The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-08-15
From the London Be z Hive
THE A ID c OF SOCIAL SCIENCE


By wages is meant the sums paid to the
laboTers Of a country, out Of its circulating
capital for the part they perform n the
production Of wealth, or for the services
they otherwise perform for those that need
them.
This general fund, out Of which they are
paid in different proportion, according W
their ability or producing power, is Of lin
tied amount, and may be said to be the a.
borers' share Of production.
What is called the general or average
wages of country depends upon the amount
Of it's capital for paying or supporting its Ia
borers, compared with the numbers Of them
il is to be distributed amongst. Tor when the
amount Of capital is large compared with Tie
numbers competing with other to obtain
share Of il, wages will be high; but when
their numbers are large compared with the
amount Of capital wages will be low.
The individual amount OF wages paid ID
different trades or employments will depend
On the nature OF such trades, and the amount
Of knowledge, dexteritY and skill required in
them. In trades or occupa lions requiring
great intelligence, and higl degree of skill,
and acquiring many years to learn, the wages
will be generally high as they are also 10
skilled trades where the materials entrusted
to the workman are valuable, for then re-
speciality and good character, n well As
skill, will be Indispensable requisites Wages
are aho generally high in occupations where
the work 10 dangerous, repulsive, or un-
healthy, though no very great skill may be
required, ss persons do not like 10 put Their
children in them. But in very large num-
Der Of empioyments, where mere uuskiled
muscular power 10 the great requisite, wages
are generally low, 40 the numbers Of per-
sons in them competing with one another
are very large.
Ii il in those last enployments which are
easily entered, very readily learnt, and re-
quire little or NO outlay before their children
are able 10 earn money, that poor people are
induced to place them thus, mostly consign-
ing them TO . life Of poverty and hardship,
when with Q little self-sacrifice to give them
little education, and TO put them to bet
ter kind OF employment, they might have Sc
cured for them better chance in life.
But though the amount Of wages differs
in different employmen the workmen in all
Of them that will generally be preferred BY
their employ ers, will be the most industri-
Gus, skilful, sober, and trustworthy; and
those qualities, sooner or later, will enable
them to rise in their calling, and to com
mAnd higher wages.
By high Or low wages, however, is not
meant the mere money wages obtained, but
the amount OF commodities their wages will
procure, which may be called their real
wages, and this distinction IL important for
workingmen to observe.
Seeing then, that the general wages of q
c0untry-and consequently the happiness Of
the laborers-depends on the amount Of cap
ital employed IN production, compared with
the number Of laborers striving to Obtain u
share Of it IN the form OF wages the ques-
ton Of the highest importance for the labor
ing classes is, how can wages be increased
above their present amount7
This evidently can only DC effected in two
ways, either by increasing tae amount Of
capital, or by limiting the number Of labor
era. The first can only be effected by in-
creased knowledge, industry, sklll, and
economy among the lsborers, 10 enable them
% become more productive and more saving;
and the second BY keeping down their num-
bers by judiclous system Of emigration, or
by creating q pubic opinion IN society
against all PersoBs who would reeklessly
take upon themselves the responsibility OF
parents, and bring innocent children into
the world without the prospect Of support
ing or educating them, and without making
any kind Of provision before marriages
IL IN this ignorant recklessness ana imprn-
violence that produce the swarms Of half
starved, neglected, and ignorant children we
sec IN all directions who mostly grow I'D TO
become the burthens and often the pesis Of
society, which the Industrious and frugal
hare 70 support or, II more fortunate. EiIey
grow up tc Ill and overflow all kinds Of em-
| pIoyments they can have access TO, compst-
log aud bringing down wsges, detpite ~
1n,ons and combinations made IN the -
dent and thoughtfai Tor rkerring IN IT.,
wages and bettering thtif eRRalff8f5: ~
surely when Wprklhgmen seek rs ur,.ya,.r
the overflow Of hum6ers In their &afIes. I'M
limiting the nnmber Of apprenlieos nahern.
d becomes more imporyantp ~ r1sd 4
snrer remedy fnrt6g wi Is direct tl,eir Az
tenslc9 a. ~ sot7Rce 4 Il.
1nfse who desire low w&ses Tor their sowr,
inter ts, Or igborsnt and obe1ient toois
VIC they can nse % iheir cxn adyaptaee.
rNi e6lars at,ain1t GI6i II 1;eWs /. 'but tbas,s,
Who asstIs dsizs i6s ss5izI yI.yesia 'o0s =
oar p Z: sPls ssgIe hesstiiy Isjsics g - tbs
- Nv - messy 80 thsir own hlnd,
,s.s sn ..ss y spply psll'ativss =
lien NJ the 1|livalI - = o1rentsl I0r.'
thoa Il an Esnel des 4
=. = = y: :: 9. 7 -. =. !; 60.
EsF.s assAs n 81 A ~