The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-11-14

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Old Elspeth lived 70 the age Of ninety and
seven years beneath it. roof.
-
MINUTES oF EVIDENCE
ROYAL CON MIssION,
Knqaire Inso the Rsies Of Trades Unions.
PRBexNR:
ne Right Renewable sr VIZ. Eazs.lPrsaAane.
me hight Hoaorahls tAs IA.L ov LarcrvunLp.
Lord RLcnc, u. r.
ne Right Honsrshls slr nsxsxs waLrsa HsaD,
BaFt, X o. ID.
sir DAsrsL 9esM, Rsrss. M.R.
HHRnAH MzaarALA Esq, 0.B
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TaOwas HusHss, Hsq, MP.
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Mr.. ALEXANDER Med oSALD, Examined.
(coscLuDEp)
Lord Elcho-As to skin and physical
strength, do you believe that the American
workman is superior or inferior TO the Brit
zen ! do not think that thsre is . man in
he world superior to the British workman.
and particularly not the American. think,
10 far as ! saw, that the climate there has
tendency 20 develope more the intellectal
qualities of the man and lees the physical
qualities. Hence they all take to some in
gehious plan or another Of drvising Q way
OF existence instead Of following heavy
work. All the heavy employment Of the
country 10 at the present moment being
done by the emigrant, the foreigner, not BY
the people. The third or fourth genef alton
attempt 10 get rid Of work.
g Hsvs tou any other point to mention
Yes, there Il onepoint have been aston
ishsd 81 seeing the statements made from
time TO time regarding the diving out of
trade from this country to BeleinnY have
taken some care In looking up the returns,
and find the case to be thus: that il the
trade has been driven out Of the country. 1t
10 not the miner who 10 driving the trade. out
of the country, who 10 the raw producer OF
the material. find that In 1865. the export
Of coal 70 Belgium was IL ,SO9 tons In 1s.-
66, 81, ,4o6 tons but In 1867, while we have
been hearing the cry that the miners are
driving the trade from the country to Belsi.
um, 1t rises 10 l69, ,069 tons. cannot zee
Il is that we drive the trade from the coun-
try, when they are importing larger guam
tity into that very country, Belgism. Then
again In iron, Belgium imported from Brit
ian In 1865; Is, AZ tons in 1866, rs. .45l
tons; and in 1867, 0,722 tons. cannot see
heW We are driving the trade from the conn.
try, when We hsyeIncreased the export trade
in these two years and made it double TO
that country.
Mr. Mathews-Msy not the case stand
thus: II the quantity of iron goes from
this country at I cheaper rate of labor. can
not they supply the customer with the man
ufactured work from Belgium instead Of
sending II from this coantryf That i pos
sible. s
And 10 II mot the fact that sbsv are mon
taking Russisn contracts for rsils9 I A.
MOI think II ID the fact. They nav hsve ers
contract. but had that e Far 9 he trsds
IN rails is concerned, In 1855, the sxport
trade Of this country was 434. 300 tons.
aDd that ia 1880 y wss 498, ,02l tons and I
And that II 1867 L vas 5S2, 10 tons, that I
mere than ossr loo, 900 tonl over he export
In 1855. Consequently, in these times, IL
which We have had I CRY of diminis6ipr
trade We have really bad IN inersasine
trade.
But may pos that be oeincidens with /.
large falling on IN tie home consumption ;
Possibly 20 but the point | am eallipr A.
tention % q that " srs not being driven.
out az the trade.
Look & sha faot fron s.okhsr peirs Al
view. Tfeirdsfs usaslly madein tia eoun-
tYy for buildipk purposes are hrourht -
contract From Beleium, end rut ~ N 4 A.
sional estahlishme1t IN 'fhis oountrx che.srar
than khey opuld b6 bought here. would not