARD, piece Of broadcoh eall be manu-.
factured for fifty dollars, the manufacture Of
which in our country, from the expansion Of
paper currency, would cost one huuared dol
lars. X X JwowId to
heaven that could arouse the attention of
every manufacturer Of the matiom to this
subject Y X X X
What is the reason that, with all those
advantages and with the protective duties
which our laws afford to the domestic manu-
tucturc of cotton, we cannot obtain exclusive
possessions Of the home market, and success
fully contend for the markets Of the world /?
IT is simply because we manufacture at
the nominal prices Of our own inflated cur
rency, and are compelled to sell at the real
prices Of other nato s. REDUCE OUR
NOMINAL TO THE REAL STANDARD
OF PRICES THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD, AND YOU COVER OUR
COUNTRY WITH BLESSINGS AND
BENEFITS.
The comparative LOW PRICES of
France and Germany have offered such a
stimulus to their manufactures, that they are
now rapidly extending themselves, in no
degree, even of the English home market, If
1t Dere not for their protecting duties.
Labor is the chief element of cost in
Manufacturing, from the making Of watch
springs up to locomotives. The price OF raw
materials is OF small comparative conse-
quence.
The next day Mr.. Merrck OF Maryland,
made searching exhibit of the .ruiuous in
Auencc upon the Workingmen Of the Uni
ted States, of the adoption Of the policy
which Mr. Buchanan had so strongly urged.
In the course of his speech Mr. Merrick
said:
Mr. President, as it has been argued in
support Of this bill that one Of the good
effects will be TO REDUCE THE WAGES
OF LABOR In THIS COUNTRY-me-
chanical, manufacturing, agricultural, and
all others, of course--l have considered it
material and important to inquire to what
extent this reduction was to take place.
These wages, we are told, must come down to
the eye &c Standard and we have been re-
terrcd to Germany and Holland and other
Europe countries, us examples OF hard mon
ely currcncies upon wages.
A carefully compiled table of wages paid
in Europe, show that the daily wages paid
there range from eight to twenty-five cents.
Now, sir, a. greatly in hopes our peo-
pie will read and ponder over these facts !;
they will find that in France yearly wages
r. an able5odied man range from 48 to $50
S;Ilings, and day aborers get in that coun-
~ from 4 10 to 10 pence per day, aud
Whenever they get as much as five pence, they
have to fiod themselves. In Germany wages
are still lower, and range by the year be-
tween so and 100 shilliugs, and day labor.
els cccivc from IL to 7 pence per day
an ind themselves in food. In South Hol-
land farm hands get by the year lIop 200 to
$50 shilings, and day laborors from to 4
pence per day and are found. And SO on
sir. Whoever will take the trouble to exam.
inc the facts, will see that, in all these coun-
tries which are held up to US as such bright
examples of hard money countries France
Germany, Netherlands, ltaly--wages by the
year for ablcbodied, sound, healthy men
nowhere exceed $50 shiIlings ); and, in many
instances, fall as low as 40, so aud 60 shil,
lings; and in daily wages range from 10 y
and ~ qence rising in ono place md only
one, to 20 gemce, and loborer jfmdiny hin,
self! What commentary upon the hard
money policy! What hope is there for a
man born the son of poor parent ever to
better his condition What ray of hops is
there to stimulate him to exerton None
none .-Hc who is there born peasant
Those born at the pillow die at the plow-tail
and all that the longest life of laborlous toll
can procure for them is coarse and scanty
means Of subsistence
Henry Clay took part in the debate aud
Denounced the scheme which MIR. Buchanan
advocated as AN AVOWED POLICY
TO REDUCE THE WAGES OF LABOR
He was succeeded by honest John Da
Wis" of Massachusetts,, who cited mass o
statistics, to show that the average Of +" thu
real prices Of labor throughout the world,
which Mr.. Buchanan wanted the worth o
American industry reduced to- was less thai
TEN CENTS A DAY
And the Mechanics Of his own State Of
Pennsylvania, as token of their resentment
forthwith fastened upon Mr. Buchanan tho
stigma and nickname of TEN GENT JIM
MY. He fairly won it.Albany Journal.