Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1870-08-03
John Chinaman and WO-
mans Wages.

The injustice Of woman's
disfranchisement is forcibly IL
lustrated in the Chinese ques-
ton as it now presents ITSELF
can ounce Of example is worth
a pound of precept." Take
the following instance.
Among the new avenues re-
Gently opened to woman's labor,
one Of considerable Importance
is found in steam laundries.-
A number Of these establish
ments are already in successful
operation in and near New
York. Mr., r. G. Browning,
the enterprising proprietor OF
"Doty's Washing-machine" and
the "Univelsal Clothes-wring-
Ell" who has done so much, by
the successful introduction Of
these invaluable household ma.
chimes, to relieve the women of
America from domestic druid
gerry, has recently erected one
Of these laundries in Orange,
New Jersey. In this large es.
tablishment he employs some
two hundred women. These
women work altogether by the
piece. With the aid Of pow
erful steam machinery, shirts
are starched and ironed at eight
cents apiece. At these prices,
the women earn from q dollar
and a half to three dollars per
day y,according to their strength.
A few days ago, we called,
in company with Mr.. Browning,
upon one Of his heaviest custo-
mers, Mr.. c., an extensive man.
ufacturer Of shirts. In the
course Of conversation, the diff
fculty Of getting faithful and
industrious working-women be-
ing considered, Mr.. &. urged
Mr.. Browning to import Chi
namen to take the place of wo-
men in his laundry. China
men can be hired at seventy
five cents per day in gold, by
the year. They are steady,
strong, docile, patient, indus
trious and persevering. With
a little practice, they will do
more work for seventy-fve
cents than the women now do
for three times that sum.
Mr.. Browning admitted the
facts, acknowledged the great
er convenience and larger profit,
but-to his honor be it spoken
expressed his unwillingness
to supplant 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 labolious
Asiatic human machines ?
And yet,-while working
men have the matter under
their own control, and can in
huence legislation in their own
favor by their votes as they
may deem wise and expedient,
tens of thousands Of work
ing.women are prohibited by
law from expressing an author
itative opinion in regard to a
matter Of vital interest to them.
selves. The very bread may
be taken from their mouths by
the importation and substitu-
ton Of servile laborers. And
these servile laborers are lie.
gally constituted their political
superiors, and are authorized
to make laws, public opinion
and social usages, to which
these disfranchised American
women must helpleSsly con-
form.
Without expressing any opin-
ion as to the wisdom of admit
ting or excluding their Chinese
competitors, we demand the
ballot for these working-women
as their natural right. 1t is for
them to say whether this immi
grafton shall be permitted OF
prohibited. No other class of
citizens have an exclusive right
to settle question in Which
these women have so vital an
interest.
What would any class of
WOrlIinr.men saw If thnv ,yora