The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-08-18
John ChInaman and .VvOnan's
Wages.

One ofthe numerous phases of the coOTie
question is presented in the following ar
tiele, which we take from the N WOaaaa's
Journal. II appears that women who
earn an honest living by the Labor OF their
hands are as likely to be effected .disas-
trously by the Chinese invasion as the
men. The article goes on to say:
The injustice of woman's disfranchise
ment is forcibly illustrated in the Chinese
question as it now presents itself. IAN
ounce of example is worth ponnd of pre-
cept." Take the following instance:
Among the new avenues recently opened
TO woman's labor, one of considerable inn
portance is found in steam laundres. A
number of these establishments are already
in successful operation in and near New
York. Mr. Il. c. Browning, the enterpris-
ing proprietor Of i"Doty's Wa: hing Ma
chine' and the Universal Clothes Wrirger,"
who has done so much, by the successlnl
introduction of those invaluable household
machines, to relieve the women OF America
from domestic drudgery, has recently erect
ed one of these lauudries in Orange, New
Jersey. In this large establishment he en-
ploys some two hundred women. These
women work altogether by the piece
With the aid of powerful steam machinery,
shirts are starched and ironed at eight cents
apiece. At these prices, the women earn
from dollar and half to three dollars per
dav according to their strength and skill.
A few days ago, we called, in company
with Mr.. Browning, upon one OF his heav-
lest customers, Mr.. c., an extensive manu-
facturer of shirts. In the course of convei-
sation. the difficulty of getting faithful and
industrious working women being consiG-
cred, Mr.. G. urged Mr.. Browning to Import
Chinamen to take the place of women in his
laundry Cinnamon can be hired at seventy
five cents per day i'll gold, by the year
They are steady, strong, docle, patient. inN
dustrious and persevering. With little
practice, they will do more work for seven
ty five cents than the women now do for
three times that sum-
Mr.. Browning admitted the facts, &C
knowledged the greater convenience and
larger profit. but-to his honor be it spoken
expressed his unwillinsness to suppant
the labor of women by importing men to fill
their places.
Yet how few keen. shrewd business men
would share this chivalrous feeling. How
long will it be ere working women will find
their scanty wages still further reduced by
the competition of these laborious Asiatc
human machines
And yet,-whie working men have the
matter under their own control, and can in
fuence legislation in their own favor by
their votes as they may deem wise and ex-
pedient-tens Of thousands of wor king wo-
men are prohibited by law from expressing
an authorative opinion in regard to matter
of vital interest to themselves. The very
bread may be taken from their mouths by
the importation and substitution of servile
laborers. And these servile laborers are e-
gally constituted their political superiors,
and are authorized to make laws. public
opinion and social usages, to which these
disfranchised American women must help
leSsly conform. Without expressing any
opinion as to the wisdom of admitting or
excluding their Chinese competitors, we de-
mand the ballot for those working women
as their natural right. 1t is for them to say
whether the immigration shall be permitted
or prohibited. No other class of citizens
have the exclusive right to settle question
In which these women have so vital an in-
terest.
What would any class of working men
say if they were thus excluded? L? What
would the Crispins say if they were disfran-
chised wheD the rights of the Iaborer are in
question. because they are Crispins2 Or
the lawyers, if they were disfranchsed hen
laws are to be enacted, because they are
lawyers Or the liquor sellers. if they were
prohibited from voting on the question of
licenses, because they are liquor sellers
What IA cry of injustice would be raised, and
what sympathy would be awakened!
Shame on our code of political ethics 1t
is respectable to be Crspin, or a lawyer,
or liquor seller. II is crime TO be a
1cOm0R. Inn